Planning for Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy and Creative Precinct Masterplan

Cultural and creative strategy
Written By Zoe Scott

Client: City of Ballarat

Collaborators: SGS Economics & Planning

MGS Architects

Eleni Arbus

Mary Papaioannou

Location: Ballarat, Victoria

Year: 2018

Creativity at the heart of economic strategy

 

Brief

Ballarat is one of Victoria’s prestigious regional cities, celebrated for its rich and proud history as a gold rush town, as the birthplace of Australian democracy and the home to some of Australia’s best-preserved heritage architecture. In more recent years, the city’s arts and cultural scene has become increasingly important to its place identity. The City of Ballarat went to tender to identify consortia able to develop an economically-driven Creative City Strategy which would outline policy and investment opportunities to increase the impact of its creative and cultural industries and make Ballarat a liveable and resilient community.

 

Approach

Left Bank Co. partnered with SGS Economics & Planning, MGS Architects, landscape architect Mary Papaioannou and creative spaces expert Eleni Arbus to deliver a comprehensive project solution including research, engagement and the formulation of key recommendations for the Creative City Strategy and Creative Precinct Masterplan for Ballarat. Left Bank Co. led the engagement and facilitation to inform the development of the project. We conducted workshops with over 60 members of the local creative community to understand the local creative ecosystem, and facilitated a day-long charette with the community and sector stakeholders to establish the bones of the Creative City Strategy and Creative Precinct Masterplan.

 

Impact

The Strategy and Masterplan was endorsed and adopted by Council in May 2019. The project has been recognised for its innovative process and community building outcomes by winning the following awards and nominations:

Zoe Scott
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