Creative Vision Mackay’s Arts and Culture Strategy Unveiled

In Mackay Regional Council’s new Arts and Culture Strategy 2025 to 2030 there is a focus on providing artists and community groups with more affordable access to facilities and infrastructure.
The strategy, which is now adopted and live on council’s website, sets out a clear vision for arts and culture in the Mackay region, which underpins our region's liveability and prosperity.
A key action of the strategy is to partner with local stakeholders to develop an “Arts Hub” that considers community needs and provides a multi-arts facility.
Deputy Mayor Karen May said such a facility would ideally have low-rent studios, rehearsal spaces, workshop spaces and potential exhibition and retail spaces.
“Ideally we want to explore ways for creative practices to activate underutilised regional places and spaces, like many of our beautiful City Centre buildings,” Cr May said.
“Not only would the activation of a City Centre Arts Hub fill a shortage in affordable multi-arts infrastructure, but it would also help to further enhance foot traffic in the City Centre and the liveability of our region,” she said.
“Such a hub would also provide a base for future placemaking activities and initiatives that further activate the area.”
Cr May said investigations were already underway into potential City Centre buildings that could accommodate an Arts Hub.
She said that council was also committed to ensuring the Northern Beaches Community Hub was reflective of the community’s creative needs.
“The facility will include spaces that will facilitate a range of community activities, programs, services and events.”
Other goals in the strategy include:
   • Amplifying First Nations voices and talents while building inclusive and diverse audience engagement pathways.
   • Growing local creative ecologies by increasing capability, growing opportunities, raising profiles and deepening audience engagement and community participation.
   • Building and promoting a distinctive creative identity for Mackay, showcasing the richness of our cultural landscape.
The Arts and Culture Strategy 2025 to 2030 was developed with extensive consultation with local artists, performers, creatives, venue hosts and industry stakeholders.
Residents can view the strategy at mackay.qld.gov.au/arts

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