To start off a busy day at Council, Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey officially launched Creative Wanderings in the Golden Plains Shire this morning to an excited audience of artists and creative locals at the Bannockburn Cultural Centre.
Creative Wanderings is a publication containing artwork and details of 20 artists or artist studios, 6 festivals and 7 community arts groups, and will serve as a great resource within the Shire, as well as promoting our creative sector throughout Victoria.
It is a key initiative of Council’s work to celebrate and support the Golden Plains Shire creative industry. As part of Council’s efforts to support local creatives, 500 copies will be distributed to artist studios, wineries and bespoke accommodation in Golden Plains Shire, as well as at key locations throughout regional Victoria, including Creative Victoria offices, regional museums and galleries, and funding and arts lobbying organisations. This distribution will occur in early 2020. Local community members can also request a copy.
In addition to launching the publication, Mayor Sharkey also announced Golden Plains Shire Council’s new initiatives to support the local creative industry in 2020.
The 2020 program has been developed specifically to support skills and professional development of the creative sector, with two separate parts of the program: an email course and workshops.
The email course is a free, six-part course providing inspiration and practical information to further develop the creative career of attendees. The course will be available from mid-January.
The workshop component will feature three-half day professional development sessions across the Shire to strengthen networks, encourage market-readiness and broaden reach. These workshops will take place in May, July and August in 2020.
More information will be made available on Council’s website in the New Year.