A BRIGHT mural appeared on the south side of McKenzie Street last week, paying tribute to the city\u2019s business community, its perseverance, creativity and innovation in 2020.<\/p>\n
The street art, designed by illustrator Travis Price and painted by signwriter Philip Smyth Visual Creations, was commissioned by Commerce Ballarat to live on the side wall of Butler Chartered Accountants.<\/p>\n
CEO Jodie Gillett said the mural has been created to remind traders and customers of the \u201ctough\u201d pandemic year that\u2019s been, but more to celebrate the city which united to support its businesspeople and their brands when they needed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur businesses have been blown away by the support from our community this year, whether they\u2019ve been closed or open. We\u2019re with them…and we need to continue to support them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur business community have moved quickly to adapt to restrictions, but they\u2019ve got a long road to recovery; years, not months. Don\u2019t think this is over. Every chance you get, spend local.\u201d<\/p>\n
The art piece is something she expects every person can have \u201ca connection\u201d to, whether they\u2019re a Ballarat resident or a tourist passing through.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not a person in the world who can\u2019t come and stand in front of this mural and have a thought or memory about something that happened to them during 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a way to say, we got through it and here we are now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Damien Butler said his financial group has seen many businesses adapting through COVID-19, so working with the Commerce Ballarat to further support these enterprises on the side of the building \u201cfelt right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is such a prominent location for people driving down the Midland Highway, and people walking down to cafes and restaurants in this foodie precinct,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often get tagged on this wall, but having an actual mural here creates that Melbourne laneway atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cMcKenzie Street is shut with Hydrant\u2019s outdoor dining, so this artwork is a fantastic asset for Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
A postcard campaign will complement the mural, with 8000 distributed around the city and its businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople could write a note to their families to come and visit Ballarat, they could leave a message for their barista, or a businessowner that\u2019s looked after them during this difficult year,\u201d Ms Gillett said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage everyone to look for the postcards and get behind that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A BRIGHT mural appeared on the south side of McKenzie Street last week, paying tribute to the city\u2019s business community, its perseverance, creativity and innovation in 2020. The street art, designed by illustrator Travis Price and painted by signwriter Philip Smyth Visual Creations, was commissioned by Commerce Ballarat to live on the side wall of […]<\/p>\n