Shaping arts and culture

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How will we grow and sustain arts and culture in the future? Tell us what you think to shape a ten year strategy for the Inner West.



Creativity and culture are essential to our community, identity and economy. In 2019, 70% of responders to our Wellbeing Survey said that arts and culture is an important Council service. Inner West is home to the highest concentration of cultural producers nationally. There are 6,500 local jobs in the creative and cultural sectors, with 13,000 residents working in the sectors outside of the Inner West. The cultural and creative industries contribute $1.4 billion per annum to the local economy.

Your feedback will help us identify key opportunities and draft the Cultural Strategy.


What can the strategy include?

A wide range of cultural opportunities and support, including:

  • Aboriginal/First Nations heritage and contemporary practice
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Integrating culture into urban planning, e.g. creative spaces and art in public places
  • Participating in arts and culture at all stages of life
  • Support for the arts sector, e.g. through collaborations and capacity building
  • Diversifying/extending our cultural offerings, including young people and culturally diverse groups
  • Local cultural experiences and services.

What have we done so far?

Makers, creators and producers from across the area have already been sharing ideas with Council staff. In July 2017, the creative sector participated in collaborative sessions on the future of the Inner West. These views informed Council’s Community Strategic Plan, Our Inner West 2036. More recently, independent research was undertaken to shape recommendations in two reports:

  • Planning Cultural Creation and Production in the Inner West LGA: A case study needs analysis (2018) by Western Sydney University
  • Creative Spaces and Venues Discussion Paper (2019) by Leftbank Co and JOC.

Have your say

You can share your views:

  • Online via the feedback form
  • By mail: Cultural Planning and Policy Lead, Inner West Council, PO Box 14, Petersham, 2049

The last day to comment is Tuesday, 24 March 2020.

What happens next

The community’s comments will be reviewed by the project team and incorporated with other information into a draft Cultural Strategy. There will be an opportunity for the community to review the draft and provide feedback.

How will we grow and sustain arts and culture in the future? Tell us what you think to shape a ten year strategy for the Inner West.



Creativity and culture are essential to our community, identity and economy. In 2019, 70% of responders to our Wellbeing Survey said that arts and culture is an important Council service. Inner West is home to the highest concentration of cultural producers nationally. There are 6,500 local jobs in the creative and cultural sectors, with 13,000 residents working in the sectors outside of the Inner West. The cultural and creative industries contribute $1.4 billion per annum to the local economy.

Your feedback will help us identify key opportunities and draft the Cultural Strategy.


What can the strategy include?

A wide range of cultural opportunities and support, including:

  • Aboriginal/First Nations heritage and contemporary practice
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Integrating culture into urban planning, e.g. creative spaces and art in public places
  • Participating in arts and culture at all stages of life
  • Support for the arts sector, e.g. through collaborations and capacity building
  • Diversifying/extending our cultural offerings, including young people and culturally diverse groups
  • Local cultural experiences and services.

What have we done so far?

Makers, creators and producers from across the area have already been sharing ideas with Council staff. In July 2017, the creative sector participated in collaborative sessions on the future of the Inner West. These views informed Council’s Community Strategic Plan, Our Inner West 2036. More recently, independent research was undertaken to shape recommendations in two reports:

  • Planning Cultural Creation and Production in the Inner West LGA: A case study needs analysis (2018) by Western Sydney University
  • Creative Spaces and Venues Discussion Paper (2019) by Leftbank Co and JOC.

Have your say

You can share your views:

  • Online via the feedback form
  • By mail: Cultural Planning and Policy Lead, Inner West Council, PO Box 14, Petersham, 2049

The last day to comment is Tuesday, 24 March 2020.

What happens next

The community’s comments will be reviewed by the project team and incorporated with other information into a draft Cultural Strategy. There will be an opportunity for the community to review the draft and provide feedback.