Study return brings art to the streets

Erin Pearson
WHEN mother-of-two Shanon Reid decided to head back to study after starting a family, she never dreamed she’d be organising a city-wide entertainment event.
Now a year into her two year long public relations course, Ms Reid said she was “delighted” to be helping provide the city with three days of “full on” entertainment.
“Streets Are Alive” will run in conjunction with the UCI World Road Cycling Championships on October 1 to 3 and provide stilt walkers, circus firemen, side show acts, jugglers, highwire, roving performers, music and more to Geelong thanks to Ms Reid and 11 of her fellow PR students.
Ms Reid said the event had proved a good challenge for the group. “It’s a lot of hard work but we all love it,” she said.
“It’s been a little tricky at times because we have to learn how to do everything from a sponsorship proposal to crisis management and do it all at the same time.
“But our teacher is amazing and when we finish the course we already have a project behind us.
“It will give us a good leg up in the industry.”
The project has been jointly funded by the City of Greater Geelong and Gordon TAFE and the students have spent all year getting the entertainment event together.
Ms Reid said she decided to return to study after starting her family.
“I’ve got a degree in web design and when I had my kids I decided to utilise my time and go back to study and I’m loving it,” she said.
“PR just seemed to encompass everything I like and the course has so many more avenues to go down than just going to class.
Friday’s schedule will see Ex-Statik Stilt Ensemble and Pete the Puppet, Ell Bella Escape Show and The Aristocratic Acrobats along Little Malop Street.
Saturday’s entertainment will be spread across Central Geelong and the waterfront and features Ex-Statik, Ella Bella, Geelong Lyric Theatre Society, Geelong Skateshop demo, Leo Cartouche, McAvootie Brothers, Mr Fish and Sir Rammy Livingston.
Sunday will see Ex-Statik, Ella Bella, Acrobatica, Circus Firemen, The Ugliest Sisters, Geelong Skateshop demo, Leo Cartouche, Mr Fish and Tour de Farce across Central Geelong and the waterfront.