The plan will be circulated to groups and agencies involved in its development and will be released for public comment.

Cr Tony Phelan said a vibrant arts and cultural plan was essential for the municipality, which boasted a diverse, multi-faceted community.

“I’m looking forward to presenting this and seeing what the reaction is,” he said.

The draft plan builds on the current plan, which was developed in 2006.

A reference group was established to lead a review of the 2006 plan and the consultation process for the 2014-18 plan.

As a result, the vision of the draft plan is for Horsham Rural City Council to be ‘a regional leader in arts and cultural activity that celebrates diversity, creativity and inclusion through our contemporary and heritage stories that connects us to land, people and place’.

Key priority areas include arts practice for artists; community participation in arts and cultural activities; more pieces of arts infrastructure; art business development and festivals.

Goals include celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion through the arts; increasing participation and access to the arts; and investing in the development, presentation and sustainability of local arts practice.

Cr Pam Clarke said the draft plan was the result of an enormous amount of work.

“This project has had an amazing amount of consultation,” she said.

“They went to the community and asked: What matters? What’s good? What’s missing? What’s next? through a survey.

“They got 900 respondents. That’s an amazing response to any kind of survey.

“I think this is well and truly ready to go out to the community for consultation.”

Two community consultation sessions will take place in late February.

People will have the opportunity to comment through social media, direct email and council’s website from late January.

Submissions on council’s draft 2014-18 Arts and Cultural Plan will close at the end of February.