East Gippsland Shire Council’s Culture and Creativity Strategy 2023–2033 sets out a 10-year vision to strengthen the region’s cultural life and creative economy. The strategy focuses on creating conditions where artists, communities, and cultural organisations can thrive, while ensuring creativity is embedded in the fabric of the Shire. 

The strategy focuses on four key areas:

1. Foster the growth of cultural and creative communities

Facilitate professional development opportunities for local practitioners.
Expand cultural and creative activity across the Shire through activation of spaces and events.

2. Support communities to undertake their own initiatives

Grow a new generation of organisers and producers.
Enhance access to resources and spaces for creative work.

3. Champion the region’s diverse cultures and creative activities

Promote and celebrate East Gippsland’s cultural life.
Capture, preserve, and share our diverse heritage and stories.

4. Embed creativity into the fabric of the Shire

Advocate for cultural outcomes across Council activities and regional partnerships.
Optimise use of Council resources to support creative initiatives.

We also manage The Forge Theatre. In alignment with the strategy, we are working at making the Forge more than a performance venue. It hosts professional touring productions, community performances, and artist development programs. We're trailing initiatives like Forge Immersion Month transform the space into a working studio, giving artists time and resources to experiment and create.

Through the strategy, East Gippsland Shire Council is committed to building a strong, inclusive cultural sector that delivers social, cultural, and economic benefits for our communities.