Potential to grow arts and culture sector

Published: 11 November 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

Creating a shared vision of the region’s art leaders and increasing visitor engagement are among key issues identified for successfully growing Cairns as an economic hub for the arts and culture sector.

The potential of the Cairns arts, cultural and creatives sectors have been outlined in the inaugural State of the Arts in Cairns Report 2019 (SoARTS).

Produced in partnership with JCU and CQUniversity, the SoARTS report aims to provide qualifiable evidence of the value of culture and the arts to the livability and economy of Cairns.

The sector contributes $460 million to the Cairns economy (Cummings Economics, 2019), and according to the latest Census data (2016) more 3200 people were employed in association with cultural and creative activity.

However, the report revealed scope for improvement, including:

While there was a high level of interest cultural experiences with international respondents (69 per cent), less than 15 per cent of them participated in an arts or cultural activity.Potential to extend into areas such as software and digital content.The sector has a high awareness of cultural inclusion, but there is no sector-wide principles to guide diversity integration.Low awareness of the leading role the sector plays in Northern Australia and parts of Melanesia represents an opportunity to broaden understanding and exposure.

The report also revealed a growing reliance on Council due to ongoing reduction in State and Federal Government funding, and the need for a united arts advocacy group to draw together resources and business acumen.

This resolution is to be ratified at the next Ordinary Meeting of Council, to be held on 25 November 2020.