The strategy is a transparent document that outlines the focus, direction and priorities aligned with resources available whilst identifying opportunities for growth through a planned approach. The strategy also helps Council and stakeholders advocate for investment in the region and shape local arts and culture grant programs.

The World Economic Forum has declared creativity the most important and fastest growing in-demand skill. Citing that creativity enables adaptability, experimentation, and innovative thinking, as well as empathy and human connection in an increasingly automated and polarised world.

Creativity is a connector that creates an environment that encourages curiosity, being open to new ideas or possibilities that are useful in problem solving, communicating with others and understanding other viewpoints, perspectives and ways of looking at the world.

We are using a broad definition of culture that includes diverse ways of expressing who we are. Discussions of culture include First Peoples cultural expression; diverse multicultural expression through food and celebrations of language, history and heritage; the arts and maker traditions; music and film; festivals and events; architecture and design; creative industries; and arts education and training.

The cultural sector is made up of all the individuals, groups and organisations who contribute to creative and cultural activity in the city. Council is one of these organisations.

The strategy is a transparent document that outlines the focus, direction and priorities aligned with resources available whilst identifying opportunities for growth through a planned approach. The strategy also helps Council and stakeholders advocate for investment in the region and shape local arts and culture grant programs.

Council is planning for major growth and developing a Towards 2050 shaping Cairns’s project to make sure everyone can live in the region and enjoy what we love about Cairns today.

The Creative Life Strategy will take a whole of Council approach to reflect the Towards 2050 Shaping Cairns growth strategy. The documents need to be aligned to ensure the qualities that make Cairns unique are maintained by honouring First Peoples culture, history, and heritage recognising cultural soft and hard infrastructure already in place whilst identifying areas of growth that result in tangible outcomes at a local (place-based) level.

The World Economic Forum scores city liveability on six factors: Affordability, amenities, connectivity, culture, safety and sustainability.

For more information here:

Useful documents: Planned Liveable Cities: A Place-based approach to sequencing infrastructure and growth.

Liveability refers to the degree to which a place, be it a neighbourhood, town or city, supports quality of life, health and wellbeing for the people who live, work or visit. Cities considered to have a high degree of liveability tend to have a high level of accessible amenity. Amenity includes features such as open and green space along with educational, social, cultural and recreational facilities. High-amenity places have not only higher financial value (property prices and rents) but also social, environmental, public health and cultural value (CABE 2007). High-amenity locations have been shown to be associated with better physical and mental health (Berry 2007).

The World Economic Forum scores city liveability on six factors: Affordability, amenities, connectivity, culture, safety and sustainability.

For more information here:

Useful documents: Planned Liveable Cities: A Place-based approach to sequencing infrastructure and growth.

A Creative Life Strategy with five year action plan and vision for growth over the next thirty years.

There are two surveys on this page. One survey invites members of our community to share their views on arts and culture across the region. The second survey invites people, organisations and stakeholders who work in the arts and culture sector to participate.

We will be updating this page at regular intervals to invite you to participate in a variety of engagement opportunities. Save this page to your favourites or come back regularly.

All survey feedback is confidential.

Feedback received will assist the Council in developing the action plan which will give everyone a clear set of priorities into the future, with the aim of supporting Creative Life leading to liveable and active communities.

All feedback will be considered when developing the Creative Life Strategy. Council will be provided with a report that details feedback received.

All feedback forms or correspondence will be acknowledged either by email or in writing so that you know your comments/feedback has been received.