I remember standing on a riverbank in Western Sydney, looking at the skeletal frame of a building rising against the sky. It was the future site of a museum, a place of glass and steel destined to hold stories and artifacts. But what does it take for a building like that—or any cultural space—to become more than just a container? This question is at the heart of a powerful concept shaping how we build our cities: culture as infrastructure. With the Powerhouse Parramatta museum anticipated to open in 2025, the conversation around how cultural projects can be intentionally woven into the fabric of a place has never been more relevant.
For decades, we’ve thought of infrastructure in terms of roads, bridges, pipes, and power grids—the essential physical systems that allow a community to function. We see them as investments, not expenses. But what if we applied the same logic to our theaters, libraries, public art, and heritage sites? Let's unpack this. The idea of culture as infrastructure proposes that these creative and historical assets are not just amenities or "nice-to-haves." They are, in fact, fundamental systems that provide essential services for a community’s social, economic, and civic health. They are the scaffolding that supports our collective identity, fosters connection, and builds resilience.
