Geelong is preparing to celebrate its title as Australia’s only designated UNESCO Creative City of Design when it hosts Geelong Design Week next month.
Musician and actress Claire Bowditch will launch the 10-day program, which runs from March 17 to 27, with an opening event at the Palais Theatre.
Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the program would boost Geelong’s reputation as a design-focused city, while providing a much-needed boost to the local tourism, arts and hospitality sectors.
“Geelong is a city that continues to reinvent itself through the use of creative design,” he said.
“Design is fundamental to the way we live. The revitalisation of our CBD with new cultural institutions and a rich design culture shows that Geelong continues to change and grow.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors from our region and beyond, as we proudly present this inspirational, educational and dynamic event program.”
Economic development portfolio chair Peter Murrihy said the event program highlighted the talent found across the Geelong region.
“The program includes more than 60 events that have been selected by a curatorial panel of the city’s leading design advocates,” Cr Murrihy said.
“Local designers, artists, innovators and cultural institutions responded to the call-out for event applications and we’ve got a really exciting program on offer.”
More than 6000 people attended the inaugural event in 2021, with 69 events held across the region, including Rone’s major exhibition at Geelong Gallery.
The program is grouped under eight themes – art, craft and fashion; culture and heritage; equity, inclusiveness and encounter in the built environment; learning, knowledge and research; social and community services; sustainability; technology, innovation and manufacturing; and visual communications and multimedia.
Sacred Heart College students have been working on three temporary pavilions that will be displayed during Geelong Design Week. Their installation, Sensory, merges nature, technology and design.
The theme for this year’s event is taur which translates as ‘belonging’ in the language of the Wadawurrung people.
Wadawurrung artist Deanne Gilson has created an artwork – Yalik Beek Murrup (Water, Country, Spirit) – that will be the signature design for the event collateral and signage.
