Live
music, circus theatre, puppet shows, and other roving performers will entertain
shopping and dining precincts across Greater Geelong for the remainder of the
year.
The
arts and culture program will enliven multiple areas of the municipality, as
part of the City’s It’s Our Backyard campaign.
Delivered
via funding from the Victorian Government, the eclectic program has restarted
in eight different precincts.
Performers
will entertain visitors to the Geelong Waterfront, Pakington Street, Lara,
Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Portarlington, Highton and Belmont.
Deputy
Mayor Trent Sullivan said the extension of the program’s multi-faceted support
measures would be welcomed by the business community.
“We’ve
had great feedback from our earlier entertainment initiatives, so it’s great
that we can bring this back as our economy re-opens further through spring and
summer,” he said.
“Aided
by the warmer weather, our open-air dining areas and public spaces will be
attractive places for people to socialise and the roving performers will
further add to the atmosphere.”
Funding
to support the initiative has been provided by the Victorian Government’s
Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package.
The full program will run until 31 December, with performances to have a Christmas
element from 15 November.
Cr
Eddy Kontelj, Chair of the Arts, Live Entertainment and Hospitality portfolio,
said the It’s Our Backyard campaign encourages the Geelong community to think
local first when seeking goods and services and to ‘taste the region’.
“Our
local businesses continue to need our support as they will still face capacity
restrictions in the coming months,” Cr Kontelj said.
“This
program not only aims to bring people back to our shopping and dining
precincts, but also provides great employment opportunities for our local
creative industry.
“When
I first suggested the concept of the Arts, Live Entertainment and Hospitality
portfolio, the aspiration was to help support, develop and promote local talent
and artists, and also to bring live entertainment to the suburbs, this program
allows us to do this.
“Live
performances have been heavily limited over the past 18 months and this
initiative allows our creative talents and audiences to re-connect.”