Avalon Beach confirmed as a creative hub
Recent research into Avalon Beach’s cultural resources confirms that is a hot bed of creativity on the Northern Beaches. Avalon Beach is the home of a significant number of creative practitioners - artists and entrepreneurs who operate as sole traders or small creative enterprises.
Avalon Beach Cultural Resources Mapping Project represents cutting edge urban and cultural planning. It was undertaken on behalf of the community by a team of Avalon professionals. They are committed to providing evidence of the scope of Avalon Beach’s cultural resources which can feed into planning for Avalon’s future cultural vitality and urban development.
The Project has identified over 600 items for the Avalon Beach cultural resources or assets inventory ranging from heritage items, to spaces and facilities, events, community organisations, cultural businesses, parks and reserves as well as local customs, stories and traditions.
In consultation with the Avalon Beach community the Project also identified gaps or possibilities for the future including the urgent need for Welcome to Guringai signage, pop up artist spaces, cultural festivals and site specific public art. The information will be fed into the Council’s forthcoming Avalon Beach Masterplan.
A unique aspect of the Project has been the appointment of Sally Mayman as artist mentor to Year 9 Barrenjoey High School students who have worked throughout Term 3 and 4 to create artworks which capture the essence of Avalon Beach. These amazing youth art works will be on show at the Upstairs Gallery Avalon Recreation Centre on Avalon Market Day – Sunday 20 November from 9am to 4pm.
This grassroots led Project is unique in Sydney and has been supported by the Avalon Preservation Association, Eramboo Artist Environment, Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association, Barrenjoey High School and Northern Beaches Council. Led by a team of expert local residents, the mapping project has collected systematic data on the tangible and intangible assets that influence Avalon Beach’s identity, vitality, sense of place and quality of life. The Project aims to build evidence of Avalon’s cultural infrastructure – its strengths as well as its weaknesses - to inform planning and to develop a shared base of local knowledge.
By Sue Boaden
Coordinator, Avalon Preservation Association Cultural Mapping Project Team
