Developing and revitalizing rural communities through arts and creativity: Australia

This chapter by Kim Dunphy of the Cultural Development Network in Australia contributes to an international research report investigating the revitalisation of rural communities through arts and culture.

The Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver and the Creative City Network of Canada have released a new research report, 'Developing and Revitalizing Rural Communities Through Arts and Creativity'. This comprehensive review of research on cultural and creative business development in rural communities includes information from Canada, Australia, the United States, and Europe. It is intended to assist rural communities to take best advantage of their creative capacity.

The study was conducted by Dr. Nancy Duxbury and Heather Campbell at Simon Fraser University's Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities, Vancouver, with insightful contributions from three international collaborators:

– Kim Dunphy, Program Manager, Cultural Development Network, Melbourne, Australia

– Dr. Patrick Overton, Director, Front Porch Institute, Oregon, United States

– Dr. Lidia Varbanova, Laboratory for European Cultural Cooperation, Amsterdam; and the Centre for Intercultural and Social Development, Montréal (reviewing Europe)

The final project consists of four papers with accompanying project and community case studies/examples, and an extensive annotated bibliography. A summary overview highlights the common themes emerging around cultural development in rural areas across the four project papers, and reoccurring critical ingredients to foster vibrant arts activity in rural and small communities.

The report was developed partnership between the Creative City Network of Canada and the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, and with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

All papers are available in electronic form on the Creative City Network of Canada website.

The image used to illustrate this report is the installation, Maintenance, Milaby Farm, Ballidu, May 2004 by Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy. It was made during an arts residency called Space to Place (6432), organised by IASKA  (International Art Space Kellerberrin Australia) in regional Western Australia.