MOUNT Gambier City Council’s newly-elected councillors will soon finalise the Mount Gambier Community Plan which will drive the city’s cultural vision for the future.
Council community welling general manager Barbara Cernovskis said council was committed to engaging and fostering creative mindsets, adding the framework would help prioritise ideas which showcase civic pride within the community.
Ms Cernovskis said if council showed it was “at the table”, people may be more willing to come forward and express their ideas.
“Mount Gambier has a history-rich story that we have so far successfully told and continue to develop,” she said.
“The council plans to canvas what the community wants and continually develop these key components.
“We wish to link arms and work through collaboration.”
Ms Cernovskis said the “creative pockets” in the community would be identified.
“We need to think a little bit differently and push the boundaries in a unique way,” she said.
“There seems to be a hunger in the community to develop our art and heritage focuses.
“We want to work with upcoming and current artists on how to display and develop their work.”
Ms Cernovskis said future developments would focus on celebrating Mount Gambier.
“If we are proud, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in our pride,” she said.
“The council has taken on venues and projects as programmable spaces where artists can display their skills to the community.
“This includes the Riddoch Art Gallery but is also evident in the activation program of the railway lands and components involved.”
Although painting and sculptures are among the traditional forms of art, Ms Cernovskis said it can be present in many other forms.
“Take a chef for example where art can be present in the way the food is displayed, or a live performance, art is present in many different ways,” she said.
“The council is working on all means of art, this is evident with the prints of what the current buildings looked like in the past which graphic designer Jess Tucker developed.
“All of these things are concurrent and show an artistic expression.”
Ms Cernovskis said council was open to any council-owned property to be potentially utilised by artists.
“The council hopes to see the city streets aligned with arts and culture that inspires artistic qualities.”
