Geelong: Lit After Dark

Geelong After Dark 2019
Botanical Lobotomy at the Library
Photo: Matt Houston

On Friday night, Geelong After Dark transformed the City from the ordinary into the extraordinary. The theme for 2019, Heighten Your Senses, was embraced by artists and exceeded all expectations.

One side of the Barwon Water building was transformed with gravity-defying feats from ACTNatimuk/YSpace. Performers floated amongst animations created by students from Barwon Valley School and Barwon Heads Primary.

Nestled on the forecourt of Johnstone Park, the three sensory portals, co-funded by the Arts & Culture Department and Creative VIC were ethereal sensory delights: soft underfoot, surrounded by dancers, soothed with sounds, the portals enabled crowds to have intimate experiences of art.

Connecting Song for 2019 celebrated three unsigned acts, Chloe St Claire, Jack Meredith and Alby Jay mentored by well-known Australian musicians Adalita, Mick Thomas and Mark Wilson with live sets at The Workers Club Geelong and on film in Lt Malop St.

Geelong Mayor Cr Bruce Harwood launched Geelong After Dark in Council Chambers, transformed by artist Anne Wilson PhD Deakin University with her work, If You Stay Where You Are, You’ll Run Into Yourself.

Quotes attributable to City of Greater Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood:

Geelong’s reputation as a clever and creative cultural destination continues to grow, and Geelong After Dark has again shown why it’s such a popular event on our calendar.

It was great to see so many community members and visitors enjoying the light shows, art installations, performances and music on offer. Central Geelong came alive in what was a fantastic showcase of the depth and diversity of our regional talent.

It’s also been particularly pleasing to see the engagement and involvement of central Geelong’s cultural organisations and businesses.

Media Release: Our Heart, Illuminated by Art

Alex Evans projection Journey into Inner Space

The 2019 Geelong After Dark programme has landed, filled with over 70 art-projects to engage and stimulate all your senses.

From 6pm, Friday 3 May, Central Geelong will be transformed by music; street performances; installations; exhibitions; dance; and projections.

Fancy hearing sounds from a 5 metre slide guitar constructed and played by local slide guitar virtuoso Tim Hulsman? Lend Wendy Grose your ears as she sings Opera from the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre: question is, will you see her as she does?

In a post-Christchurch world, the work of Rose Ertler and Complimentary Lane project located in the forecourt of Barwon Water, adds potency and spirit. It will have you sharing compliments of your own as you watch contributions from Matthew Flinders Girls High School and Diversitat English language students.

At Johnstone Park, immerse yourself in the worlds of the Sensory Portals; singular spaces designed for intimate experiences of art.

The OYSTER project invites you participate in the ritual of eating an oyster, cleansing the shell in water, then adding to the surrounding middens before they are sent back to the bay to create reefs for sea-life.

Connecting Song returns with the premier of three film clips – the culmination of the work of three local unsigned musicians mentored by Adalita (Magic Dirt); Mick Thomas (Weddings Parties Anything); and Mark Wilson (Jet). Chloe St Claire; Jack Meredith and band Alby Jay have each written, recorded and filmed clips of their songs that pay homage to the mountains, beaches and city they all call home. All three will play at The Workers Club Geelong on the night.

All of our cultural venues will be open with programmes to entice you to Heighten Your Senses.

“Geelong After Dark is one of the highlights of our cultural events calendar. Last year it attracted more than 20,000 attendees to central Geelong and contributed around $2.1 million to our local economy. It’s loved by our local community and draws visitors from Melbourne and beyond.

This year’s programme will be a fantastic showcase of our city’s clever and creative arts and culture scene. I’d encourage everyone, particularly if you’ve never experienced Geelong After Dark, to mark 3 May in your diary and make sure you’re in central Geelong for a great night out. ”

— Greater Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood:

“Geelong will come alive on 3 May with an incredible range of art, music and cultural displays. Our region is home to so many talented and creative people, and this event gives them a chance to showcase their work to a large audience. This year’s programme will entertain, amaze, and make us think. It’s a night not to be missed.”

— Cr Jim Mason, Chair, Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio

Media inquiries: Sue Cartwright  Director Communication Tree 0402 210 484