A tender has been issued for a qualified consultant to produce the strategy following an extensive arts and culture review.

It includes theatres, public art, film, live music, visual arts and grassroot events.

The objective was to create a sustainable future for the arts in Ballarat.

Ballarat deputy mayor Mark Harris said council had produced a fair and robust study, but now had to implement a strategy going froward.

“In the budget there was $150,000 to engage someone to do that process for us,” he said.

“It looks at how the administration of arts and culture in the city goes on and a lot of it is organisational.”

Royal South Street Society chief executive Brett Macdonald said although there were some large venues for events, it was mid-sized and smaller events that sometimes missed out.

“I think Ballarat is well served by auditoriums that seat up to 1000 people, but there is probably a bit of a dearth at the other end of available theatres.

“Having more flexibility and more importantly, cost effective affordability, is what we are keen to see more of.”

Mr Macdonald said Civic Hall’s refurbishment would help add more smaller options for events.

The society’s annual Eisteddfod is one of the biggest drawing events on the Ballarat arts calendar.

Australia’s oldest eisteddfod included 13 disciplines in a 13-week program in 2017.

Ballarat comedian Tim Young said there were also more small venues needed for comedy.

Mr Young runs the Locally Grown Funnies night for up coming comedians, but said venue options were limited for newer performers.

“Schnitz on Sturt Street is great, but you are making what is not a theatre or comedy room, where you have to set up lights and sound, into a venue,” he said.

He also said council should have a pool of audio visual equipment to hire out at a cheap cost to young performers, because the cost of hiring privately is often prohibitive.