What is Culture?

The NSW Ministry for the Arts defines culture as:

"Our sense of place, our values and our identity - culture is about a way of life and connections between people and between places and people. The material products of creative processes - culture includes cultural assets and resources. Our engagement and participation in creative processes - recording what we believe at that time."

For the purposes of Pittwater's Cultural Plan, the following definition has been developed:

"Culture arises from a community's sense of place, heritage and local distinctiveness. Culture is defined by people's beliefs, attitudes and way of life including aspirations and values about the environment, lifestyle, social connection and creative pursuits.”

Culture includes but is not limited to:

• Shared memories, experiences and identity
• What we consider valuable to pass on to future generations
• Performing and visual arts including digital and website art, craft, design and fashion
• Media, film, television, radio, video and language
• Museums, art galleries, artefacts, local historical societies, archives and keeping places
• Libraries, literature, writing and publishing
• The built environment, heritage, architecture, landscape and archaeology
• Sports events, facilities and development
• Parks, open spaces, wildlife habitats, water environment and countryside recreation
• Diverse cultural, religious and historic backgrounds
• Tourism, festivals and attractions
• Informal leisure pursuits

What is a Cultural Plan?

A Cultural Plan enables Pittwater to identify its cultural assets, identity and needs as well as providing a framework to develop cultural initiatives to increase cultural opportunities for Pittwater residents.

A Cultural Plan includes the following elements: 

• Policy audit
• Cultural asset audit - which will identify assets, resources and infrastructure currently in the community
• A demographic profile
• Community consultation - which will identify residents needs and priorities for the development of culture within Pittwater
• Strategy formulation - which will include priorities, actions and timeframes

Background of Cultural Planning

Local Government Act
In 2002 amendments were made to the Local Government Act to state that Councils may be required to include in its management plan a statement on matters including social, community or cultural matters.
This does not mean that Councils are required to develop at this stage; however Pittwater Council as well as community members felt that now was an opportune time to develop a Plan.

Pittwater Council
In 2002 the Council adopted a strategy for addressing arts and cultural issues in Pittwater and from that Pittwater Community Arts Incorporated was formed. In 2004 the Community and Cultural Portfolio Committee recommended to Council that staff prepare a report regarding the development of a Cultural plan. In March 2005 Council considered a report and resolved to develop a Cultural Plan and as part of the process establish an Advisory Group.

How the Cultural Plan has been developed

Pittwater’s cultural plan has been developed through an inclusive consultation process with members of the community. The cultural planning process has been monitored by and had input from the Cultural Plan Advisory Group, which consisted of community members, Councillors and Council Staff. The methodology used for developing the plan included extensive quantitative and qualitative consultations; desktop and exploratory audit of cultural assets; a literature review including key council documents and cultural plans compiled for other council areas and exercises to map the sense of place and spirit of Pittwater.

Quantitative and qualitative consultations were carried out between August - December 2005 and involved:

• An on-line public opinion survey and comment page
• A postal questionnaire for members of community organisations
• A survey with participants attending Pittwater Community Arts General Meeting, an ‘Author’s Talk’ at Mona Vale Library, a Baha’i Children’s Service and a Youth Film Festival 
• Two ‘Cultural Conversation’ forums, assisted by a performance by a local theatre group 
• Focus groups with the surfing, Baha’i and Indigenous communities 
• Artwork submissions from community members mapping the spirit of Pittwater
• A creative mapping exercise with children to create postcards
• A photographic exercise with the Pittwater Camera Club mapping the sense of place
• Internal discussions with key officers within Council

This Plan also draws on findings from recent consultations including Pittwater’s 2030 Community Forum, Pittwater’s Youth Forum 2005, a council communications workshop, a ‘Sense of Community’ survey and focus groups held for the development of Pittwater’s Social Plan.

Community input was vital to the success of the cultural planning process. In total over 900 community members’ opinions were taken into account to help develop this Plan, including 500 residents directly involved in the cultural plan consultations.

Pittwater's Cultural Vision

During the cultural planning process the Cultural Plan Advisory Group helped developed the following vision for culture within Pittwater, this vision was affirmed by the community during consultation. 

Pittwater's cultural vision is:  'A place where creativity, cultural diversity and aspirations enrich the lives of the whole community'.

Cultural Plan - Themes and Issues

From the consultation process a range of issues and needs were idendified regarding Pittwater's culture. The issues fell into four central themes:

• Living Communities - creating a vibrant culture through the provision of cultural activities as well as the celebration of cultural diversity
• Connecting People - connecting people to culture through communication, promotion and coordination of cultural activities and opportunities
• Accessing Spaces - encouraging cultural development through improving access to cultural facilities
• Sustaining Culture - encouraging sustainable cultural development for the benefit of current and future generations

Cultural Plan - Actions

The cultural planning process has enabled Council and the community to articulate a vision for the future and outline the priorities and actions that need to be taken to achieve this vision.

A five year action plan has been identified and approximately 30 out of the 45 actions are now being implemented. Activities currently being undertaken to complete these actions include:

• Development of a concept design for an outdoor performance space at Village Park, Mona Vale, including preliminary discussions with potential user groups.
• Provide a series of outdoor venues starting with Village park and/or Winnererremy Bay, including structures such as a stage or a rotunda.
• A‘whats on’ section developed on Councils website, including a specific arts and culture category, to provide a single access point for activities and events.
• Provide designated usage of Avalon Recreation Centre for allocated periods of the year for the purpose of cultural activities by local artists - Artzpace.
• Discussion has been held with artists regarding providing designated usage of Avalon Recreation Centre for cultural activities. Artzpace will be running for the 2nd year in January 2009.
• Development of a quarterly cultural calendar with the focus on increasing entries and distribution list.
• Conducting a review of the Community Grants Program to include a funding stream for cultural activities.
• Participation in the annual Guringai Festival to celebrate and promote Indigenous culture.
• Hosting of the Bilarong Cultural Festival to increase environmental awareness and promote sustainability.
• Identification and maintenance of Aboriginal Heritage Items through participation in the Aboriginal Heritage Office project.
• Ongoing identification and listing of Aboriginal Heritage Items with the Heritage Office ($30,000).
• Providing a single point of contact for cultural issues within Council and ensuring culture is a focus for Community & Library Services team.
• Incorporation of funding for Youth Art prizes within the Mayoral Donation Program.
• Working with youth entertainment promoters to hold an Under 18 Dance Party.
• Utilisation of existing facilities, such as surf clubs and the Library, to hold exhibitions and meetings for cultural groups.
• Supporting the bi-annual Artfest and Scotland Island Festival, which provide high quality cultural activities and opportunities for the whole community.
• Work with Pittwater Community Arts Inc. to facilitate a diverse range of regular events such as Heritage Week, PCA Open Meetings, Annual Arts Show and Body Painting.
• In addition to providing monthly "Author Talks" in the Library, identify opportunities to expand this to incorporate talks on other topics of cultural significance.
• Identify opportunities to re-establish an evening food market within Pittwater.
• Develop a number of outdoor events at Village Park and Winnererremy Bay.
• Identify opportunities to mix youth cultures by encouraging them to sample different sporting activities.
• In conjunction with Pittwater Community Arts Inc, establish an annual exhibition of works which involve two or more creative mediums.
• Support and encourage artistic competitions within Pittwater to include Youth Art Prizes such as ArtFest and Murals.
• Continue to work with the Guringai Festival Committee to promote indigenous culture to the wider community.
• Provide activities within Council's Vacation Care and After School Programs to raise awareness of ethnic and indigenous cultures.
• Consult with the community regarding the development of any new community facility to enhance opportunities for cultural activities within these venues ie. Newport Recreation Centre, Warriewood Community Facility.
• Develop a five year works program to upgrade council facilities to increase exhibition space as well as outlets for promotional banners.
• Look at opportunities within current works programs to further upgrade facilities to ensure physical accessibility.
• Promote Council's community noticeboards for public use and co-ordinate placement of public material, including non-profit and for-profit individuals and organisations.
• Provide a quarterly Cultural Calendar (hard copy and web) including information and descriptions about cultural activities and opportunities and established an email distribution list to notify the wider community of upcoming Council events.
• In conjunctions with Pittwater Community Arts Inc, establish an annual exhibition of works which involve two or more creative mediums.
• Provide a live database of cultural groups and local artists.
• Work with the community to increase networking between groups who provide cutural activities.
• Provie a single point of contact for cultural issues and ensure culture is a signfiicant area of focus for Community & Library Services.
• Promote major events and festivals such as Heritage Week and Seniors Week, through a coordinated program of activities incorporating both council and non-council activities.
• Develop a Public Art Policy.
• Review the Community Grants Program to consider establishing a separate funding stream for cultural activities ($10,000).
• Provide support to local groups to hold exhibitions and performances within council facilities - ie Artzpace
• Incorporate strategies to increase environmental awareness and sustainable development within established events - 2020, Earth Hour
• Continue to improve landscaping designs and architecture in reserves, commercial centres and streetscape with participation from the community regarding future designs.
• Provide workshops to local community on how to have sustainable natural gardens - Coastal Environment Centre
• Provide guided tours (walks/talks) of Pittwater's natural environment, including places of cultural and historical significance - Coastal Environment Centre
• Utilise 'Recognising Pittwater' style guide to develop a consistent image across all signage and publications.

The remaining actions will be completed over the next five year period. It is also understood that Pittwater’s first Cultural Plan is a living document that will involve and improve over its lifespan.