What are the arts and creative industries worth to you?

A few weeks ago, I was prompted to ask myself this question, focussing on how my work within the arts sector and in this particular region, could be affected by the value other people including governments, place on the arts.

This happened in the context of a global conversation about how and even whether the creative industries can survive the Covid-19 related shutdowns. When governments don’t adequately step in to underwrite income and job losses, you have to wonder whether the arts are valued to the same extent as other industries.

Because we instinctively value the arts. Don’t we?

Here in Australia in ‘normal’ years, the arts are apparently worth $111 billion in direct and indirect value to the Australia economy and at least $8.7 billion in direct activity to the NSW economy. Each year, twice as many people in Australia visit a cultural event or facility than attend sporting events.

Well, participation is one thing, but does engagement with the arts, necessarily translate into valuing the creative industries? You would have thought everyone, including governments, would stand up for an industry in which 98% of Australians share an interest. Maybe it’s just that we either can’t tell or simply don’t have pause to consider how much we value things until they are absent?

A document released by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, outlining planning priorities for Coffs Harbour up to 2036, omitted to place the arts, culture and creative industries on par with other planning priorities. In fact, the ‘arts’ was only mentioned 4 times in the 63-page Draft Regional City Action Plan.

This absence struck a chord. After all, this document is the type of planning instrument that affects where investment is made in local economies for years to come. Indeed, when local councils write funding applications to State departments for major infrastructure or sector development grant money, the promised project outcomes must align with existing strategic priorities.

So, what would it mean for the future growth of the arts sector in this region, if the action plan doesn’t place the arts as a priority?

That question provoked interested individuals and representatives of arts organisations to gather in Coffs Harbour to discuss the draft plan and a possible response.

We agreed to compile a submission on behalf of the creative industries. After the meeting I jotted down some thoughts and sent them in, believing that would be the limit of my contribution. Then the phone rang.

I was asked to coordinate the written response and despite my best effort at saying ‘no’ to pro bono work, in this instance I allowed myself to be persuaded. I guess I decided in that moment that it was in my own interest to spend a few hours to help safeguard future investment in the local arts and creative industries.

The result is linked here. While it’s flattering that the final version preserved much of my first draft, the important thing to note is how comprehensive the submission ended up being, thanks to thorough research and references. A genuine team effort achieved great things in a short timeframe; also, nothing motivates like a deadline and the watchful eye of strangers.

Props to the many members of Coffs Coast Creative Industries who supported the submission. Let’s hope it makes a difference.