Clare Bowditch to launch Geelong Design Week

Musician and actress Clare Bowditch will launch Geelong Design Week later this month with her opening event titled “Big Dreams, creative resilience, and the stories we tell ourselves”.

Filled with music and storytelling, the launch event will take place in The Palais, a classic art deco theatre that has been recently refurbished in the heart of Geelong.

Celebrating Geelong’s title as Australia’s only designated UNESCO Creative City of Design, the 10-day Geelong Design Week program runs from March 17-27.

Themed taur – meaning ‘belonging’ in the language of the Wadawurrung people – Geelong Design Week brings all facets of community together.

If you’ve found yourself entering 2022 feeling fatigued, you’re not alone. Join Bowditch to discuss how we can still dream big and show creative resilience despite the ongoing and lingering impacts of COVID-19.

The event is open to the public with limited tickets available for sale for only $35 (plus booking fee). Guests will enjoy refreshments on arrival.

Bowditch is a loved and respected musician, broadcaster, actor, speaker, entrepreneur, and best-selling author.

Described as a “music maker/story baker/educator” on her website, Bowditch founded creative social enterprise Big Hearted Business, was the afternoon presenter on 774 ABC Melbourne for nearly two years, and released Audible Original podcast Tame Your Inner Critic in 2020.

She is presently working on her sixth studio album (following 2012’s The Winter I Choose Happiness) and second book (following 2019’s Your Own Kind of Girl).

Other highlights of Geelong Design Week include:

• The return of the Open Studios feature program – designers, artists and makers across the Greater Geelong region will open their studio doors and showcase their work over two weekends. It’s a great way to shine a spotlight on our creative industries and encourage people to explore the region during Geelong Design Week
• ABC of Geelong – Brought to you by ABC Radio Melbourne and Deakin Design, come down to The Project Space at Deakin University’s Waterfront Campus and see the bespoke design commission for the ABC Radio Melbourne regional residency where the ABC are broadcasting 24 hours each day in March. The design commission celebrates Geelong, with an A-Z of our region, where each letter represents a special part or icon of the Geelong region as chosen by the listeners. Scan the QR codes at the window to discover the people, places, and stories behind each letter, and
• Wurriki Nyal: to speak and talk together – An opportunity for the community to hear how the City of Greater Geelong has partnered with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners to share Wadawurrung culture at Wurriki Nyal, the city’s new civic precinct. A panel discussion at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre will focus on co-design outcomes including a language agreement, artworks and design elements in the building and the landscape.

“Big Dreams, creative resilience, and the stories we tell ourselves: an evening with Clare Bowditch” will be held at The Palais, 297 Moorabool Street, Geelong on March 17 from 6.30-9pm. Head to the Geelong City of Design website to book your spot.