Boo: Michael Ward is angry about the loss of his show venue after eight years.
Erin Pearson
BY ERIN PEARSON
Deakin University has squeezed some of Australia’s top musicians out of Geelong’s waterfront, according to an events company director.
Acorn Productions’ Michael Ward said Deakin had refused to let him continue booking its Waterfront Cafe six to 12 months ahead, which was the only way he could arrange top performers.
Mr Ward, who has run the waterfront concerts for eight years, expected the venue loss to put him out of business.
“People really gravitate toward the water and, being a publicly-funded place, you’d think Deakin would open the booking space up,” he said.
“Instead I’ve been told I can’t book events more than six months in advance because the timetable must be open for academic purposes but we only run shows on Sunday afternoons. It makes no sense.”
Mr Ward has brought numerous veteran Australian rock stars and bands to the café, including Brian Cadd, Daryl Braithwaite, Mark Seymour and James Reyne, who is also booked to play the final show in May.
Deakin external relations director Lynne Lucas said the university had to cater for increased student activities.
“Due to timetabling procedures, we’re not always able to provide confirmation of bookings more than six months in advance,” Ms Lucas said.
“We understand this shortened lead time for confirmed bookings may have been problematic for Acorn Productions in its negotiations with artists and scheduling preferences. We do our best to accommodate all requests for the use of our facilities, however we do have to balance community use with the university’s teaching timetable.”
Geelong councillor Jan Farrell hoped council could help find a new venue for Mr Ward’s shows.
“He runs a great program and it would be a shame to lose it from Geelong,” she said.
“We’re using our networks and contacts to see whether we can find Michael an alternative venue.”
