Arts & Communities Services

Posted: May 11, 2020

We at Visitor Solutions understand the significant impact the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on the sport, recreation, tourism, heritage, event and community sectors. This has resulted in very challenging times for everyone. We are passionate about ensuring the sport, recreation, tourism, heritage, event and community sectors are strong. We want to support the recovery phase […]

0 comments

No two communities are the same. So understanding the particular needs of a community, and community-based organisations, is essential.

As a community grows or changes, services and facilities have to evolve and adapt to meet new needs. The services and solutions we provide are tailor-made, holistic, adaptable and sustainable.

The core upon which we base them includes the following:

STRATEGIC PLANNING

We work with clients to develop visionary, yet achievable, strategies. In the community development sector we work on everything from individual community and arts facility plana to regional community development strategies.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

Understanding current and future community needs and trends ensures that better programme and facility development decisions are made. You can use this information to fill existing and potential gaps in services and facilities.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Our suite of innovative techniques lets you engage and consult with all communities of interest, whether they are individuals, groups or organisations.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES & BUSINESS CASES

Our objective, holistic advice helps to optimise and underpin investment decisions, greater financial scrutiny, facility development and better operational performance.

BUSINESS PLANNING

We can help determine the financial viability and sustainability of a proposed initiative. Including cash flow analysis, whole-of-life cost analysis and the identification of new opportunities.

CONCEPT AND MASTER PLANNING

We provide objective, expert advice on optimising open space, site and facility design. Resulting in improved functionality, reduced operational costs and increased revenue.

FUNDING & COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS

We can investigate and advise on funding, procurement, maximising commercial opportunities and new income streams.

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES

Building better organisational capability is the sure way to deliver on your short and long-term strategic goals. We can help to conceptualise, establish, review and/or optimise organisational structures – at board, management and operational level – to create the organisation you need.

FACILITY NETWORK PLANNING

Taking a facility network approach towards future planning and investment is critical. We can assist you with full network plans or specific tasks, such as current state analysis, gap analysis, prioritisation and recommendations for future provision.

RESEARCH

We can undertake all your required community research from large holistic studies, to a focus on a core area or topic.

Case Studies

Christchurch Performing Arts Precinct & Court Theatre Feasibility Study

Arts & Community

The Performing Arts Precinct is the city’s outlet for creative performance, offering first-rate facilities for music, drama, dance and other performing arts.

One of the anchor projects in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, the Performing Arts Precinct will draw people into the central city and provide facilities for local and touring musicians and performance artists.

Visitor Solutions was appointed to lead the development of the Christchurch performing arts precinct feasibility study. This study was holistic in nature, all of the parts were interconnected, and therefore needed to explore the development of the precinct but also focus on its primary anchor facility, the Court Theatre. The large theatre with studio performance spaces, teaching theatre, back of house, foyer and offices was seen as a major attraction for the performing arts precinct. The study involved developing urban design approaches, facility concept design, governance and management models, operational models, financial models, costings and procurement plans. Visitor Solutions worked with a variety of consultants including Deloitte.

Te Oro Youth Music and Arts Centre Feasibility Study

Arts & Community

Te Oro is a creative facility for young people from the communities of Glen Innes and Panmure in Auckland.

In this multi-purpose space young people and the local community can come together to perform, practise and learn the arts, express their creativity and talents and celebrate their cultures.

Visitor Solutions and Design Tribe were commissioned to undertake a preliminary feasibility study to examine whether a new youth-focused music and arts centre in Glenn Innes was viable and propose a number of potential sites for such a facility. Our approach included a secondary data review, Hui, asset mapping and consideration of governance, finance and management options, a preliminary schedule of spaces, potential benefits and outcomes. Extensive consultation was carried out with a range of ethnic groups, including members of the Glenn Innes Indian and Samoan communities. The report recommended a more detailed Stage 2 feasibility study should be conducted which Visitor Solutions completed in 2012. The recommendations of the feasibility study were supported by Council and the very impressive $10 million Te Oro Youth Music and Arts Centre opened in 2015.

Wesley Youth Centre Feasibility Study

Arts & Community

Visitor Solutions was commissioned to undertake a needs assessment on youth within Auckland’s Wesley area.

The research had to provide specific and detailed understanding, so we interviewed a comprehensive cross-section of the community. Interviewees range from young sports people and ethnic leaders to at-risk youth and gang members. The research found a clear need for a safe youth space in the community.

The recommendation was for a stand-alone centre, available to Wesley youth after school hours and during the weekends. Although youth programmes were seen as essential, youth identified that an accessible physical space was of higher immediate importance. Many youth were largely unaware of existing community programmes. They considered a dedicated youth centre as not only providing a safe space, but also a way of lifting the profile of existing programmes in the area.

Visitor Solutions were retained to undertake detailed planning and feasibility research. This covered demographic data, youth centre visitation, catchment areas, space requirements, site layout, revenue streams, management structures, capital and operational costs. Council subsequently endorsed the recommended option and developed a $3.2m youth centre. Visitor Solutions was subsequently contracted by the project architects to provide facility design advice.

COVID-19 Update

No two communities are the same. So understanding the particular needs of a community, and community-based organisations, is essential.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

FEASIBILITY STUDIES & BUSINESS CASES

BUSINESS PLANNING

CONCEPT AND MASTER PLANNING

FUNDING & COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES

FACILITY NETWORK PLANNING

RESEARCH

Case Studies

Christchurch Performing Arts Precinct & Court Theatre Feasibility Study

The Performing Arts Precinct is the city’s outlet for creative performance, offering first-rate facilities for music, drama, dance and other performing arts.

Te Oro Youth Music and Arts Centre Feasibility Study

Te Oro is a creative facility for young people from the communities of Glen Innes and Panmure in Auckland.

Wesley Youth Centre Feasibility Study

Visitor Solutions was commissioned to undertake a needs assessment on youth within Auckland’s Wesley area.

Our clients include:

Menu

AUCKLAND

Wellington