HUON VALLEY ARTS & HERITAGE STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN 2012–2017 SEPTEMBER 2012 PREPARED BY POCO PEOPLE/MADE TASMANIA CONSORTIUM Cover: Mural by Charles Zuber, Franklin Primary School. CONTENTS Context ...........................................................................2 Consultation with the community ..........................3 Why are arts and heritage so important? ...........4 Huon Valley strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities ..............................................6 Huon Valley Arts & Heritage Flow Chart ................8 Strategy ....................................................................... 10 Action Plan 2012–2017 .......................................... 12 1 CONTEXT In 2008, the Huon Valley Council developed the Huon A snapshot of the Huon Valley Valley 2020 Community Plan. This included the strategic aim of celebrating the arts, heritage and culture: This strategy reflects the profile of the Huon Valley, taking into consideration its sense of place, changing “There are many places throughout the Valley demographics, evolving community needs and rural that are significant to our heritage and cultural lifestyle. This requires a strategic approach to ensure identity. These need to be recognised and arts and heritage outcomes are relevant to the protected to ensure future generations have the community over the life of the action plan. opportunities of insight and empathy with the past to guide and inform the present. The Environment Communities with a strong sense of who they are, who they were and who they might be are rich in • Australia’s southern-most – and Tasmania’s social and cultural capital. Telling the stories of second-largest – municipal area covering about the Valley and its people builds understanding 5,200 square kilometres across a diverse and and connection. Supporting, promoting and captivating landscape celebrating the Valley’s heritage, arts, artists and • A backdrop of the South West Wilderness Area and artisans will also enhance community life. The World Heritage areas Valley’s many halls, parks and open spaces play a vital role in supporting events and celebrations”.1 • Several townships with distinct characteristics • Diverse climate, landforms and vegetation Arts & Heritage Advisory Committee The Community To progress these stated goals and strategies, in 2010 the Council formed the Arts & Heritage Advisory • Population of slightly more than 15,000 people; Committee (AHAC). Members of the committee are relatively dispersed residents who are practitioners or supporters of the • Comprises people who have lived in the Huon Valley arts and heritage. The function of the committee is to for generations and feel a deep and rich connection provide advice to Council on: with the landscape and its people • Includes newer residents who have moved to the • development and implementation of an Arts and Huon Valley to take advantage of the environment, Heritage Strategy and Action Plan; and the small-scale agricultural and creative • the development of funding applications for the business opportunities delivery of arts and heritage projects; • endorsement of appropriate funding applications developed by external local stakeholders; The Lifestyle • promotion of the arts and heritage tourism • value of the Huon Valley; • Range of bushland, coastal, riverside and rural • contemporary arts and heritage issues and ideas; environments offering lifestyle options for families, • matters of state and local heritage listings; individuals and businesses • the creation and funding of public art; • Environment and unique sense of place attracts • the delivery of externally funded projects that skilled and creative people require a coordinated effort from various stakeholders; • Geographic beauty and isolation inspires creativity • future policy and project opportunities. and resourcefulness • Increasingly popular as a tourist and seachange destination 1 Huon Valley 2020 Community Plan, Huon Valley Council, pp.11. 2 CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMUNITY The Huon Valley Council recognises the significant The following people have generously donated value that arts and heritage hold for the unique their time and expertise to the process of creating character of the region, and the enormous social, this strategy: Councillor Rosalie Woodruff; Posie health and economic benefits that are provided to Graeme-Evans; Michael Lynch; Merlene Abbott; the community by a strong and vibrant arts and Charles Zuber; Lucinda Wilson; Jane Heather; heritage presence. In light of this, in 2011 the Huon John Fibbens; Marcia Waller; Emma Coombes; Valley Council undertook development of the Arts Julie Alderfox, Pip Hankin; Meg Webb; Jane Castle; and Heritage Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2017. Jacquie Maginnis; Fran Bladel; Allison Eastland; Pete Smith; Paul Jenkins; Chris Tassell; Kylie Eastley; Developing this strategy has provided an opportunity Edward Arrowsmith; Richard Muir-Wilson; Bradley for the Council to review the services and programs it Williams; Kim Simpson; Charles Rich; Sarah Waight; currently supports and to develop a more considered Paul Davies; and the 70 workshop participants and and visionary approach to arts and heritage. The 165 survey participants. Council’s goal is to most effectively nurture and support the practice of the arts and recognise and protect heritage in the Huon Valley.2 Research and community consultation in the form of a public survey and a number of workshops has formed the basis for developing the strategy and CASE STUDY #1 action plan. Consultation focussed on creating a relevant definition of arts and heritage for the Huon region, understanding the different ways in which LOCAL HERITAGE Huon Valley people value the experience and practice of arts and heritage, and identifying a vision for the GROUPS AND future of arts and heritage in the region. SOCIETIES The clearest outcome from the consultation was the priorities for the Huon Valley Council, which Numerous volunteer-operated heritage should be foremost to support others to provide arts societies exist in the Huon Valley, including programs and facilities, and to protect and manage the Franklin History Group, the Geeveston heritage. Archives and Historical Society, and Cygnet Living History Museum, to name a few. A The resultant Huon Valley Council Arts & Heritage common vision for these proactive societies Discussion Paper was released in February 2012 is the development of sustainable venues and included a range of recommended strategies and spaces in which to preserve cultural to be implemented over a five year period. These heritage collections, operate conservation strategies were presented to the community for and collection management activities, and further consideration, with feedback helping to provide local and visitor access to historical shape this document. The discussion paper is a items and stories. partnering document to this strategy and action plan, and can be accessed via contacting the Huon The Esperance Discovery Centre group in Valley Council. Dover is just one Huon Valley association to strategically investigate this vision, with extensive research into other Australian heritage organisations. 2 Huon Valley Council 2010 – 2015 Strategic Plan, pp.11. 3 WHY ARE ARTS AND HERITAGE SO IMPORTANT? It is widely accepted that arts and heritage are a vital Tourism and economic development component of any vibrant, sustainable and healthy community. Arts and heritage foster creativity and innovation, and are drivers of economic activity, both in terms Arts and cultural activities are an important part of product and performance sales, and in increased of the Australian lifestyle, with nearly nine in ten tourism – the two most-visited destinations Australians attending at least one selected cultural in Tasmania in the past year were Port Arthur venue or event during 2009/10.3 Culture and the (heritage) and MONA (art).6 arts connect people and build socially inclusive communities, creating opportunities for people Today’s savvy tourists are no longer satisfied with to feel valued, and more likely to participate in a passive location-based travel experience – they employment, education, training, and voluntary work. want to be active participants in new cultural experiences. The current models set by Tourism Australia and Tourism Tasmania advocate the Wellbeing and social development promotion of ‘experiences’ such as ‘art and culture’ and ‘gourmet indulgences’. The number of cases of self-reported depression and anxiety in the Huon Valley are significantly higher than for broader Tasmania.4 The A Healthy Tasmania report identifies strong connections between the arts and positive health outcomes, with the arts identified as a means to engage with disadvantaged groups and contribute to healing and rehabilitation.5 Arts and heritage programs provide a way for community-building, expression, a sense of place and pride in oneself and one’s environment. The arts in particular helps combat social isolation, especially in the older age groups. From left: the best-known product of the region’s rich agricultural heritage; a local potter in his workshop; 3 ABS Australian Social Trends (June 2011): Culture and the Arts; and a performance at the annual Cygnet Folk Festival. www.abs.gov.au/socialtrends. 4 Huon Valley Profile, Epidemiology Unit, Population Health, September 2011, pp.4. 5 A Healthy Tasmania – Setting New Directions for Health and Wellbeing, DHHS, pp.26. 6 ‘MONA takes top billing’, The Mercury, December 30