Media Response |

From Mayor of Ballarat Samantha McIntosh 

The Karova Lounge has to be deeply congratulated for running a hugely successful and vital live music venue for 15 years in the centre of Ballarat. It is an iconic venue that has seen the birth of Ballarat household name bands and musicians, has consistently hosted international and national acts and has been an essential location for young people across the city, and will be sorely missed. 

The impending loss of the Karova Lounge stresses the importance of application of our Creative City Strategy. Ballarat City Council will be voting on taking the crucial steps to position Ballarat as one of Australia’s leading creative cities at its May 15 meeting, and live music remains at its heart – whether that is classical, jazz, folk or grunge and everything in between.

After three phases of intensive consultation, and a deep-dive into community values and perceptions of the merits of creative thinking, Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy and Ballarat’s Creative City Strategy Precinct Master Plan is on the agenda. We recognise that the creative sector needs consistency, rather than short term measures, and this has placed economic health and the business of sustainability right at the centre of the Creative City Strategy.

Ballarat has always been a creative city. Throughout time we have always had a space and place for music, the arts and the maker. Today we are hub of activity in visual arts and crafts, a home for live music and theatre. Into the future we want to see these continue to flourish and grow, and be able to weather economic pressures. We want to see new industries establish themselves. It goes without saying that Ballarat needs both a strong venue network, and fertile ground for new artists to emerge. The Creative City Strategy is designed to deliver just that.

The Creative City Strategy is futureproofing the City of Ballarat, by assisting in the incubation, establishment and sustainability of the creative individual and sectors. With it’s approval on the 15th May we can start to help unleash the city’s potential.