Draft Coffs Harbour Cultural Plan 2013 - 2016 - Coffs Harbour City ...

Agenda - Ordinary Meeting 22 November 2012 - CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Attachment 3
For a snapshot of information availability see Attachment D Snapshot of events calendars.
Information is often in the database behind the Discover Coffs Coast site, even if the site
categorization and prominence of events and activities is pitched at visitors rather than
residents. The concept would be to extend this database, importantly include commercial
entertainment, but to allow different views of from different websites.
It is proposed that an external body be contracted to organize and put currently missing
information into the database, in particular about commercial events such as rock concerts
and events and activities at the CHEC campus. The most cost-effective manner to make this
available is likely via a contract with a media organisation which already collects this or
related information for another purpose.
In the interim, it is suggested that the Council events calendar be turned off, with an icon
linking instead to the far better maintained Discover Coffs Coast events calendar. Users
could easily assume at the moment that the Council calendar represents all events, and that is
significantly misleading.
Once redeveloped and a trusted , reliable source, the accommodation providers, community
groups and cultural facilities could also be offered the opportunity to put a linked icon to the
events database on their websites. Printed publications could also be encouraged to use the
database as a source.
Smartphones are now ubiquitous infrastructure and are owned by a large proportion of the
population. Special attention will need to be paid to the ease of search processes and the
overall appearance of the relevant websites through mobile devices.
As with most apparently technical projects, biggest challenges will relate to the engagement
of the current information providers and a clear and shared concept of the service to be
offered. Commitment to the outcome, clarity of business rules and excellent project
management will be required.
7.1.6 Single source – participatory activities
As well as events, there are some activities such as short courses, series of lessons or
workshops, or regular meetings of hobby or reading groups, which are important especially
for new residents to be able to find. This would currently be very difficult. As one community
member put it: “If you don’t know it exists, you don’t know it exists and you don’t go looking
for it”. An example of this would be the social artists’ sessions at the Regional Art Gallery
every Friday. Once the single event source is established and working well, a comparable
facility would support these activities.
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