The Cultural Development Network is pleased to announce the
National Local Government Cultural Forum

CDN recently announced the establishment of the National Local Government Cultural Forum in partnership with the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Global Cities Research Institute (RMIT University) and the Australia Council for the Arts, Community Partnerships as part of their National Sector Development Initiative. The Cultural Forum will meet at least twice a year. It will be made-up of the representatives of the eight Australian capital cities and the seven state and territory local government associations plus ALGA, Australia Council for the Arts and Global Cities Research Institute to set medium to long-term objectives for local government cultural planning and the arts. CDN provides governance and secretariat support to the forum.

Local government in Australia is the fastest growing government sector investing in arts, heritage and cultural development.  The vast range of activities across local government provides an opportunity for supporting and understanding more about the role of CACD artists, how they strengthen and animate local communities and the influence and role of local government in growing arts participation. The Cultural forum will bring forward exemplar projects and initiatives from the diverse local government sector and seek to grow those initiatives or share the knowledge with all local government councils.

The Cultural Forum will:
•             Increase the awareness and understanding of the community arts and cultural development sector and practice through support to local government cultural planning and development;
•             Grow community arts and cultural development practice with councils to ensure that there are opportunities for individuals and communities to actively participate in excellent artistic practices;
•             Provide support for the community arts and cultural development sector to present and promote in a responsive way that will impact on perceptions, policy and programs of local government.

Local government provides insight into how the arts and other policies impact on the culture of communities. The best of these ideas would be shared through the Cultural Forum and contribute to informed advice for State and Commonwealth governments on the cultural impact of arts policies.

The underpinning framework for the Cultural Forum will be the international peak body UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments) policy statement on culture (2010), dual approach.  Firstly, the development of the cultural sector itself (i.e. heritage, creativity, cultural industries, crafts, cultural tourism); and secondly, ensuring that culture has its rightful place in all public policies, particularly those related to education, the economy, science, communication, environment, social cohesion and international cooperation.

The creation of a National Local Government Cultural Forum is not an end in itself but a catalyst for strengthening arts across the community through local governance and local artists.

Cultural Development Network.

Enquiries:
E: admin@culturaldevelopment.net.au
P: 03 9925 0282
W: www.culturaldevelopment.net.au