The Precinct Plan
Like you, we are passionate about Melbourne’s West continuing to evolve as a great place to live, work and study. We know that inclusive, safe and artistically vibrant spaces are crucial to realising our collective long-term ambitions for the West.
In May 2022, the Victorian State Government committed $8.7 million to support our Precinct Plan Stage 1, which will transform our outdoor spaces to support high-quality artistic outcomes and accessible experiences.
About the Precinct Plan
In 2019, we undertook a precinct planning process with the support and collaboration of Maribyrnong City Council and Creative Victoria to investigate how our aging cultural infrastructure could continue to meet demand from artists, audiences and community. This resulted in a Precinct Plan by consultation firm, Parallel Practice – a comprehensive paper identifying key demographic shifts in the West, and how our infrastructure needs to respond.
The Journey So Far
In 2020, we secured further support to develop a business case to further investigate the viability of the most urgent recommendations from the Precinct Plan. Investment logic mapping with leading infrastructure advisory practice, Ontoit, in collaboration with Council identified an outdoor venue/ arts pavilion, gallery expansion and improved outdoor amenity as the most urgent and impactful recommendations to progress.
Over 2020 and 2021, we’ve been busy actioning more modest Precinct Plan recommendations including an upgrade of the Basement Theatre, refurbishment of Henderson House artist studios, improved wayfinding, and restoration of iconic Marks I mural by acclaimed Wiradjuri artist Brook Andrew. Council have been a key partner in delivering these minor works.
In 2022, we secured $8.7 million of investment from the Victorian State Government to invest in Stage 1 of the project. We will work with our partners at Maribyrnong City Council, Creative Victoria and our local community to deliver on new outdoor infrastructure upgrades and a master plan to inform the future of the precinct.
The Need
We know that Footscray’s population will grow by 179% and Maribyrnong’s by 101% in the next 25 years. We are already experiencing record demand for our precinct and services, and are dedicated to ensuring our communities have access to high-quality, vibrant and culturally safe community spaces.
The strains on the precinct can only be remedied by investment:
- Poor disability access and limited connectivity across the site limit our ability to deliver inclusive, high-quality outcomes.
- Year-round activation on the site is not possible. There are no covered spaces large enough to accommodate medium-large events, and no consideration of sound treatment to consider the impact of events on neighbours.
- Prohibitive costs and operational inefficiencies are barriers to activation for Footscray Community Arts, local community groups and commercial operators.
- Our existing venues are at capacity, limiting programming, community and commercial opportunities. The strain on the precinct is compounded by a lack of other creative space in the West.
The Impact
Benefits of investing in the Footscray Community Arts precinct include:
- Improved and fit-for-purpose creative infrastructure contributes to the social, health, creative and economic wellbeing of the municipality.
- Maximised use of our nationally recognised brand and current operational funding from all levels of government, including expansion of operational funding from Creative Victoria.
- Leveraging of our in-house expertise and proven skill in operating a creative precinct, with a 50-year strong legacy.
- Connection with our loyal and growing audience base; creates capacity to serve proven unmet community and audience demand in a rapidly changing West.
- Ongoing safety and access issues associated with current infrastructure resolved.
The recommended actions in the plan involve modest capex investment, yielding major cultural, community and economic return. A conservative independent economic appraisal conducted in 2020/21 supported funding for the proposed works, and that this project will make the community and Victorian taxpayers better off.
Let’s Talk
Please contact Reception@footscrayarts.com to arrange a conversation with Robyn Gawenda, Executive Director and Co-CEO.
More Information
Image: Precinct Plan Concept Image by ARM Architecture.