CONVERGENCE Enhancing Local Communities Cultural Experience, Strengthening our Foundations

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CONVERGENCE Enhancing Local Communities Cultural
Experience, Strengthening our Foundations

• Paper presented to
• the Local Government Managers Association
  Conference
• Maisy Stapleton
• CEO, Museums and Galleries New South Wales

Convergence
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THIS PRESENTATION

• Background, introduction and explanations
• What is the impact on local government?
• Funding -- potential and challenges
• Staffing and HR -- training and development
• Community expectations
• Service delivery models
• Marketing
• ICT issues
• Summary of challenges and benefits

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BACKGROUND

• Museums and Galleries NSW (MG NSW) -- 1998
• Museums Libraries and Archives Council, UK,
  (MLA)(originally formed as Resource) -- 2000
• Institute of Museum and Library Services, USA,
  (IMLS) -- 1996
• Collections Council of Australia (CCA) -- 2004

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What is driving convergencein NSW?

• NSW Cultural Accord with LGSA
• Cultural and social planning
• Cost shifting service delivery to local
  government
• Desire to reduce resources spent on local
  government services
• Desire to improve services
• Public expectations
• Growing affinities in service delivery agenda
• International models

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CONVERGENCE

• Unity in diversity
• Unified management structure
• Functions, programs and services that cross
  domain boundaries or are integrated

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EXAMPLES OF CONVERGENCE

• Puke Ariki, New Plymouth New Zealand
• Library/Museum, Albury NSW
• Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, NSW
• Museum and Gallery, Fairfield, NSW
• Cultural Centres, Blacktown and Campbelltown, NSW
• Stanton Library and Heritage Centre, North
  Sydney, NSW
• Manly Museum and Gallery

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CO-LOCATION

• Separate functions within the one location
• Some common facilities
• (rarely) some shared staff and resources
• Some common programming
• Multiple combinations of above

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EXAMPLES OF CO-LOCATION

• Tamworth Regional Gallery and Library, NSW
• Tenterfield School of Arts, NSW
• Regional Gallery and Library, Bathurst, NSW
• Orange Regional Gallery and Library, NSW
• Wagga Wagga Library, Gallery and Museum of the
  Riverina

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FUNDING POTENTIAL CHALLENGES

• Convergence is not of great concern as long as
  service delivery is not adversely affected
• Encourages audience growth and development
• Community welcomes new opportunities for cultural
  development
• Experience positively enhanced by access to other
  cultural services

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STAFFING AND HRTRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

• HR issues - changing work patterns/practices
• Overcoming entrenched practices and values is a
  challenge
• Training for new roles is required -- including
  generic management training across domains
• Professional development opportunities
• New competencies and more portable skills sets
  for staff

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COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS

• Convergence is not of great concern as long as
  service delivery is not adversely affected
• Encourages audience growth and development
• Community welcomes new opportunities for cultural
  development
• Experience positively enhanced by access to other
  cultural services

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MARKETING AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

• Opportunities to develop and grow audiences
• Defining the product/experience
• Integrated approach to cultural development

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SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS

• Interdisciplinary programming
• Cross-fertilisation equals new creativity
• New service models can develop through using the
  best from each delivery method

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ICT ISSUES

• Key to unlocking convergence through new
  technology
• ICT breaks down barriers to information locked in
  individual service providers or collection areas
• Cross domain development vital to developing a
  knowledge nation

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WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

• Challenges and benefits include
• Bridging cultural and developmental gaps across
  different domains
• Maintaining integrity in diversity
• Dissonance between current funding models and
  convergence in operation
• The need for further information and longitudinal
  studies
• Opportunities for leadership
• Positive creative and community outcomes

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Acknowledgment thanks

• John Cumberford.Manager Bathurst City Library and
  Somerville Museum, Bathurst
• John Cheeseman Manager, Blacktown Arts Centre
• Susan Hutchinson, Manager, Fairfield Museum and
  Gallery
• Bridgette Leece, Manager, Western Plains Cultural
  Centre
• Leonie Masson, Senior Librarian, Historical
  Services, North Sydney Council
• Elizabeth McIntosh, Manager, Tamworth Regional
  Gallery
• Richard Perram, Director, Bathurst Regional
  Gallery
• Jean Probert, Special Projects Officer, Museums
  and Galleries NSW
• Alan Sisley, Director, Orange Regional Gallery
• Kevin Wilson, Manager, Cultural Services, Albury
  City Council

Convergence