Arts and culture
The Coffs Harbour region enjoys an active and diverse arts and cultural life with galleries, creative workshop spaces, public art and cultural festivals and events.
The Coffs Coast has been identified as a Creative Industries hotspot for NSW by the ARC Linkage Project due to the diverse and innovative sector operating in the region.
Supporting the cultural industry
City of Coffs Harbour is committed to supporting the vitality of the cultural life of our region. Developing the capacity and depth of our cultural life increases Coffs Harbour's attractiveness as a place to visit and live.
Strategic plan
In February 2017, the Coffs Harbour City Council adopted a new Cultural Strategic Plan with a vision of:
A vibrant and creative Coffs lifestyle enriched by its natural beauty, diverse people and capacity for innovation.
The strategic plan identifies 5 key goals:
- Engage our community and visitors in the cultural life of the area
- Create and maintain vibrant cultural and public spaces
- Understand and celebrate our Aboriginal and diverse cultural heritage
- Value and support our creative industries; and
- Encourage connections, collaboration and partnerships.
‘Creative Coffs’ continues to be implemented and remains a dynamic driver for Council’s cultural strategic planning and evaluation.
Download the Creative Coffs - Cultural Strategic Plan 2017-2022(PDF, 997KB)
Grant program
City of Coffs Harbour offers an Arts and Cultural Development grant program to support new and exciting projects and initiatives that reflect the goals of the Creative Cultural Strategic Plan 2017-2022 which forms the foundation of the selection criteria.
Vist our Arts and Cultural Development grant program webpage
Advisory committee
The Cultural Advisory Committee, consisting of 8 community representatives and 2 Councillors, meets quarterly to:
- provide advice and feedback on the implementation of the Cultural Strategic Plan, and
- advocate on behalf of the community.
To find out more about the committee including their Terms of Reference and current members:
Visit our Cultural Advisory Committee webpage
Community and Cultural Facilities Plan 2021-31
The purpose of the Community and Cultural Facilities Plan 2021-2031 is to guide our role in the provision and facilitation of community and cultural facilities across the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA) over the next 10 years.
This Plan outlines the new priority infrastructure projects across the LGA that respond to community needs and population growth; and address bookings, governance and venues information; and opportunities to facilitate or broker a range of other spaces for community, cultural and creative uses.
Download the Community and Cultural Facilities Plan 2021-2031(PDF, 8MB)
New cultural and civic space
The Coffs Harbour cultural and civic space, named Yarrila Place, will combine arts, people, technology and culture to create a vibrant community hub.
It is designed to transform our library, museum and gallery into spaces more suited to the Coffs Harbour region's growing role as regional city and tourist destination.
Find out more about the Yarrila Place Project
External resources
The Coffs Coast Creative Industries Network is an association of professionals. Their Facebook page provides a platform where the many quality artists and creative practitioners who live in our region can share and connect.
Visit the Coffs Coast Creative Industries Network's Facebook page