Dunedin city councillors have enthusiastically backed a new strategy aimed at boosting arts and culture in the city.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of adopting the strategy - called ''Ara Toi Otepoti: Our Creative Future'' - at this week's council meeting and praised the collaborative process between the council and the city's artistic and cultural community which led to its creation.
Cr Jinty MacTavish said the policy that had been devised was a ''broad platform for growth'' for the city's already strong artistic and cultural scene.
Cr Aaron Hawkins said it had been an ''honour'' to spend the past 18 months helping shape the policy.
''This strategy is a fantastic opportunity for us to put art and culture at the centre of everything we do,'' Cr Hawkins said.
The city was experiencing a ''cultural renaissance'' - which included its street art boom and its Unesco City of Literature status - and the strategy would ensure the platform would be built on.
He called on councillors to ''think on'' providing funding for the strategy after staff indicated resourcing options for it would be presented as part of the council's long term plan process.
Cr Lee Vandervis questioned how accessible the document would be to budding artists.
''It's very much a feel good document. I believe it's very much too long and I don't believe it's strong enough in terms of actually recognising the arts as an industry in Dunedin.''
