A WALKING tour with a celebrated poet, performer and artist is part of a new initiative exploring Ballarat\u2019s creative culture.<\/p>\n
Called Made of: Ballarat Experiences, the events include workshops with Ballarat creatives, ranging from botanical jewellery making to analogue photography.<\/p>\n
The program of events have been designed to support local artists and attract tourists for a weekend getaway under the City of Ballarat\u2019s Creative Tourism Experiences Development Program.<\/p>\n
Poet and wordsmith, Megan J Riedl is taking participants on a guided creative writing journey.<\/p>\n
Riedl\u2019s walking tour visits many of Ballarat\u2019s art installations, galleries, studios, buildings and monuments while she also conducts spoken word performances along the way.<\/p>\n
The goal is to help with participants\u2019 ekphrastic writing – or writing which is inspired by art.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe walking tour is about learning and thinking about how the way we look at the world can transpire into writing, appreciating Ballarat\u2019s unique public art collection and using that to inspire creative writing,\u201d Riedl said.<\/p>\n
The group size is kept at a maximum of 12 participants which she said was a deliberate choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted it to be a really intimate experience where people get to see a performance by me and where they feel comfortable in a small group to maybe share what they\u2019ve written,\u201d Riedl said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited to share the way I look at Ballarat. It\u2019s really exciting and beautiful and there\u2019s so much history there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Riedl said she hopes participants are inspired to keep writing and it can give them a unique experience in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a really great initiative because there are so many artists in town doing really interesting things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s allowing artists to let people into their creative processes and have a different experience to your regular tourist experience in Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n