N O R T H S Y D N E Y C O U N C I L R E P O R T S

 

Community Services Reference Group Report CS08 - 24 March 2014

Attachments: 1. Australia Day 2014 photographs

2. Community Carols flyer 3. Carols Under the Bridge photographs

4. Community art Christmas Project examples SUBJECT: Community Carols 2013 Review and Australia Day 2014 AUTHOR: Kylie Davies, Cultural Events and Projects Officer ENDORSED BY: Martin Ellis, Director Community and Library Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Community Carols and Australia Day Community Awards are annual programs facilitated by the Community Development Department (Arts and Culture Section). Community Carols provides free entertainment for the community, whilst the Australia Day Community Awards recognises significant contributions of volunteers in the local government area. The report details a summary of both events held between October 2013 and February 2014. It also contains a review of the existing Community Carols event for future consideration due to the decrease in attendance over past years and an increase in other local Community Carol events. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nil. RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council considers replacing Community Carols with a community arts program involving local schools and groups.

Report of: Kylie Davies, Cultural Events and Projects Officer Re: Community Carols 2013 Review and Australia Day 2014

(2) LINK TO DELIVERY PROGRAM

The relationship with the Delivery Program is as follows:

Direction: 1. Our Living Environment Outcome: 1.5 Public open space, recreation facilities and services that meet community

needs Direction: 4. Our Social Vitality Outcome: 4.1 Community is connected 4.2 Community is diverse

4.3 Enhanced arts and cultural programs and facilities 4.8 Community is active and healthy 4.9 Enhanced community facilities, information and services 4.10 Enhanced community safety and accessibility

BACKGROUND Australia Day The annual Australia Day Community Awards have been held variously in the Independent Theatre (when it was under the ownership of the AET at a cost of some $3,000 and the Hutley Hall. It is successful in both venues though the former is undoubtedly superior (with its raked seating). Post-awards the activities in Bradfield Park were also formerly in St Leonard’s Park until the most regular contributor (The Celtic Festival) was persuaded by the Australia day Council to relocate to the foreshores. Council makes a small grant contribution of $2,500 and an additional $2,000 for the provision of multi cultural entertainment in return for which the Festival attempts to recruit non-Celtic activities to broaden the day’s appeal. Community Carols The Community Carols in North Sydney were for many years organized and funded by local Churches and held in St Leonard’s Park. It was not an ideal location (due to the large scale of the park and limited toilet facilities) and as numbers fell and the Churches lost their enthusiasm the event was cancelled. For the past five years or so, Council has provided Community Carols in conjunction with the Twilight Food Fair in the more intimate venue of Civic Park with access to a range of facilities. Attendance is modest with between 1,000 and 1,500 people attending over two and a half hours. CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS Community engagement will be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Protocol.  SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT

Report of: Kylie Davies, Cultural Events and Projects Officer Re: Community Carols 2013 Review and Australia Day 2014

(3) The sustainability implications are of a minor nature and did not warrant a detailed assessment. DETAIL Australia Day 2014 The awards were presented at the Hutley Hall on 26 January 2014, by Mayor Jilly Gibson and the Australia Day Ambassador Program was delivered by actor Roy Billing. The awards recognise outstanding voluntary achievements in three categories. The award winners are detailed below, as selected by Council at its meeting of 9 December 2013 (Min. No. 813):

Citizen of the Year - Scott Ehler Young Citizen(s) of the Year - Jisun Chang - North Sydney Girls and Ella Butler -

Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College Community Group(s)/Event of the Year - Waverton Hub and Coal Loader Community

Garden Members The Hutley Hall was full and all were in good spirits, despite the air-conditioning struggling. Entertainment was from Ms Belinda Adams whose beautiful soprano began proceedings with “What a Wonderful World”. Consideration will be given to approaching Wenona for use of the Independent Theatre next year. Refer to Attachment 1 for photos from the event. Community Carols 2013 The 2013 Community Carols event was held on Friday 6 December 2013 (Attachment 2) from 6.30-9pm in Civic Park, in conjunction with the Twilight Food Fair (organised by Council’s Open Space and Environmental Services Division). The event was opened by Mayor Jilly Gibson and attracted up to 1,500. Carols were performed by North Sydney Girls High School Choir and Orchestras, with additional entertainment by Yellowkat Christmas Show, The Jitterbugs Christmas Show, Kids Craft Corner. The date of the event, while recognised as a little early for Carols, is governed by the need not to compete with other bigger (and or school) events and particularly with the desirability of involving the schools before they break for holidays. It is worth noting too that though the community arts team has carriage of the event there is little community art involved. Cost to the Community Art budget annually is $5,000. Attendance at Carols has declined over previous years, possibly as a result of an overall increase in other community Christmas events in North Sydney, offering a selection of activities which catered for a broad section of the community. The largest community event was the Carols under the Bridge at Bradfield Park in Kirribilli, held on Saturday 14 December 2013 from 5-9pm. This free community event was organised by Church under the Bridge and offered a wide range of activities including food stalls, face painting, and craft. A professional

Report of: Kylie Davies, Cultural Events and Projects Officer Re: Community Carols 2013 Review and Australia Day 2014

(4) stage, sound and lighting system were established on the harbor foreshore with the Opera House as a back drop. The high quality entertainment included Dave Halls Band, Soprano Alicia Hawkes. This increasingly popular annual event reaches a broad section of the community attracting over 5,000 people. Carols under the Bridge (Attachment 3) patronage ranges from families with children of all ages to young single people and couples, as well as seniors. While Council’s Community Carols primarily appeals to families with young children, it is not attracting young people and seniors. Alternative Proposal: Community Art Christmas Project Rather than continue to compete with well resourced and growing carols events (e.g. portable stages with lights and sound cost many thousands of dollars), an alternative concept (Attachment 4) is proposed that involves local schools and community groups in making a range of Christmas art pieces facilitated by professional artists and installed in Civic Park for a number of weeks over the festive period. The project could take place over a number of months leading up to Christmas involving the wider community in a meaningful community art project, culminating in a launch perhaps held in December in conjunction with the Twilight Food Festival. Examples include:

Light poles transformed into candy canes (knitted art - refer to Attachment 4) Reindeer sculpture Giant Christmas tree baubles Giant Christmas lollies/presents

Examples of potential schools/community groups who could participate in the project include:

local High Schools local Primary Schools Seniors Groups Men’s Shed At risk young people (Via Phoenix House, Planet X and Crows Nest TAFE)

It is envisaged 2-3 art projects and groups be engaged in the initial project. The cost of the project would remain the same as the existing Community Carols budget with the scope to increase the size of the project in future.

Australia Day 2014 Images

Scott Ehler (Representatives): Jisun Chang: Young Citizen of the Year

Citizen of the Year

Ella Butler: Young Citizen of the Year Coal Loader: Community Group of the Year

Waverton Hub: Community Group of the Year

2013 North Sydney Community Carolsin conjunction with

2013 North Sydney Community Carolsin conjunction with

Special guest artists

✴YellowKat ‘Christmas Show’

✴The Jitterbugs Christmas Spectacular

✴Meet Santa & the Christmas Fairy Princess

✴Kids craft corner

Carols performed by

✴North Sydney Girls High School Choir and Orchestra

Special guest artists

✴YellowKat ‘Christmas Show’

✴The Jitterbugs Christmas Spectacular

✴Meet Santa & the Christmas Fairy Princess

✴Kids craft corner

Carols performed by

✴North Sydney Girls High School Choir and Orchestra

twilight food fair twilight food fair

Friday 6 December 6.30pm to 9pm

Civic Park(Adjacent to Stanton Library)

Miller St, North Sydney

Friday 6 December 6.30pm to 9pm

Civic Park(Adjacent to Stanton Library)

Miller St, North Sydney

Wet weather hotline: 9936 8272 Wet weather hotline: 9936 8272

Come early and enjoy a picnic or buy dinner at the Food Fair

Come early and enjoy a picnic or buy dinner at the Food Fair

Carols Under the Bridge Images

4. Community Art Examples

Giant Christmas baulbles / decorations in the trees

Knitted candy canes (street lamps) Christmas sculptures

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?bih=843&biw=1280&tbm=isch&tbnid=B8EBNr0J2TpjxM:&imgrefurl=http://www.maryschristmas.net/servlet/Detail?no=189&docid=a6B8NEQmcb8jDM&imgurl=http://www.maryschristmas.net/catalog/fa25_1_189_1.JPG&w=300&h=236&ei=3F79UpOHDonrkwXQ0oCgBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=437&page=2&start=20&ndsp=29&ved=0CJUBEK0DMBU�