Ipswich Arts & Cultural Strategy & Public Art Governance Framework

HeritageCulture+Heritage Plan

20 Sept

Written By Sharyn May

Ipswich Arts & Cultural Strategy & Public Art Governance Framework

Client
City of Ipswich

Location
Ipswich QLD

Traditional Custodians
Jagera, Yuggera & Ugarapul

With
Positive Solutions

Ipswich’s inaugural Arts and Cultural Strategy charts a bold 20-year vision to embed creativity and cultural identity at the heart of one of Queensland’s fastest-growing cities. The strategy, co-delivered by Maytrix, harnesses the transformative power of arts and culture to build community, celebrate its unique heritage, and drive innovation.

Recognising the broader social benefits of the arts, the comprehensive Ipswich Arts and Cultural Strategy 2018–2023 envisions a city where stronger neighbourhoods, sustainability, public health, and lifelong learning are supported by a thriving cultural life. Community engagement informed the strategy’s development, ensuring it reflects local values and distils key sector priorities. The inclusive strategy embraces the rich diversity and creative expression of the rapidly growing region, projected to double in population and further diversify over two decades.

The strategy positions culture as a central driver of planning, identity, and public value—moving it from the margins to the centre of civic thinking. Drawing on national experience in cultural planning—including adaptive reuse of significant and complex places—it offers a framework where creative initiatives support urban development, inform policy, and build regional resilience. It establishes a foundation for investment, policy innovation, and sector growth—supporting activation of public space, creative capacity building, and cultural inclusion city-wide. A dedicated Public Art Governance Framework was developed alongside the strategy, defining transparent processes for commissioning and managing public art.

“Ipswich is embracing creativity as a powerful driver of education, tourism and liveability...This strategy puts culture at the heart of our city’s future—celebrating who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going.”

— Ipswich City Council

Anchoring a long-term cultural development framework for one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions, the strategy positions arts and culture as a key pillar of civic identity, urban growth, and inclusive community development. It embeds arts and culture at the centre of civic life—driving regional vitality, social cohesion, and long-term sustainability. A five-year action plan outlines tangible steps to realise the vision, including increased visibility for the arts, public space activation, and creative skills pathways. It responds directly to sector challenges—identifying strategies for income diversification and workforce sustainability.

The Arts and Cultural Strategy positions culture as a central driver of strategic planning, civic identity, and community value—shifting it from the margins to the core of public vision and investment. Drawing on our extensive experience in arts and cultural planning across Australia—including adaptive reuse of culturally significant and operationally complex places—the strategy provides a framework where cultural initiatives are embedded in contemporary civic use, inform policy innovation, and strengthen regional sustainability.