LEAP projects
The LEAP program comprises three projects, running over three years in three local government areas. The participating councils – City of Ballarat, City of Casey and Mildura Rural City Council – represent a cross-section of Victorians; from the outer-suburban growth corridor to rural, regional and remote populations.
Central Highland Arts Network (CHAN)
City of Ballarat with Ararat Rural City Council, and Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees Shires
The participating local governments will establish a Central Highland Arts Network (CHAN). Their project will adapt modern technologies to map and promote cultural activities across the region, identify new target areas and populations across shires for future engagement, and establish a professional arts residency web portal to maximise community participation and engagement in both creative activities and cultural experiences.
CHAN aims to build new connections between the arts community and sectors such as education, the sports community and workplaces. This will enable CHAN to encourage and support professional development opportunities for local artists and increase participation in arts activities to a broader population group. The creative pulse often left languishing or undiscovered will be uncovered, inspiring communities to take a chance, let their voices be heard and create multi-faceted expressions of regional culture.
Casey Arts Participation Initiative
City of Casey
As Victoria’s fastest-growing municipality, the City of Casey is taking a long-term strategic focus to ensure that the service and infrastructure needs of the community are met. Each week, the municipality’s population grows by a staggering 125 new residents. Casey’s innovative program will utilise their award-winning planning process – which was previously used to create their Municipal Sports and Recreation Plan – to respond to arts and cultural needs within the area.
To ensure the smooth growth of this constantly expanding constituency, Casey will provide the models and strategies for initiatives that drive development and participation in the arts – initiatives that are strategic, inclusive, work to promote participation and foster partnerships, and provide the skill-development opportunities that will see this municipality blossom.
LEAPing into Arts & Culture Mildura
Mildura Rural City Council
Situated in Victoria’s north-west, Mildura Rural City covers around 10% of the state’s area and has enjoyed a long-standing reputation as a significant centre for the arts. Mildura aims to boost this even further, with the expansion of its arts and cultural programs aimed at including and engaging both individuals and groups who are marginalised, isolated and have not previously participated in existing programs.
By working across diverse sectors, such as employment and education, Council aims to promote arts participation and establish a strong and sustainable support base across the entire region. Mildura’s LEAP initiative will extend arts and cultural activities into key regional settings. Their exciting project will use the arts as a vehicle for engaging isolated communities and strengthen their social connections, ability for self-expression and community engagement.