Visual Arts Strategy

Gallery Services: Visual Arts Strategy

Prepared in January 2013, Gallery Services’ new Visual Arts Strategy was formally endorsed and adopted with much enthusiasm by Townsville City Council in early 2013.

The Strategy is innovative within the national network of regional galleries, and seeks to step away from antiquated gallery models in favour of a new approach that is reflective of the needs and wants of the community that the galleries service.

As such, the adopted Visual Arts Strategy has transformed the traditional methodology of a three-tiered model (Collections Management, Exhibitions and Public Programs) of core servicelevel delivery towards a themed strategy that has provided unprecedented targeted service level delivery platforms and mechanisms through which Gallery Services has elevated and extended its operational objectives within and outside of the gallery environment.

The six themes of core service level delivery are defined within the Visual Arts Strategy as: i. Exhibitions ii. Collections Management iii. Art in Public Spaces iv. Creative Classrooms v. Creative Communities vi. Creative Spaces

Activation of traditional spaces has been coupled with a more proactive and innovative interaction with available Council and civic spaces; policy development and implementation of holistic frameworks for public art will establish sustainable cultural currency and engrain the visual arts in the city’s future direction and development; specialised initiatives and capacity building opportunities will embed arts education and appreciation with the region’s youth and arts educators; multidisciplinary projects will establish and empower partnerships and capacity building opportunities with artists, artsworkers and arts organisations; and cultural capacity development of the visual arts sector will have untold social and economic benefits for not only the individual participants and creative professionals, but for the wider community through national recognition of Townsville as an arts and cultural destination of substance.

The objectives Gallery Services seeks through the implementation of this Visual Arts Strategy are:

A Provision of high-level overarching strategies that inform holistic service level delivery across Gallery Services activities

B Provision of identifiable signature umbrella platforms that inform program development, implementation and methodologies across Gallery Services activities

C Activation of the Townsville region for the delivery of arts and cultural activities, events and programs

D Fosters collaboration and participation with arts organisations, educational organisations, community and specialist groups

E Presents opportunities, events and services that provide high quality cultural and recreational experiences for individuals, groups and youth

F Develop, administer and maintain an Art In Public Spaces program that recognises and supports the region’s artists and facilitates partnerships and industry development in local and regional planning

G Support, promote and provide opportunities for the Townsville region’s artists, artsworkers and arts educators through advocacy, employment, promotion and collaboration

H Develop, deliver and maintain innovative and relevant educative programs for youth, students, scholars and individuals

Put simply, the development and adoption of this Visual Arts Strategy has enabled activity that will position Townsville’s galleries and arts sector as a leader amongst regional communities in Australia, with significant social and economic benefits to the Townsville Community.