Cultural Facilities
Whenever a consultation process is undertaken, the issue of cultural facilities will come up. This is understandable because these facilities are often a source of community pride as well as serving their cultural and recreational needs.
Many activities require purpose built or multi-purpose facilities. Whilst some community organisations are in the envious position of owning premises, possessing a perpetual lease or have access to low cost accommodation, many are not.
What can be done if affordable, appropriate space is not readily available? Ideally, local councils facilitate access to community premises, owned and run by the community for the community and are self-sustaining, i.e. generating enough income from activities to meet the costs of running the building, with any surplus income being ploughed back into the building or community activity. In the real world, of course, this is often not the case.
There is no right or wrong way to go about getting support for refurbished or new facilities for your activities, but there are many issues which need to be addressed and things to do if you are going to be successful. You need to be very clear about what you want. Develop a justification/need for the facility, with relevant data to support your case and be able to communicate your aspirations to the people who can assist you in achieving your aim.
UK based Devon Reinvestment Service has developed a fantastic online toolkit, called Developing Community Assets, which highlights the key activities needed to develop a community asset - www.devon.gov.uk/drs_toolkit_all_in_one.pdf
Whilst it is UK specific in many instances, it provides an excellent introduction to what you need to do, as well as lots of useful universal planning templates.
Planning for facilities
Any major works will require a feasibility study. It is not just about checking that there is the population base to support it and getting the infrastructure in place, it is keeping it going. Annual operating costs for a community building can be $1M or more. What is perceived as an ongoing drain on resources is what makes Councils nervous about investing in the first place.
Many administrators now realise that this investment is returned in ways that are more significant for community building and the achievement of Council’s corporate goals than returning a profit in financial terms.
The Grittier Places Partnership Program
The Grittier Places Partnership Program makes a difference to Queensland artists and communities by transforming old buildings into creative and active spaces. From 2005 to 2009, the Government is providing $200,000 a year through the Grittier Places Partnership Program to help local councils and community groups convert old council buildings into arts venues.
Many local councils own redundant utility buildings such as former sub-stations and depots which are solidly built and have generous internal dimensions. It is possible to develop these disused buildings into rough and basic facilities which are suitable for a range of messy and noisy activities carried out by visual artists, musicians and performance artists. It is envisaged that artists and art groups would use space within these arts accommodation hubs either free of charge or at a nominal rent.
The Grittier Places Partnership Program contributes to the capital building conversion works providing useable spaces. The facilities could be rough and basic with minimal fit-out works such as toilet, kitchen and office facilities. Workplace Health and Safety, Building, Fire Control and Access standards would be met. Local councils can apply for grants of up to $50,000 per location to develop a Grittier Places project; however, they will need to demonstrate their financial commitment by at least matching the funding sought from the Government.
For more information - www.arts.qld.gov.au/funding/gritty-places, call 07 3225 8082 or email grittierplaces@arts.qld.gov.au