Canberra's "dry and grey" city centre is set to be spruced up under a new ACT government-funded initiative.
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The government has tasked Lavanna Neal and a team from local events management firm Dionysus to help clean and green Civic and Braddon.
The team will provide cleaning and maintenance services, co-ordinate public art and installations and help oversee a program of events for the city's heart.
Ms Neal, who will lead the group in the role of city place manager, said the project was designed to lift the "overall presentation of the city".
"I hope to make it so visitors as well as Canberrans can have a bit more softness, colour and fun in a city that can have a reputation for being a little dry and grey," Ms Neal said.
"Those who live here know that it's not really like that, but we really want be able to present our city centre in that way that makes people want to spend time here."
The government has allocated $540,000 to cover the four -person team's salaries and equipment for an initial 16-month term. Funding for activities and installations would be sought separately through the City Renewal Authority’s budget and the city centre marketing and levy.
Ms Neal said the team's first objective would be to improve the general appearance of public spaces in the city centre, before turning its attention to bringing added "fun, life, colour and cultural events" to the precinct.
The Canberra Business Chamber last year declared Civic was "not fit for purpose" and "haphazard at best", as it singled out funding for a major revitalisation of the precinct as its top priority ahead of the ACT government's 2019-20 budget.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who joined City Renewal Authority boss Malcolm Snow to announce the initiative on Friday, said the creation of the new team was intended to address some of those concerns.
Mr Barr stressed the team's work would be delivered in addition to existing government services.
Mr Snow said the program would eventually be rolled out across the City Renewal Authority precinct, which stretches into parts of the suburbs which border Northbourne Avenue.
"All great cities present their cities in an impressive way," Mr Snow said.
"Whether you're a Canberran or an international visitor to the city, it is very important that we present the city in a way that is commensurate to our aspirations as a city. We are proud of our city and that should be reflected in the way we manage public spaces."
