With a long and proud history as a creative city and leader in design, Geelong is Australia’s first and only City of Design and a member of the UNESCO Creative City Network since 2017.  Geelong provides a film-friendly production environment supporting an emerging filmmaking market in Australia. This environment also plays host to creative practitioners in software, interactive content across media, publishing, architecture, visual arts and design, advertising, music and the performing arts. Pivot City Innovation District is an example of a re-purposed creative hub for specialist design, digital and performing arts firms.

Ballarat is an inherently creative and innovative city, which is celebrated through its recognition as a UNESCO Creative City for Craft and Folk Art. It is a city built on a rich past, from its strong indigenous culture, to a nineteenth century global rush for gold, to a twentieth century exploration of its own story and narrative. The city is a melting pot of diverse traditional skills in a highly intact historic city. Within Ballarat, the creative sector employs nearly 2,000 people. Coupled with heritage and culture focus, the crafts and folk art sector is the fastest growing in the city and supports the drive for a more diverse and sustainable economy.

Bendigo was admitted in 2019 to the Creative Cities Network and designated a Creative City of Gastronomy, recognising the city and region’s food and beverages, quality produce, creative businesses, and culture and sustainability. Bendigo’s creativity and gastronomy has been recognised on the world stage and opens up exciting opportunities locally and internationally.