A strategy to strengthen arts and culture in Dunedin was launched last night.
About 150 people attended the launch of of Dunedin's Art & Culture Strategy, Ara Toi Otepoti - Our Creative Future, in the Ross & Glendining Ltd building in Stafford St.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, speaking at the launch, said the strategy would ''strengthen'' arts and culture in the city.
''As a council, we recognise the importance of arts and culture to our community.''
The creative sector played a major role in Dunedin's economy, contributing about $55 million to the city's gross domestic product, he said.
The strategy would make arts and culture ''more accessible and inclusive, to inspire connectivity and collaboration and further capitalise on those economic opportunities the creative sector provides''.
The arts and culture collective Transforming Dunedin led the strategy and developed it with the Dunedin City Council, he said.
At the launch, University of Otago 2015 Robert Burns Fellow Louise Wallace read her poem pine & sand - a work she was commissioned to write for the launch.
The poem included references to Dunedin writers Emma Neale, Janet Frame and Hone Tuwhare.
''It was a nice challenge,'' she said before reciting the piece.
