Ku-ring-gai Cultural Infrastructure Strategy
Client: Ku-ring-gai Council
Location: Ku-ring-gai, NSW
Year: 2020
Meeting the current and future needs of the community
Brief
The Ku-ring-gai community is highly engaged with creativity and culture, particularly its school-aged children and its retirees. Previous studies into local community facilities identified a gap in the provision of functional and fit-for-purpose creative spaces, prompting Ku-ring-gai Council to commission the development of a cultural infrastructure strategy. Council sought to understand how to best make use of its existing property assets and how to leverage future development opportunities, as well as finding a coordinated approach to prioritising and planning a network of spaces.
Approach
Left Bank Co. developed the Ku-ring-gai Cultural Infrastructure Strategy, based on a three-part scope of works that consolidated previous work and filled gaps in knowledge. This included a review of previous studies and reports; a high-level profile of Ku-ring-gai’s professional creative industries cohort, conducted in partnership with SGS Economics and Planning; and a benefits analysis to understand the impact that investment in creative space could have on the area and the community. Using this insight, we developed a Cultural Infrastructure Strategy to set out a vision and principles for Council’s approach to delivering and managing cultural infrastructure. Priorities and an action plan set out a roadmap for the next 15 years, along with concept plans for a number of proposed new and redeveloped facilities. These were developed in collaboration with Brand X, Charcoal Blue and Slattery to build a picture of the spatial needs, associated fit out costs, and any operational considerations.
Impact
The Ku-ring-gai Cultural Infrastructure Strategy was designed to support Council to carefully plan for the delivery of new facilities as part of Council-led urban development projects. It also supported Council’s community and cultural team to focus on high impact actions that would improve the operations and use of existing facilities. Most importantly, it demonstrated the local appetite for cultural participation and engagement, and the importance that Council must place on the provision and upkeep of its cultural spaces.