Cultural creation and production in the Inner West LGA: a case-study needs analysis
Pollio, A, Ang, I, Rowe, D, Stevenson, D & Magee, L 2018, Cultural creation and production in the Inner West LGA: a case-study needs analysis (PDF 6MB). Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
This report was commissioned to assist the Inner West Council in developing a greater understanding of the nature and extent of future needs for creative space in the local government area (LGA), with a focus on infrastructure for cultural creation and production. The research focuses on the relationships between artists, creators, their activities, and the spaces that currently and potentially nurture cultural life in Sydney’s Inner West.
The research provided detailed knowledge through case-study profiles of 11 cultural venues about the workspaces within which cultural and creative producers conduct their activities in the 35 km 2 urban area covered by the Inner West Council. It led to an improved understanding of the social and economic environment within which cultural and creative sector agents operate, and the impact of this environment on their selection and use of particular venues or sites. The report highlights five interrelated trends and identifies nine problem areas affecting creating venues in the Inner West.
Planning cultural creation and production in Sydney: A venue and infrastructure needs analysis
Ang, I, Rowe, D, Stevenson, D, Magee, L, Wong, A, Swist, T, & Pollio, A 2018. Planning cultural creation and production in Sydney: A venue and infrastructure needs analysis (PDF 4MB). Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
This report was commissioned to assist the City of Sydney develop a greater understanding of the nature and extent of future needs for creative spaces especially for cultural creation and production in the city. The research focuses on the relationships between cultural creators, activities and spaces with the potential for nurturing cultural life and practice in Sydney. The research provides detailed knowledge about the workspaces within which cultural and creative producers conduct their work in the City of Sydney, and the role of such workspaces (commercial or otherwise) within wider cultural value chains.
The report provides case-study profiles of 18 cultural venues/ spaces currently in use within the City of Sydney LGA, through semi-structured interviews with space managers and users. The main spatial foci are Redfern Village and the Green Square area, which were selected because they represent, respectively, established and emergent zones of cultural creation and production in the city. This research was underpinned by 5 interviews with key stakeholders across Sydney’s cultural sector and the creative space data assembled for the Mapping Culture (2016) report and database which laid the foundation for this project, and other available data. Based on these case studies, five emerging trends and eight major issues related to current and future creative space needs in Sydney were identified. The report concludes with a series of recommendations.
Recalibrating culture: production, consumption, policy.
Stevenson, D, Rowe, D, Caust, J & Cmielewski, C 2017, Recalibrating culture: production, consumption, policy (PDF, 1.56MB), Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
This research is the result of the ARC Linkage Project (LP 130100253) “Recalibrating Culture: Production, Consumption, Policy” into understanding the work practices of artists and cultural practitioners who live and/or practice in Greater Western Sydney. The research aimed to find out about the nature of artistic and cultural practice, how that work is undertaken, where it is done, and what is needed for arts and cultural practice to happen and prosper. The project presented changing modes of cultural activity and participation in Australia. The research consisted of a detailed online survey open for two months and semi-structured interviews with 21 participants. This report summarises and provides a detailed analysis of the key findings, and closes with a set of conclusions and recommendations.
Mapping culture: venues and infrastructure in the City of Sydney.
Ang, I, Rowe, D, Magee, L, Wong, A, Swist, T, Rouillard, D & Polio, A 2016, Mapping culture: venues and infrastructure in the City of Sydney (PDF, 4.13MB). Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
This report was commissioned to assist the City of Sydney in developing a greater knowledge of its cultural infrastructure through a process of classification and mapping of the City’s cultural venues. Its multi-layered database assists with the design of the most appropriate and effective policies to enhance the cultural and creative life of the City.
The report provides an explanation of the concept of culture that has been operationalised, with a discussion of key models of the cultural and creative industries. The report also includes a detailed rationale of the cultural classification framework adopted through the research and a series of maps concerning the location and distribution of 3,106 cultural venues that were mapped and broken down into spatial, cultural industry, and venue types.
A series of maps concerning the clustering of cultural venues, organisations and enterprises across the City of Sydney LGA in three cultural sectors: music, the visual arts, and architecture and design are enlived by a detailed case study of the Redfern Street Village.
Conclusions and recommendations demonstrate that type and intensity of cultural activities, venues and infrastructure vary considerably across its villages. The report provides a glimpse of transient, informal cultural practices that are not easily captured. Its data maps and analysis will assist the City in making informed decisions related to cultural policy and planning over the coming decades.