Arts & Cultural Facilities Audit & Development Plan

Transcription

1 Arts & Cultural Facilities Audit & Development Plan February 2013 Expressions of Interest are invited for preparation of an Arts & Cultural Facilities Audit & Development Plan to guide the medium to long term development and enhancement of dedicated multi-art form use facilities within the Shire for community benefit. Expressions of Interest must be ed to and received by close of business on March 15, MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE Mornington Peninsula Shire has a mix of urban areas, townships, villages and rural/ agricultural land. It is approximately 724 square kilometres in area, with a population of approximately 150,000 people. The majority of the population is along the Port Phillip coastline between Mt Eliza and Rosebud. Population growth in recent years has occurred in Mornington East, Mt. Martha, Somerville and Hastings. There are three designated activity centres; Rosebud, Hastings & Mornington Policies and Strategies Mornington Peninsula Shire Strategic Plan identifies the following goals: To plan and implement strategies that facilitates optimal health and wellbeing outcomes. To create a protective environment for young people and their families. To facilitate an improved level of access to recreation, leisure and learning opportunities to provide better health and wellbeing outcomes. To enhance the independence, health and dignity of older residents and residents with a disability. To develop community facilities and spaces according to community needs and values. Mornington Peninsula Shire Arts & Cultural Strategy 2012/ /15 A Creative Peninsula link: The Arts & Culture Strategy 2012/ /15 A Creative Peninsula reflects and articulates: A vision for arts and culture The needs and aspirations of our community The Shire s role in local arts and cultural development; and 1

2 Priorities for planning, facilities, programs and communications Key elements of the plan include: Attention is drawn to: Formation of a community-based Arts and Culture Advisory Panel (ACAP) to provide advice to the Shire on arts and cultural policy and development priorities. Development of a Public Art Policy and Management Plan; and Increased arts and cultural engagement opportunities. Objective 5: Accessible Cultural Facilities Cultural facilities include galleries, theatres and museums, libraries and designated public buildings. These are fundamental supports in building and underpinning the cultural life of communities Undertake a Shire-wide Facilities Audit to identify existing capacity, accessibility and gaps in arts and cultural facility infrastructure including disability requirements Finalise a long-term Development Plan for the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Provide community theatre production and storage spaces in the Activity Centres of Rosebud and Mornington comparable to the de-commissioned SES sheds in Hastings As part of the Facilities Audit (4.1) explore the feasibility of further development of the PCT/The Studio and old classrooms site as community arts facilities. 2. CONTEXT 2.1 Introduction The Audit is intended to scope the Shire s arts and cultural facilities that are currently used for community-based arts programs and activities; classes, community arts workshops, theatre, music & dance programs, exhibitions and displays to assess how best we are servicing this area of community demand. The Shire facilities policy has concentrated on providing multi-use facilities, some of which are under-utilised and others over-utilised. While there are currently few dedicated and purpose built arts facilities on the Mornington Peninsula but the Shire acknowledges that arts facilities support the development of our communities as places to express and reflect on our cultural identity in the following ways: To provide opportunities to participate and engage with the arts Arts facilities function as centres of learning and debate and provide pathways to participation in the arts and opportunities for all citizens to develop their skills and experience. To nurture and stimulate innovation and engagement in the arts. 2

3 Arts facilities function as incubators for specific areas for arts practice; they provide stimulate, affordable, flexible spaces to develop, produce, display and promote innovative contemporary arts. To nurture cultural development and enhance community identity Arts facilities support the development of our communities as places to express and reflect on our cultural identity. The development of the Arts & Culture Facilities Audit & Development Plan should: Focus on development of facilities to support a variety of arts engagement activities Reflect the core aspirations of the community and key stakeholders, expressed through past consultative processes and those initiated as part of the Audit. Opportunities should be identified which meet Australian Design Protocol principles of good urban design. The final Audit Report should demonstrate design principles for place (enhancing, connected, diverse and enduring) and people (comfortable, vibrant and safe). 2.2 Venues currently operating arts and cultural programs and activities across the Peninsula - Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington provides a gallery space for touring and MPRG curated exhibitions. A Re-development Plan is currently being discussed by Council. - The PCT Wilsons Road Mornington is a multi-purpose space developed specifically for theatre and dance rehearsals, classes and workshops. It is a large space suitable for quilt groups, forums, conferences, meetings and music events. While not acoustically attenuated for music programs the Youth team use the space for dance and Freeza music programs. Church and other groups occasionally hire this facility. - The PCT Wilsons Road Mornington, have been allocated funding to refurbish for a multi-use facility. - Oak Hill Community Cooperative Gallery 100 Mornington-Tyabb Road, M ton utilises a Shire building (de-commissioned historical farmhouse) largely as an exhibition space and is a member-based organisation providing children s and adult classes/ workshops and has 4 rooms and a hallway that it rents out for a fee. This is not an open and accessible venue under Shire control but is operated according to the groups charter. - Dromana Pottery Group Point Nepean Road, resides in a de-commissioned Shire building. - Hastings Hub art room, Frankston-Flinders Road, is newly established for recreational painting, drawing, textiles use. - The Hastings de-commissioned SES sheds Frankston-Flinders Road, store combined assets (props/ sets, equipment and materials for 2 theatre groups which require work to keep the birds out. - There are 13 facilities in the Neighbourhood & Community House Network, some offer formal art classes and Mornington offers space to an artist as a permanent artist-residency. - Sorrento Senior Citizens Centre Melbourne Road Sorrento is used by The Sorrento Players and the Sorrento Arts Group (over 60s. 3

4 - Rosebud Southern Peninsula Art Centre (SPAC) 275 Eastbourne Rd Rosebud West (Rosebud Secondary College) A Black Box theatre (modelled on Frankston Art Centre s Cube 37) The current facilities portfolio as a whole does not match the existing community need nor does it match specific requirements of the arts and cultural sector. i.e. water is only available as part of standard kitchen provisions for multi-purpose halls for hire and not appropriate for wet workshops. Further, the once dedicated pottery studio at Currawong had concrete washable floors, due to the refurbishment program to become a multi-purpose facility timber floors were installed rendering it difficult to maintain OH&S standards for a public ceramics studio, the kiln has been moved outside with inadequate weather protection or storage of kiln furniture (shelving) there is also no storage space for the pottery equipment or participants work now that it is a multi-purpose space. 2.4 Community Consultation Throughout the community consultation process leading to the adoption of the Arts & Culture Strategy 2012/ /15 the community called for: 1. Greater access to arts and cultural experiences by most age groups in the community. Due to the limited number and physical spread of facilities within the Shire there is significant limited access by our communities. 2. Changes in provision/ type of facilities available. Shire has a reliance on multi-use facilities. Due to the physical size and access constraints within the Shire there is limited social infrastructure for engagement in the arts. 3. While the Shire has concentrated on key social infrastructure among its 3 Activity Centres (Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud) arts and cultural infrastructure is not well represented in these Activity Centres. As part of the research and community consultation undertaken for the Arts & Culture Strategy the following statements were made regarding access to arts and cultural facilities: Access to dedicated community-based arts and cultural facilities Throughout the consultation process the community has been critical at the perceived lack of dedicated arts facilities serving key towns across the Peninsula. A key outcome of this consultation has been the call for improved access to community-based arts and cultural facilities, in particular: Regularly open, lively arts and cultural facilities that link artists, the community and visitors; Spaces where one can become involved in festival projects and programs; Places where a diversity of art forms, expertise, equipment and materials can be explored; and Dedicated music/arts facilities for a range of art forms and activities [2010 Music Forum Appendix 2]. Access to Artists Studios Professional-level, emerging and amateur artists have highlighted the need for access to appropriately designed and appealing venues to display, discuss and share their practices. 4

5 The MPRG Redevelopment Plan currently being reviewed (Ref Action 4.2) proposes to incorporate local artists and artist-in-residency studio spaces within the MPRG s Arts Learning Centre and Community Access Gallery. Access to exhibition spaces Peninsula artists have limited opportunity to exhibit their work beyond various schoolbased and Rotary art shows. Apart from Oak Hill Gallery in Mornington there are no purpose-built exhibition spaces on the Peninsula. Artists and arts groups request access to low cost venues in which to mount exhibitions. In order to accommodate the needs of artists and enhance community access to exhibition facilities, as part of the Facility Audit process the Strategy proposes a review of hiring procedures to accommodate exhibition bookings for consecutive days in key Shire community facilities. Exhibition display equipment Current display systems used by community groups holding art exhibitions are outdated and cumbersome. New display equipment is required that can be shared across the Peninsula. Expansion of theatre production spaces Peninsula theatre groups have highlighted the need for locally accessible costume, sets, props and equipment storage and production workshops. The de-commissioned sheds at the Hastings SES currently serve to store the combined assets of four theatre groups and provides studio space for set production, music rehearsals and costume and equipment storage for the Western Port region. Provision of production and storage space is required for Mornington and Rosebud. The Studio@ PCT as a community access arts exhibition/program/project space Professional, emerging and amateur artists regularly request access to dedicated arts venues to exhibit and display, rehearse, perform, develop classes and workshop programs, and discuss and share their practices. Recognising that it may be some time before the Facilities Audit Report is completed and considered for implementation, the Strategy proposes to explore the feasibility of designating the PCT/The Studio and old classrooms site as an arts and cultural precinct. In the interim, use of The PCT would give opportunity to utilise any gaps in the timetable/schedule for a mix of arts exhibitions and workshops, dance, music and theatre rehearsals and performances, festival activities and events. Mornington Peninsula Shire understands that community-based arts require space to undertake a variety of workshops and projects of different media and require distinctive spatial requirements for each media. A range of spaces are required to conduct the following programs and activities Space that can double for talks, forums and symposiums and dry workshops Large public project-based spaces for use by a variety of users/ groups, i.e. youth programs, Men s Shed, U3A, schools and community-based arts projects Separate wet and dry areas for ceramics, sculpture, woodwork A range of storage areas for equipment and materials Storage of participants work (ongoing classes in clay & sculpture) 5

6 Exhibition and display space and storage of the display equipment 3. SCOPE On the basis of; 1. Community consultation in 2.4 above 2. A review of existing facilities within the Shire and future facility requirements and 3. A comparative analysis of arts and cultural facilities in relevant interface municipalities Identify the current and future adequacy of facilities utilised for arts and cultural activity. o o o Identify current users, participation levels and their facility and service needs. Determine how current facilities are being utilised, what art forms are being conducted in them, what specific equipment should they include (eg, music attenuation, exhibition and display capacity including lighting, hanging rails or portable display stands and storage of equipment) and are they appropriate to current and future needs? Recommend new purpose-built facilities that will meet identified needs and provide equity of access across the municipality. Recommend other possible venues that could be allocated to the provision of Shirewide community arts activities. i.e. de-commissioned Senior Citizens Centres, Kindergartens, Child & Maternal Health Centres. Identify locations for current and proposed future facilities and opportunities for development/ improvement through consultation with key stakeholders. Establish an Arts & Culture Facilities Development Plan that provides a broad infrastructure road map for the next decade incorporating: Strategies and priorities for equitable infrastructure development across the Shire. Those current facilities and services requiring change and development. A staged implementation plan accompanied with a broad estimate of costs. Opportunities for club and community capital contributions. In making recommendations, the Audit and the Arts & Cultural Facilities Development Plan should: Foster engagement and participation in arts and culture activities Preserve and enhance cultural heritage values Enhance community connections Reflect the needs and aspirations of the community and key stakeholders Identify achievable community capital opportunities 6

7 Create an attractive space for people to congregate Demonstrate sustainability and innovation Provide broad community benefit Are realistic and achievable for the Shire to fund through its infrastructure plans or from external grants 5. PROJECT METHODOLOGY & MANAGEMENT Study timeframe Tasks/ Stages Task Date Invite Expressions of Interest assignment Council officers Feb - March Evaluate EOI s Council officers March Consultant appointed Council officers Late March Project commences Consultant April Investigation phase stakeholder and community Consultant April - May consultation Provision & Review of Draft Report Consultant June -July Draft finalisation Consultant Mid July A & C Facilities Audit to Executive and Council Council officers September Exhibition of Draft Report Council officers October Final Report prepared and completed Consultant November Final Report presented to Council for approval Council officers December Project management Shire representatives; Manager Libraries Arts & Culture (LA&C) and Cultural Planner from the will guide the consultants and provide information and feedback. Most correspondence will be by , however some face to face meetings with Shire staff and stakeholders will be required by the lead consultant, at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Offices in Hasting, Rosebud or Mornington. Day to day contact and project management will be with the Shire s Cultural Planner. Attendance at inception and project meetings will be required As well as meetings throughout the project, and community/ club consultations, the consultant may be required to attend one presentation to Executive and possibly one presentation to Council All material associated with the project will be the property of the Mornington Peninsula Shire. Copyright remains with the Mornington Peninsula Shire. The appointed consultants will be required to sign a standard Mornington Peninsula Shire Contract. Facilities Audit Report formats Draft and final copies of the report should be supplied electronically in both PDF & Word format. Using 11 point & Arial font and large files to be saved to CD or USB stick. High resolution copies of the Arts & Cultural Facilities Development Plan will be required for local printing and lower resolution copies required for ing and website publication. Plans must be A3 or A4 print friendly. Digital native files may be requested at the completion of the project. Consultant company logos must not appear on the final report. 7

8 7. BUDGET A budget breakdown for each stage and tasks must be submitted. The budget for the project is $40,000. A rate for contract variations must also be included. The schedule of invoicing should be based on completion of project stages and determined in consultation with the project manager at the inception meeting. 8. SELECTION PROCESS Submissions should include: Outline of relevant recent experience developing similar plans A copy of or a link to a relevant recent report A detailed methodology for how the project will be undertaken and A communications plan including methods of consultation, research and communications with stakeholders Proposed project timelines As part of the evaluation process, consultants may be required to attend an interview and make a presentation regarding relevant past work and proposed methodology. At least three referees are required. 9. WHAT COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE Provision of relevant Policies and Strategies List of venues to be viewed and assessed including background information/ status on each venue Site maps List of key stakeholders and their contact details Advertising costs to invite stakeholders and community members to focus group meetings Catering for community consultations Printing of the final report 10. CONTACT DETAILS For further information contact Andrea Ebsworth, Cultural Planner Ph or Mobile Expressions of Interest must be ed to Geoff.Carson@mornpen.vic.gov.au and received by close of business on March 15,