Geelong lights up after dark

Geelong After Dark (GAD) returns on May 3 showcasing over 78 acts from local artists and performance communities bringing Geelong’s CBD to life.

GAD is produced by the City of Greater Geelong’s Arts & Culture Department with Luisa La Fornara returning as creative producer; the event which launched five years ago continues to grow with an inaugural audience of 6,000 to last year’s 20,000-plus.

“We’ve got over 78 different acts, they vary from projections to dance pieces to theatre (spoken word) and different installations. There’s street bands, and music,” Ms La Fornara said.

“On top of that there will also be an assortment of aerial performers, this program is bigger than the year before and will kick off across Geelong at 6pm until 10pm.”

Ms La Fornara said guests can wander the laneways, hidden spaces and cultural buildings after dark and experience interactive art; street performances; installations; music; exhibitions; projections.

With events staged in three zones from Fenwick Street, Gheringhap, Malop, Ryrie and Moorabool Street through to Yarra and Brougham Street, a welcome to country on the steps of City Hall will commence proceedings.

“This is my fifth year. I think with GAD the audience really love the opportunity to meet local artists, there’s a fantastic interactive element,” she said.

“They can ask the performers and artists about their practice. Over the past five years it’s been incredible to watch artists develop, but also to be able to provide them a platform and opportunity to do so.”

This year’s theme: ‘Heighten your senses’, will include a series of spaces specifically designed to engage the viewer.

“We’ve created sensory portals with Deakin University and funding from Creative VIC, they’re intimate spaces for
audiences to experience,” she said.

For more information on this year’s event head to geelongafterdark.com.au.