Local Govt. Cultural Planning Program

CAN WA’s Local Government Cultural Planning Program (Program) is now in its twelfth year of operation. The Program operates as a 12-month partnership between the CAN WA and the participating local government, whereby CAN WA aims to guide and assist the local government and their community through the cultural planning process.

Cultural planning is a strategic planning process that aims to provide a forum for communities to actively explore and express their culture, i.e. their values and aspirations, and for the community’s culture to inform and be strengthened by local governments policies and programs.

Cultural planning – a catalyst for social, environmental and economic development – is about building vibrant, creative, and stronger communities.

CAN WA’s brand of cultural planning employs a range of creative techniques to engage and maximise community participation, in particular the participation of marginalised community members and groups who are not typically engaged in conventional community consultation processes. These creative engagement techniques, commonly referred to as cultural mapping, allow for an empowering process, which builds community capacity, strengthens sense of place, and grows community spirit.

Through the Program, and as a result of the cultural planning process, there are a multitude of positive outcomes for both local governments and communities. These benefits include but are by no means limited to:

• Strengthened networks within and between community and local government

• Creative expression of community values and aspirations

• Identification of cultural resources, including community strengths

• Identification of community’s cultural development priorities

• Skills development of community

• Professional development of staff, and

• Transformation of community ideas, initiatives and visions into real outcomes.

Each year the CAN WA seeks expressions of interest from Local Governments throughout WA to participate in the Local Government Cultural Planning Program.

To discuss your cultural planning needs, please contact the Local Government Cultural Development Manager on:
Phone: (08) 9226 2422

Feature

Shire of Lake Grace

In August 2005 the Shire of Lake Grace embarked on an exciting cultural planning process in partnership with CAN WA. Through this partnership it was recognised that there was a need for the community to be involved with cultural mapping - that is, identifying and documenting local cultural resources. With funding from CAN WA’s Community Culture fund, the Shire was able to employ a consultant to guide the mapping process. Read more.