SHOPFRONTS within the CBD have been transformed with a series of art installations cropping up along Sturt Street and Bridge Mall.<\/p>\n
The City of Ballarat has commissioned local artists to showcase their skills across six art installations in collaboration with Ballarat Evolve.<\/p>\n
Spencer Harrison is one of the creatives whose work is on display for passers-by to see, with bright primary colours and looping video screens giving new life to shopfront at 324 Sturt Street.<\/p>\n
He said his contribution to the project is the culmination of his experiences in lockdown, and a commentary on the digital obsession of modern life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work is about our relationship to the screen and how we\u2019ve become addicted to looping videos on Tik Tok and Instagram.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of wanted to create a really colourful, vibrant portal that would be drawing people in from across the street and hopefully into the city centre of Ballarat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The sites will remain active for up to two months, and each installation offers an internet address which will lead to a web portfolio on the artist.<\/p>\n
Other creatives featured include Marce King at 131 Sturt Street, Antayjo Art at 10 Bridge Mall and Arthur Creative at 26 Bridge Mall.<\/p>\n
With the art adorning empty shopfronts, City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said he\u2019d like to see more businesses adding some creativity to their exteriors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got an awesome art community here and whether it\u2019s a shopfront that\u2019s currently closed or a shopfront that\u2019s very active, this is a way that Ballarat businesses can actually be different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something that we really did back in the 1950s and 1960s in a massive way. Shopfronts mattered. I think this is a sign of things that should be the new norm.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project was funded with $30,000 from the State Government as part of their COVID safe Outdoor Activation Fund 2021.<\/p>\n
Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, said the installations pulled double duty in putting the buildings to further use and promoting the community\u2019s arts and business cultures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Victorian government is very supportive of our creative industries and supporting artists such as Spencer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that they\u2019ve been hit really hard during COVID so to be able to have six pieces of work on display across Ballarat not only is great for us as a community, it\u2019s also a great way to support local artists.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SHOPFRONTS within the CBD have been transformed with a series of art installations cropping up along Sturt Street and Bridge Mall. The City of Ballarat has commissioned local artists to showcase their skills across six art installations in collaboration with Ballarat Evolve. Spencer Harrison is one of the creatives whose work is on display for […]<\/p>\n