The next phase of Deakin University’s #VacantGeelong project is set to bring together artists, the Geelong community, past Ford workers and Deakin architecture students after receiving State Government funding.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley visited Geelong in late January with the announcement of a $35,000 grant for the project through the VicArts Grants program, touring the Powerhouse site in North Geelong.
#VacantGeelong is a collaborative project which began in 2015. It is being led by Dr Mirjana Lozanovska from Deakin’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, with project team members and school colleagues Dr Diego Fullaondo and Dr David Beynon, Dr Cameron Bishop from Deakin’s School of Communication and Creative Arts, assisted by research assistant Vanessa Whittem.
‘The #Vacant Geelong project identifies the impact of the departure of industry as a significant and important phase in Geelong’s history,’ Dr Lozanovska says.
‘In this part of the project, supported with funding from Creative Victoria, five artists will focus their diverse practices to directly respond to vacant industrial spaces and the memories that have shaped what it has meant to live in Geelong.’
A core part of the project will be developing a collaborative studio space through a program of engagement with emerging local artists, the Geelong community, and past Ford workers. The artistic works will be exhibited in the industrial precinct of North Geelong.
This stage of the project will start in March this year, with works exhibited in May, followed by a final exhibition later in the year.
