The first steps towards an arts strategy has been taken with the Thames Coromandel-District Council contributing $12,000 towards its development.

Following a highly successful Arts Workshop in Thames during March a submission was made to the Draft Long Term Plan to help fund the development of an Arts Strategy.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council has contracted Matarangi-based arts consultant Hilary Falconer to draw up a draft ArtS Strategy for the region. Photo: Supplied

The magnificent monarch butterfly sculpture created by Stephen Ranger.

TCDC's Chief Executive David Hammond says the development of the arts strategy will be a collaborative approach, with both council and the arts sector contributing.

'We are really excited, it's been a long time coming for a district as creative as ours and we look forward to what the future will bring.”

Matarangi-based arts consultant Hilary Falconer has been contracted to research and draw up a draft strategy.

Hilary was previously the CEO of regional arts development trust Arts Waikato and had been involved in supporting many arts groups around the Coromandel.

She will now be meeting with arts organisations, groups and representitives from across the District to help formulate the strategy.

'The arts community in the Coromandel knows it can develop more sustainably if there is a shared vision and potential for collaborative projects,” says Hilary. 'They appreciate the support they are given by Council but are excited by the potential for growth that a strategic approach will give.

'They are also aware of the value of their work in terms of the economic development of the region as a whole.”

The magnificent monarch butterfly sculpture created by Stephen Ranger which appeared on the corner of Jellicoe and Pollen streets in Thames earlier this year. Photo: File

The strategy will include all forms of art, music, theatre, public art and digital arts and will have linked action plans which will be developed by each ward.

One of the aims of the project is to involve the whole community, not just those already in the arts sector.

'We want this to be a useful, working strategy with significant outcomes,” adds Hilary. 'Some will be district-wide but each ward has its own flavour and particular needs so the action plans can be relevant to each community.”

Council's sign off on the strategy has been welcomed by councillor Diane Connors who is TCDC's representative for its development.

Much like the Youth Strategy and the Disability Strategy, Diane believes an Arts Strategy will demonstrate the value council places on the arts in the region both socially and economically.

'As the elected representative championing is project I will ensure that we have something substantial at the end of it - including action plans that identify practical next steps at district and local levels.

'It's not about council opening up its purse-strings to a heap of expensive art projects. It's about council, communities and the arts sector working collaboratively towards our goals.”

For more information and to keep up to date with progress visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Arts Strategy Project page

Back in March more than 70 artists from around the Coromandel attended a workshop to investigate the development of an Arts Strategy for the Coromandel. Photo: File