In late 2022, the Patternmakers team has been working with Arts Northern Rivers on a project to assist with creative industries flood recovery. Here, we share the 5 top areas of need, and 6 recommendations for intervention, to ensure the creative industries flourish again after the disaster.

The Northern Rivers Creative Industries Recovery Forum was held on 28 and 29 July 2022, five months after severe storms and flooding hit communities across Northern NSW and Southern QLD.

Over 200 artists and arts workers gathered in Lismore, NSW, to connect and discuss the question: ‘What’s next in terms of creative industries recovery?’. We were excited to be in good company with Arts Northern Rivers and Creative Plus Business leading the proceedings.

After two big days following the Open Space methodology, a total of 45 topics were raised and documented in a ‘Book of Proceedings’.

This week, Patternmakers and Arts Northern Rivers are pleased to share our report on the Forum and sector priorities. It is based on an analysis of the Book of Proceedings, a series of interviews following the Forum, and a desktop review of relevant data, including Northern Rivers demographic information, recovery funding information, and the NSW Government’s 2022 Flood Inquiry report.

It summarises the areas of need and makes recommendations for the priority interventions required for recovery of the region’s creative industries.

Areas of need

There are 5 interrelated areas of need in the region’s creative industries following the 2022 floods:

  • REPAIR: Supporting artists and organisations to replace losses and rebuild their practices by ensuring functional and safe studio spaces for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, in addition to replacing lost equipment and materials, communicating opportunities for assistance and administering mental health first aid.

  • PREPARE: Helping artists and organisations disaster-proof their practice and strengthen resilience by building disaster management capacity, sharing learnings and insights through events and resources, creating new roles to support preparedness and developing flood-proof practices for all art-forms.

  • INFLUENCE: Advocating for the creative industries and ensuring artists are central to recovery by finding creative solutions to ‘build back better’, ensuring Council’s allocate space for creative work, ensuring the creative industries have a strong voice in policy and investment decisions, prioritising diverse voices and improving funding processes. 

  • WORK: Creating opportunities for artists to work, generate earnings and support community recovery including exploring a wide variety of models, facilitating residencies, enabling diverse public art projects to take place, bringing artists together to support one another and harnessing the arts to heal parts of the community in need.

  • THRIVE: Working towards a more equitable, vibrant and newly flourishing arts sector, by stimulating ambitious creative activities like major events and festivals, ensuring there are trajectories for emerging artists, putting First Nations first, increasing the reach of Northern Rivers arts and changing perceptions of regional arts.

Intervention is needed to remove barriers and stimulate the recovery process

Some people and groups have been disproportionately affected, and some face risks and barriers in the recovery process – particularly in the context of the ongoing housing crisis.

Working with Arts Northern Rivers we identified six ecommendations for intervention by peak bodies, government agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders.

1.    SPACE

Many creative spaces were damaged and lack access to space is a major impediment to recovery. Identifying suitable properties, liaising with stakeholders and sourcing funding for spaces is an urgent priority for all artforms and all areas of the region, but particularly in Lismore and for First Nations artists.

2.    CAPACITY

Much has been learned about disaster recovery and a range of new skills are needed. Investing in professional development opportunities and knowledge sharing is vital to spur creative recovery and ensure preparedness.

3.    FUNDING

Loss of economic opportunity is hugely problematic. Funding and partnerships are needed for residencies, commissions and projects. Opportunities are needed for short-, medium- and long-term horizons, from levels of government across a range of portfolio areas, and private sources.

4.    FIRST NATIONS

The region’s First Nations artists and cultural workers have been hit hard, and may not have equal access to space or support. Investing in specific forms of support for the region’s First Nations artists and cultural workers is essential, including Indigenous-led spaces, programs and events.  

5.    ACCESS

Some people and organisations have not been able to access recovery initiatives, due to disability, language barriers and socio-economic disadvantage. It’s important to review and improve accessibility of support for people from all backgrounds and ensure there are specific strategies in place to address inequities.

6.    COMMUNICATION

The disaster has heightened isolation and it’s vital there are ongoing opportunities for the creative industries to connect, share information and exchange ideas related to the recovery process.

Many of these interventions will deliver benefits for the creative industries and the wider community. If designed with care, there is potential to rebuild a sector that is thriving and generates artistic, social and economic benefits across the region and for Australia as a whole.

Get in touch

The issues, needs and opportunities identified in the report are not exhaustive. While an effort has been made to speak to and reflect the perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders and representatives from the Northern Rivers community, the situation is constantly changing. People recover at different rates and new needs will continue to reveal themselves.

If the report has raised any questions, suggestions or ideas, or you’d like to offer your feedback, you can fill out the feedback form here: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7081267/Creative-Industries-Flood-Recovery-Report-Feedback

We’d love to hear from you. This report is the product of conversations and collaborations of artists and arts workers from across the Northern Rivers and beyond. It’s vital that we continue hearing from the voices of those affected, working together to deliver the changes the region needs

Image Credit: Kate Holmes, courtesy of Arts Northern Rivers.

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About the Author

Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director

Tandi is Founder and Managing Director of Patternmakers. She’s an arts research specialist and leader of the agency’s research projects.

 

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