The Code for Smart Communities was created to help guide urban development practices in Australia and New Zealand by embracing technology, data and intelligent design as a catalyst for positive change.

This new, creative strategy takes a 10-year view on how the City of Melbourne can integrate creativity into everything we do – not as an add-on, but planned from the start of a project, development or activity.

Melbourne is a highly creative city that recognises the role creativity plays in expressing our identity, creating a sense of belonging and transforming our economy. The expiry of the city's Arts Strategy 2014–17 provides a fresh opportunity to take a new look at creativity, bearing in mind international trends and competitive city positioning.

This research was commissioned to assist the City of Sydney in developing an up-to-date, wide-ranging understanding of its future needs for creative space, especially with regard to cultural creation and production.

The City of Sydney has released this discussion paper, which proposes a long-term vision and details strategies for Sydney’s night time economy and cultural life.