Policies and Plans 

The following information aims to clarify the position (strategic policy) and practice (strategic plans) of arts and culture within local government.

The Arts and Culture Policy and Planning Model may help to clarify where policy and planning is placed within council framework.

Guidelines and other councils plans and policies
This link will provide guidelines to assist you in writing your own policies and also contains a list of other councils existing policies.

Why have policies?
Under the Local Government Act councils are required to make local laws and to adopt policies that are in the public interest within their local government area. A policy will reflect public interest in a publicly accountable way.

What is a policy?
A policy is a statement of a decision, or purpose that council either wishes to pursue or that it is required to pursue. A policy will define the course or program of action that council will need to deliver upon and be accountable to. (LGAQ A Simple Guide to Policy development in Queensland Local Government)

What is the difference between a policy and a plan?
The easy way to distinguish between an ‘arts and culture policy’ and an ‘arts and culture plan’ is to see a 'strategic policy' as council’s overarching position on arts and culture within its area of responsibility, from which strategies stem.

In other words, strategic policies are the guiding principles that will lead a council to undertake a course of action or direction that will be detailed separately in a strategic plan.

What is an arts and culture policy?
An arts and culture policy is a statement that defines council’s position in delivering programs or activities related to arts and culture within the local government area including preservation and heritage. It outlines the legal requirements as well as the processes which promote equity and access. It also advocates for the diverse artistic, cultural and social forms of expression of all people, especially those of indigenous or broadly-representative cultural heritage.

What is an arts and culture strategic plan?
The arts and culture strategic plan sits under the arts and culture policy. This document details specifically the program that will deliver council’s policy direction for the following three to five years. Below the strategic plan sits the annual operating plan that will detail the actions, responsibilities and time frames to deliver specifically on the arts and culture strategic plan. (Refer to the Arts and Culture Policy and Planning Contextual Model).

Do policies differ across councils?
Policies will differ across councils as they reflect the varying nature of communities and their related regions, however, understandably, there will be common threads that will be similar across all councils. By undertaking broad community engagement or establishing a reference group, consultation may identify specific principles and objectives related to your region that will guide council in its position for arts and culture. Planning and prioritising will also differ between councils.