GOAL
Liverpool City Council commissioned JOC Consulting, in partnership with Silver Lining Strategy, to prepare a ten-year Culture, Events and Festivals Strategy for the Liverpool Local Government Area. Home to more than 250,000 residents from over 150 cultural backgrounds, and growing by 20,000 people a year, Liverpool’s challenge was not building a cultural program from scratch but giving an already exceptional one the structure to grow sustainably. With the Western Sydney International Airport opening on its doorstep, Council’s goal was a clear framework to protect what works, shift event ownership from Council towards community and partners, and position Liverpool’s culture, events and festivals offer for long-term investment.
SOLUTION
JOC Consulting led research, engagement and strategy development to build a Strategy grounded in Liverpool’s intercultural identity and existing strengths. This included:
- Review of relevant federal, state and local policy, including the NSW Creative Communities Policy, Sound NSW, the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy and Council’s own Community Strategic Plan and Visitor Economy Strategy;
- Analysis of Liverpool’s demographic profile, population growth forecasts and cultural participation data;
- More than 360 community surveys, including a representative sample panel, to capture sentiment on events, cultural pride, inclusion and belonging;
- Consultation with the Liverpool Powerhouse Board, elected Councillors, Council staff across Events, Communications, City Economy, City Planning and City Design, and community and cultural partners;
- A review and assessment of Council’s current events portfolio, including attendance data and operational performance;
- Benchmarking against comparable cultural and events strategies delivered by councils across Western Sydney and NSW;
- Development of a four-pillar strategic framework, prioritisation tool and full implementation plan, including a council report, Mayor’s message and executive presentation.
OUTCOME
The Strategy reframes Council’s role in cultural programming, moving Liverpool from primarily a provider of events to a partner and facilitator working alongside community organisations, cultural partners and local business. It builds on proven strengths, including the award-winning Experience the World series, which injected $25 million into the local economy and won the 2024 Premier’s Business Excellence Medal for Local Government, and Liverpool Powerhouse, the City’s creative anchor and incubator for local talent. Structured around four pillars the Strategy gives Council a ten-year roadmap to tell Liverpool’s story with confidence, deepen community ownership of events, and position the City’s cultural program as an investable platform as Western Sydney International Airport brings new audiences to Liverpool’s door.