A new strategy will seek to maximise public art opportunities throughout Shellharbour City.
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Shellharbour City Council is calling for submissions on its Draft Shellharbour City Public Art Strategy 2020 - 2025, which is currently on exhibition.
According to council, the Public Art Strategy is the first strategic public art framework for Shellharbour City.
It aims to create a clear vision of Shellharbour's public art goals, and be a guide for the acquisition and management of council's current and future public art collection.
The strategy will aim to facilitate effective planning, advocacy and promotion to maximise high-quality public art opportunities that reflect the "unique and diverse" characteristics of the city.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said she was looking forward to seeing new creative opportunities unfold throughout public spaces across the city.
"Arts and culture provide significant social and economic benefit and this strategy provides council with a pathway to ensure that these benefits are maximised," Cr Saliba said.
"The development of our public art in Shellharbour will encourage meaning and a shared sense of connection to our beautiful city, provide opportunities for local artists and support our tourism industry."
Cr Saliba said it was "like our city's come of age".
"For a long time, council has been focused on the basic needs of our community - the roads, rates and rubbish, the things that council really has to focus on," she said.
"It's a sign of maturity when a council can start to think about art and culture.
"This is the first strategy... This is about how we're going to do it, rather than what we're going to do.
"We want people to read the strategy, and we want their feedback on it.
"It's not necessarily feedback on what art (is used), but it might be about places, and how we undertake that."
The Public Art Strategy has been guided by council's Community Strategic Plan 2018 - 2028, and the Arts and Cultural Development Strategy (Make, Play, Grow: a strategy for a more creative Shellharbour).
The Public Art Strategy outlines goals that have been developed based on the feedback and priorities of the community and customers, as well as best practice industry guidelines.
You can make a formal written submission, or alternatively provide informal feedback at the https://letschatshellharbour.com/public-art website.
All submissions must be received before 4pm on Thursday, May 14.