From The Hawkes Library; affiliated with FourthPillar.biz
Cultural planning in local government
I'm constantly being asked what the actual impact of The Fourth Pillar has been on local government. Here are some examples.
This is very much a list in progress (if that's the right word). Please email me when you come across something I've missed.
© 15/10/09 Jon Hawkes <email> <web>
In my view, the impact has been underwhelmimg. The language has been
assimilated into local government planning rhetoric with apparent
wholehearted acceptance.
However, I'm yet to come across a cultural policy or plan that
actually comes to terms with the idea of applying a cultural
perspective to ALL policy (the fundamental proposition of The Fourth Pillar argument).
Most cultural plans are really arts and heritage plans.
There is a clearer understanding of the value (indeed existence) of
diversity, a more inclusive sense of what constitutes 'art' and a
deeper appreciation of art's contribution to place-making and social
connectedness - for which we can be thankful.
BUT, the concept of culture as describing the processes of how
communities and societies make and transmit meaning doesn't really seem
to have caught on, or if it has, the ramifications of how this might
impact on planning doesn't seem to have reached consciousness.
Perhaps the most profound change has been nominal: What were once Arts Branches have now become Arts & Culture Departments.
New Zealand
Local government in New Zealand is required by law to assess its activities against 'the four wellbeings', one of which is 'cultural wellbeing'.
MCS: Cultural Well-Being and Local Government
Canada
Creative City Network: Cultural Planning Toolkit
External Advisory Committee on Cities and Communitiies From Restless Communities to Resilient Places: Building a Stronger Future for all Canadians
Province of Ontario: Municipal Cultural Planning and Municipal Cultural Planning Partnership (thanks to Colin Mercer for alerting me to these)
Toronto: Culture Plan: Developing the Creative City (and this one too) and Creative City Planning Framewrok
Quebec: Notre culture, au coeur du developpement durable; Plan d'action 2009-2013
UK
DCMS: "Leading the Good Life" - Guidance on Integrating Cultural & Community Strategies
DCMS: Living Spaces: Culture & Sport Planning Toolkit
UCLG
Advice on local implementation of the Agenda 21 for Culture
Australia
Many State governments in Australia now provide cultural planning guidelines for local government; for example:
NSW: Cultural Planning Guidelines for Local Government
QLD: ArtsYakka: Cultural planning and policy making with community
Some Australian local government cultural plans on the web that mention The Fourth Pillar are:
Bass Coast (Vic) Arts and Culture Plan 2009-2012
Cardinia (Vic) Arts and Culture Policy 2009-2012
Dubbo (NSW) Cultural Plan 2008-2012
Eurobodalla (NSW) Cultural Plan 2006-2010
Glenelg (Vic) Cultural Strategy Plan
Gosnells (WA) Cultural Plan 2007-2010
Holroyd (NSW) Cultural Plan: Cultural Vitality in Holroyd City 2006-2011
Hornsby (NSW) Cultural Plan 2008-2010
Kogarah (NSW) Cultural Plan
Marion (SA) 'Living Our Culture' The City of Marion Cultural Plan 2005-2010
Mundaring (WA) Cultural Plan 2009-2012
Port Stephens (NSW) Cultural Plan 2009-2013
Redland (Qld) Our City Our Culture A Cultural Plan for the Redlands 2008-2018
Wollongong (NSW) Cultural Plan 2006-2011
Yarra (VIC) Arts and Cultural Plan 2005/09
Yarra Ranges (Vic) Cultural Policy and Action Plan 2008-2013
LGSA NSW The NSW Local Government Association keeps an archive of cultural plans from across the State.
© 15/10/09 Jon Hawkes <email> <web>
From The Hawkes Library; affiliated with FourthPillar.biz