Blue Mountains Creative Arts Network (BMCAN) 2022

BMCAN Strategy Survey of Members and Friends

Blue Mountains Creative Arts Network's new Management Committee, serving the Greater Blue Mountains community including the Lithgow area wants to hear from you about how BMCAN can best serve our community. Please fill out this Strategy Survey to inform our Strategic Planning workshop being held in February 2022. Thank you, Barbara Lepani, President.

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* 1. What is your creative practice? Tick all that apply to you.

Visual artist - painter

Visual artist - sculptor

Visual artist - photographer

Writer

Musician

Designer

Performing artist

Web designer/manager

Social media manager

Cultural worker supporting the arts sector in administration/marketing

None of the above

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* 2. Where do you live?

Lower Blue Mountains

Hawkesbury-Mt Wilson area

Lithgow area

Middle Blue Mountains

Upper Blue Mountains

Greater Sydney

Other

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* 3. What age group do you belong to?

65+

50-64

35-49

20-48

Under 20

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* 4. Membership of BMCAN. Tick which applies to you

Current financial member of BMCAN

Previous financial member of BMCAN (or BMAN)

Never been a financial member of BMCAN

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* 5. If not a financial member what would make you want to join? Tick which applies to you

Opportunity to socialise with other creatives at curated gatherings

More exciting and engaging BMCAN art exhibitions

Opportunity to promote my creative works on the BMCAN website

Opportunity to get involved in multi-arts activities across different art forms

Being part of a valued creative community

Access to a collaborative art space

BMCAN becoming more involved in creative arts advocacy

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* 6. From a BMCAN member's viewpoint, tick which is value to you

Opportunities to meet other creative practitioners

Psychological support from meeting with other creatives in my field

Opportunity to exhibit, publish or perform works

Support in writing grant applications

Access to collaborative creative working spaces

Opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of the creative arts to society

Opportunity to strengthen the advocacy voice of the creative arts community

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* 7. What does the word 'network' mean to you when thinking about BMCAN's activities? Tick the most important aspect for you.

Opportunity to get to know other creatives through facilitated gatherings

Opportunity to be exposed to leading ideas and practitioners in my creative field(s)

Opportunity to learn about what is going on in the Greater Blue Mountains creative arts community

Opportunity to get involved in creative activities

Linking the creative arts to other community issues, such as health, employment and the environment

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* 8. What is the value of tourism to the Creative Arts Sector? Tick the most important for you.

Helps support the local economy and provides local jobs

Provides me with a bigger potential audience for my works

Creates the opportunity for mixing with people from outside the local area

Enables the creative arts sector to enrich the nature-based tourist experience

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* 9. What do you consider are the biggest challenges facing the creative arts community in the Greater Blue Mountains? Tick the most important to you.

Low level of funding support through grants for creative arts activities

Lack of Council engagement with the creative arts community sector

Uncertainty due to COVID and associated regulations

Rising rental and housing costs

Access to free or low cost community art spaces for collaborative engagement

Skills and capabilities in using online opportunities for selling and engaging in creative practice

Anxiety due to potential impact of climate change and related environmental concerns

Access to secure sources of adequate income

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* 10. When thinking about society, what do you think are the big issues for most people and government that the creative arts should speak to? Tick the most important to you.

Increasing wealth inequality between the haves and have-nots

Climate change

Income insecurity

Environmental sustainability

Relationship between First Nations peoples and Settler Australians (First Fleet to recent migrants)

Rising mental health concerns associated with depression, anxiety and loneliness

Vulnerability to homelessness by both young and older people

Our spiritual relationship with the environment and other life forms

Kindness, generosity, and caring for one another in difficult times

Refugee resettlement

Impact of COVID on freedom to hold creative arts events

Coming together as a community rather than isolated individual 'consumers'