Waitakere City Council 

Waitakere City Council has been a leader in developing innovative ways of supporting and working with the arts and artists.

In particular, its arts/design policy of using artists in every capital project has resulted in awards for a pedestrian bridge and civic buildings.

In 2002 Helen Schamroth of Creationz Consultants was commissioned to write an arts and cultural strategy.

Knowledge of the richness and diversity of arts and culture in the city had resided mainly in the memories of long-standing arts advisors and, although there had been an arts policy which dated back to 1991, it was soon outdated.

There was fragmented documentation of the spectrum of arts activity in the city, but no forward-looking strategy.

Research was undertaken by AUT in 2000 as a preamble to an Arts and Cultural strategy being written.

This research needed development as it had some significant gaps. An innovative strategy was needed to match the practices of Council.

Helen Schamroth used design process to inform research, conceptualisation, development and resolution of the strategy, with a staff reference group steering the project.

A community advisory group and focus groups for various sectors identified priorities. Local iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua; the Pacific Islands Advisory Board and other local cultural groups were involved.

A culturally inclusive means of processing data was developed. The emerging strategy was represented diagrammatically by weaving the strands of arts practice in the City with Council's activities.

This structure underpinned everything from a 'snapshot' of arts practice and practitioners, to key aspects required of the strategy ranging from principles to action plan.

Council approved the strategy without variation. They appreciated that the strategy gave them a mandate for arts development and a structure for developing the arts.

A 10-year vision and a three-year action plan provided a framework for policy and decision-making. Arts staff have an approved strategy to support their activities that goes beyond key people being in place.

Artists continue to be used in all capital projects. The consultative way the strategy was developed was appreciated by all parties.

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