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’sOutdoor 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.”
