Learning the levers: Unlocking Creative Spaces in the City

Want to secure a creative space in the City but don’t know where to start? Attend the City’s Learning the Levers workshop to learn how to work the City’s planning system and unlock more creative spaces in the City of Perth.

The City of Perth recognises that the creative sector is vital to Perth’s future. Small art galleries, performance spaces and music venues, as well as co-working spaces, startups, and social enterprises, are incubators for Perth’s creative life. Artists and Creatives living and working in the city are essential for a vibrant urban centre. They diversify the night-time economy, attract tourists, and provide places for people to produce and engage with local culture.

Cities all over the world are working to adapt 20th century building and planning laws to suit the economic and cultural needs of the 21st century. The City of Perth is currently working to finalising its Draft City Planning Strategy and has commenced developing the new City Planning Scheme 3. Now is the time for the Creative Industries sector to seize the opportunity to champion future creative space development in Perth city.

Event Description

This interactive workshop will introduce the fundamental planning tools in place that can help unlock opportunities for creative uses in the City of Perth, and explore other types of planning tools that could influence the the future of cultural infrastructure in the city.

We will also focus on your organisation’ creative space needs and identify the barriers currently impeding access to developing creative spaces in the City.

This workshop is designed as a cross-sector information session, sharing knowledge and learnings between RobertsDay’s place planning and culture specialists, the City of Perth and the Creative Industries Sector.

In this workshop participants will:

• Learn the language of planning and development to help you advocate for creative spaces in the City of Perth

• Get inside knowledge about development opportunities in the city (existing buildings and new developments)

• Share your organisation’s needs and the barriers you’ve come up against to finding spaces in the city’s neighbourhoods

• Learn about how best to communicate your value for negotiating and establishing relationships or partnerships with private owners and developers

Who should attend?

This workshop welcomes organisations, groups, businesses and individuals from Perth’s Culture and Art Sector, Creative Industries, and up and coming influencers wanting to be more active in creative space development within the City of Perth.

These may include groups or individuals in music, visual and performing arts, film, TV and radio, software and digital content, gaming, publishing, design and designer fashion.

About the Presenters

This workshop will be co-presented by Peter Ciemitis and Alysha Saunders from one of Perth’s leading Town Planning studio’s RobertsDay.

Peter Ciemitis

PIA Planner of the Year (WA) in 2014, Peter specialises in the design of urban precincts, waterfronts and residential development. He has undertaken, influenced and advocated cultural and arts integration in planning processes for over 30 years through projects, participation and policy.

Peter is a visual artist who has won the prestigious Lester Prize in 2010 and was a finalist in the Archibald Prize twice. His artwork is represented in major collections Internationally, including the National Portrait Gallery.

He actively advises in the design, arts and culture sector, holding roles on dozens of panels; including current roles on the State Design Review Panel and the City of Perth Cultural Advisory Committee.

Alysha Saunders

With over a decade of experience working for Perth’s Culture and Arts Sector within the State Government and as a Place Planning professional, Alysha has left her mark on an extensive list of projects.

She has led and contributed to significant place developments, cultural policies and community projects across the City of Perth and metro area – including Hibernian Place, Perth Girls’ School, Historic Heart, Perth Hub, Curtin University activation and the establishment of the Museum of Perth for the Perth History Association Inc.

Trained in Visual Art (BA Arts Honours; Curtin University), Alysha specialises in the process of ‘Creative Placemaking’ and focuses on embedding creative uses and people in existing neighbourhoods and new developments for economic, social, cultural and environmental benefit.