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

Agenda - Ordinary Meeting 22 November 2012 - CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Attachment 3
7.2 People, networks and skills
While it is a cliché that our most valuable resource is our people, it is undeniably true in
relation to arts, creative industries and culture in general where the value of the output is
directly related to the quality of ideas and excellence of execution. The skills needed for
success are not just those related to the technical achievement of a product but also to the
capacity to plan, manage and market that product, service or event. Opportunities can arise
where creative people create personal and professional networks which can form and mutate
as ideas and opportunities emerge.
7.2.1 Creative Industries
Many of the factors for the success of creative industries businesses, such as access to venture
capital, are national and well beyond the scope of this Policy. Council’s role in relation to
these issues is to advocate to ensure skills development, advice and information services are
available to and utilised by prospective and existing businesses in Coffs Harbour.
In 2006, 514 people were employed in Coffs Harbour in the creative industries from
publishing and architecture to television production and advertising. 11
The success in both developing and attracting creative businesses in Coffs Harbour will
depend in part on whether some aspect of the location provides an advantage:
Business which gains an advantage from a particular aspect of the Coffs Harbour
region such proximity to the beach or the forest or access to whale watching or the
local Aboriginal heritage. Businesses based on cultural tourism are an example: or
Business which could be based anywhere in which case lifestyle choices for workers
and comparatively low cost premises are important. Software development and
design businesses may fall into this category.
To enhance development of creative industries in Coffs Harbour, the following projects are
highly recommended:
Establishment of a monthly networking event for people working professionally in the
arts and creative industries. It is apparent throughout the consultation process that
even people with substantial professional interests in common do not know each
11 ABS Census Data 2006. Data from the 2011 Census is not yet available on this topic.
Page 26
1486