So, in an effort to shower Shellharbour residents in colour and vitality, Shellharbour City Council has adopted a new arts and cultural strategy that aims to brush off the dust and revitalise art in the city.

At the ordinary meeting on July 14 councillors adopted the Make, Play, Grow strategy which hopes to enrich creativity in the region. Some of the top "big ideas" include music, art, film festivals, outdoor cinema, gallery spaces, theatre, live music and to hold a vivid Shellharbour event.

The strategy was commended by the University of Wollongong's Faculty of Arts, English and Media for its "commitment to facilitate, connect, support, host" art programs in the region, and UOW hoped it marked a renewed era of cooperation between them and council.

President of the Shellharbour Art Society Jeanette Riley said the strategy would respond to the "needs of local artists" and ensure Shellharbour become a "truly artistically vibrant and cultural hub".

"As a practicing artist I can say we need this in our city," she said. "It's fantastic.

"This plan also includes allocating spaces for public art, making existing vacant shop fronts spaces available for pop-up shops and it also allows for the planning and controlling of night time events which are currently prohibited."

Ms Riley said the strategy supported the society's proposal to redevelop the Old Illawarra Dairy Co-operative at Albion Park Rail into a Shellharbour City Arts Precinct.

The society recently secured funding to convert the co-op into a contemporary art space which would comprise of two and three dimensional art spaces, "immersive" art installations and a space for art classes and workshops.

"This hub will fill the huge gap that has been left from funding cuts to TAFE and the creative and visual art courses they offered," she said.

"We'll run mentoring programs for HSC students and After School Art Attack for children.

"It will provide employment for local artists and arts facilitators, while preserving a building with local historical significance that has fallen victim to vandalism of late ... enhancing the depressed area of Albion Park Rail and the flow on effects will revitalise small businesses."