Art event by community for community

A FREE creative gathering is being held this month with the aim of connecting the community to their surroundings in different ways.

Taking place at Bunjil Lookout at Maude on Sunday, 23 October, co-organiser Naomi Biggs said the event is about bringing everyone together in the name of creativity.

“One of our main aims is to support mental health post-COVID. We want to bring an activity to the community that really supports mental and connection,” she said.

“We’ll give people an opportunity to talk and get to know their neighbours and area which will hopefully inspire people’s creativity when we move on to the art.

“There’ll be a colouring activity for the kids too. This will be a real family-friendly event”

Ms Biggs is one of three Golden Plains residents organising the event, which is the culmination of a 12-week municipality-led community leadership program the trio attended.

Following a morning tea and presentation about the site by Wadawurrung guest speaker Barry Gilson, the workshop will run from 11.30am until 1pm.

Co-organiser Barry Wemyss will host the workshop during which attendees will create works using concertina-style art books.

Ms Biggs said the location was chosen by co-organiser and Maude local Nyree Cartwright, who wanted to activate Bunjil Lookout as a communal space.

“Barry was talking about his artist book ideas and Nyree got very excited about linking that with Maude and the Indigenous land of the lookout site,” she said.

“Hopefully this is a pilot to reactivate that Maude Rec space and to have more community activities happening. We really hope to have more festival-type events up there.”

Attendance can be reserved at bit.ly/3Cogn2Z.