Lake Macquarie City Council is seeking community input to write the next chapter in the city's cultural story, with consultation underway on a new Creative Futures 2037 Strategy.
The strategy will guide investment, partnerships and opportunities across arts, culture, heritage and the creative economy for the decade ahead.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the strategy would help ensure the city's creative aspirations were met and would highlight the significant role creativity played in the broader economy.
"Arts, culture and heritage mean many things to many people," he said.
"It could be a live music performance at Speers Point Park, a visit to a library or the inclusion of First Nations voices in our events and activities."
"Whatever the case, the benefits of embracing art, culture and creativity in our everyday lives are many and varied."
Lake Macquarie is home to more than 2,700 people and almost 450 businesses involved in creative industries.
Council's Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said events and festivals across the city injected an estimated $34 million in direct and flow-on benefits into the regional economy in the past year, attracting more than 340,000 combined.
In the same period, more than 540,000 people visited one of the city's 10 Lake Mac Libraries branches.
"The Creative Futures 2037 Strategy will explore how arts, culture, heritage and creativity can support social connection, economic development, cultural tourism, liveability and a strong sense of place," Ms Hemsley said.
"We also want to map out how we as a Council and a city can respond to opportunities and challenges. Things like population growth, digital transformation, changing community expectations and emerging creative practices."
"We're encouraging everyone to have their say, whether they regularly attend cultural events, participate in creative activities, volunteer with local organisations or simply have ideas of their own."
Residents can share ideas and input at shape.lakemac.com.au/creativefutures2037 before 25 November.
