Arts & Culture

WELCOME!

Welcome to the arts and culture page.  Banyule has a rich and diverse cultural landscape and a proud artistic heritage.  Banyule City Council run numerous projects and programs to encourage cultural expression and experiences including festivals and events, community cultural development projects, artists seminars, exhibitions, grants programs and artists networks.  Council is also responsible for the management of the Banyule Art Collection. 

Follow us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/banyulearts  

For updates of what's happening in Banyule, download the latest Cultural Network newsletter. To join the database, email your details to arts@banyule.vic.gov.au

Banyule Award for Works on Paper

Duality Banner

Thank you to everyone who attended Duality - The 2011 Banyule Award for Works on Paper. This year themed around the open concept of Duality: explorations of two sides in the real or imagined world.

We are excited to advise that The People's Choice Award was a draw! The two winners are Liane Gough and Michelle Watson. They will each be awarded a prize of $500. Congratulations to both artists and thank you to everyone who voted in the Award.

The 30 finalists were selected from 239 entries from artists across Australia. The Award will be judged by Geoffrey Edwards, Director at Geelong Art Gallery, Dr. Bernhard Sachs, Graduate Coursework Co-ordinator, School of Art, Melbourne University - Victorian College of the Arts, and Banyule's Art Collection Curator, Claire Watson. The process of short-listing was administered by the Banyule Art Collection Advisory Committee.

The finalists are: Tony AMENEIRO, Suzanne ARCHER, Bruce ARMSTRONG, Rosalind ATKINS & eX de MEDICI, Jan BERG, Lee BETHEL, Emily BOYLE, Graham BRINDLEY, Angela CAVALIERI, Jazmina CININAS, Robert CLINCH, Julia DAVIS, Caroline DURRE, Simon FINN, Liane GOUGH, David GREEN, Rona GREEN, Betty GREENHATCH, Emma HENSLER, Bettina HILL, Judy HOLDING, Claude JONES, Deborah KAY, Martin KING, Deborah KLEIN, Simon MacEWAN, Valentina SCHULTE, Adam SIMMONS, Sophia SZILAGYI and Michelle WATSON.

The Banyule Art Collection is a contemporary collection of Australian art distinguished by its collection of works on paper. The Banyule Award is an acquisitive prize of $4,000 and is held biennially.

For further enquiries, please contact the Art Collection Curator Claire Watson: mailto:claire.watson@banyule.vic.gov.au or (03) 9457 9851

Sophia Szilagyi's 'Courage': Winner of The 2011 Banyule Award for Works on Paper

Duality Works on Paper Winner

Duality is Proudly Supported by Banyule & Nillumbik Weekly and The Old England Hotel

Banyule & Nillumbik Weekly logo
The Old England Hotel Logo

Banyule Community Choir welcomes new members

Love to sing in the privacy of your own home but afraid to take it to the next level? A committee of residents is working with Banyule Community Health and Banyule City Council to run a community choir.

The choir meets from 2:00- 3:30pm every Tuesday at the Banyule Community Health Centre, 21 Alamein Rd, West Heidelberg. All sessions are free and everyone is welcome, particularly residents who do not speak English as their first language.

For more information please email arts@banyule.vic.gov.au or phone 9490 4222

Ivanhoe Makers Market

The Ivanhoe Makers Market is coordinated by Livingstone Community Centre.

Ivanhoe Makers Market

@ The Livingstone Community Centre

1 Livingstone Street, Ivanhoe, VIC 3079

3rd Saturday of every month (excluding January)

10.00am - 4:00pm

For further information, visit http://www.livingstone.org.au/   or phone 03 9497 2014 qualitymakersmarket.blogspot.com   Email: ivanhoemakersmarket@gmail.com

Stallholder Application Forms can be downloaded via the link below.

Banyule Cultural Network

Ballistix
Local group 'Ballistix' in action

If you are interested in the arts and want to know what's going on in your local area you need to join the Banyule Cultural Network! 

For anyone involved in the arts this is an important network to be a part of.  Whether you are a professional artist, a volunteer member of an arts and culture organisation, run an arts business or are just interested in local arts and culture, this is for you.  It is free to join the network.

Once you join the network you will receive updates on

  • Upcoming arts and cultural events and activities
  • Grants, fiunding and partnership opportunities
  • Local Arts and Culture news
  • Invitations to special events including launches, exhibitions and cultural network seminars

To join with the hundreds of people from the local arts community already on Banyule Cultural Network, simply download the form below, complete it and send it through to Banyule Council.  Alternatively contact the Cultural Services Team Leader at arts@banyule.vic.gov.au or on 9490 4222.

Banyule Art Collection

Zahalka BirdsOfAustralia-web
Anne Zahalka, Birds of Australia (2006-7); Type C Photogaph; 80 x 80 cm; Banyule City Art Collection: Acquired 2009

The Banyule Art Collection is an initiative of Banyule City Council and includes works by artists of historical and contemporary significance. The collection holds over 450 works including paintings, works on paper, jewellery/metalworks, ceramics, glass, textiles, sculpture and artist's books.

The collection is accessible to the local community through a range of temporary exhibitions held at Banyule Arts Space in Ivanhoe. Individual works are also displayed in a wide range of council and community owned venues including council service centres, libraries, schools and community leisure centres across the City of Banyule. The role of the Banyule Art Collection is to educate, challenge, entertain, encourage discussion and to promote a healthy debate regarding the issues surrounding visual arts culture.

Some of the many artists represented in the collection include Brook Andrew, Ian Abdulla, Rick Amor, Peter Booth, Pat Brassington, Jon Cattapan, Mari Funaki, Gwyn Hanssen-Pigott, Carlier Makigawa, John Nixon, Mike Parr, Patricia Piccinini, Rosslynd Piggott, Clifton Pugh, Lloyd Rees, Sally Smart, John Wolseley and Anne Zahalka.

For any queries relating to the collection please contact the Art Collection Curator Claire Watson, at Banyule City Council on (03) 9457 9851 or arts@banyule.vic.gov.au

A Gallery for Banyule?

Installation view: 21 NEW - A selection of recent acquisitions (at Banyule Arts Space)
Installation view: 21 NEW - A selection of recent acquisitions (at Banyule Arts Space)

Banyule City Council has just completed a Feasibility Study in to the proposed development of a Gallery within Banyule. The feasibility study undertaken by Lateral Projects over the past 10 months has developed and recommended a cultural framework that includes the development of two Cultural Spaces or Galleries for Banyule:

  • One an Impressionist Laboratory which takes Banyule's artistic cultural heritage of the Heidelberg School as a starting point for exploring the evolution of the relationship between people and the environment in Australia. The Impressionist Laboratory will leverage this cultural heritage, and its importance in informing ways of seeing, to provide capacity to engage a broader audience nationally and across the Banyule region. It is envisaged that this will be a nationally and possibly internationally recognised purpose built gallery in parklands along the Yarra River Precinct in Heidelberg.

  • The second the Cultural Vault is a community access space and a proposed programming vehicle employed to create Cultural Hubs around the city and is effectively a branding mechanism that will make arts and cultural products easily identifiable, approachable and accessible through delivery at spoke venues throughout Banyule. The Cultural Vault is proposed to be developed in the Banyule Arts Space in Ivanhoe with a range of arts & cultural programming happening at a range of already existing venues across the city (Neighbourhood Houses, Austin Repat, Community Halls)

If you would like to find out more about this proposal please call Samantha Walsh at Banyule City Council on 9457 9919.

 

Heidelberg School Artists Trail

Heidlberg school trail logo
Heidelberg School Artists Trail

The Heidelberg School Artists Trail is a free-of-charge, self-drive, cycling, walking Trail extending for 40 kms in Melbourne's north- east. It features 57 explanatory signs showing you a reproduction and description of some of the most famous paintings of important artists such as Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts, located in or near where the artists painted or lived.

The signs are situated in a diverse range of outdoor settings: from busy suburban streets, and river valleys to towering Mountain Ash forests. The Trail and is ideal for all visitors including school groups who have an interest in the arts and the natural environment.

The Heidelberg School artists Trail was made possible through the cooperative efforts of Banyule City Council, Parks Victoria, Manningham City Council, Nillumbik Shire Council and the Shire of Yarra Ranges Council

The Heidelberg School originated in July 1891, when art critic, Sidney Dickinson wrote a review of the exhibitions of works by Walter Withers and Arthur Streeton.

Since that time, the Heidelberg School has taken on a wider meaning and covers Australian artists of the late nineteenth century who painted plein-air in the impressionist tradition. These artists were inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the Yarra River and the unique light that typifies the Australian bush.

The greatest concentration of signs along the trail is in the Heidelberg area and in the neighbouring suburbs of Eaglemont and Ivanhoe. There are 20 signs in this area alone and it offers great opportunities for interesting walks through magnificent parklands and heritage residential streets with stately homes. You can find out more information from The Heidelberg School Artists Trail website. The web site has an interactive on line map, information about the artists, the locations of the signs, downloadable brochure and more.

For more just go to www.artiststrail.com and enjoy the trail!

Arts Directory

Manna Gum Elemental Spectacular 2006

The Banyule Arts Directory is an online directory for artists, venues, organisations and all those associated with the arts and culture in Banyule.  The Directory is a ready made opportunity for all Arts related individuals and Organisations in the City of Banyule to promote their products and services.

It is free to be a part of the Banyule Arts Directory.    

The Arts Directory lists a range of organisations, individuals and businesses offering cultural opportunities. Categories include performing arts, visual arts, heritage, media arts and venues.  Visitors can search the directory by name, category, art form etc. 

Once you have signed up to the arts directory you can use your unique username and password to login and update your profile as often as you wish. 

Ready to get started?  Just click here to visit the online Arts Directory.

Banyule Public Art Strategy

nets stadium sculpture web
Click image to download the Public Art Strategy

Banyule's first Public Art Strategy was passed by council in early 2010 and is available for you to view.

The Public Art Strategy is intended to provide a resource that the community, elected councillors and council officers can easily refer to which provides a clear direction for council in the area of public art. It is connected to other relevant Council strategies and policies, discusses priorities and establishes a quality decision making process for the implementation of public art projects that the community and council are committed to.

Banyule has numerous examples of Public Art throughout the area, ranging from large iconic works like Andrea Tomaselli's "Wing of the Waa" (pictured at left) murals and mosaic works, to more intimate pavement art. 

This document is Banyule's first formal public art strategy.  Please feel free to downlaod the document by clicking on the link below or contact Coucnil to receive a hard copy sent to you.

If you have any further enquiries please contact Council's Cultural Services Team Leader by emailing arts@banyule.vic.gov.au

 

Exploring Public Art in Banyule

Public art is the visual arts and design in public spaces.  Public art is more than just a work of visual art being located in a public space.  Public art expresses and amplifies a hidden aspect of place and may illuminate something of the history of a place, tell us something about the use or character of an area, express a community's future aspirations for a place and people's relationship to place. 

Public art is said to be ‘democratic' as its location in a street, park or plaza means that it is accessible to all.  Anyone can view and experience public art, unlike a museum or gallery that requires an intent to visit. 

Here are a few featured works from Banyule's Public Art collection.  These works were commissioned by Banyule City Council and installed by artists for the community to enjoy.  You may walk past them everyday or you may need to seek them out!

1. Wing of the Waa
by Andrea Tomaselli
Metal
Watsonia Library
Ibbottson St, Watsonia 

2. Greensborough War Memorial Park Sculptures (2003)
by Leigh Conkie
Cyprus Pine
Greensborough War Memorial Park
Henry St, Greensborough

3. Untitled (2003)
by Andrea Tomaselli
Nets Stadium
2 Somers Ave, Macleod

4. Sleeping Sentinel
by Leigh Conkie
Timber
Kitchener Reserve, Norman St Ivanhoe

Public Art in Banyule

Connected Culture - Cultural Strategy 2007 - 2011

flower blowing kiss
Click to download the Connected Culture Strategy

Art and culture can nourish us, confront, politicise and play with us, fire our imagination and passions, reflect our aspirations, record our sorrows and reveal our common humanity. Art and culture are "food for the soul". Council believes that art and culture include all forms of creative expression, from individual to collective, from grassroots to professional and institutional. These forms of expression frequently draw inspiration from the existing natural and artificial landforms, built environments, belief systems and values which shape who we are - our local, regional and national identities.

Connected Culture has been developed in three theme areas: People & Place (vibrant places, heritage & environment), People Involved (diversity valued, opportunity to engage), People Innovating (creative industries, leadership & energy) with a range of priorities set in each theme area for the coming four years.

Priorities and plans for the next four years include:

  • Undertaking a feasibility study into the development of an Art Gallery within Banyule.
  • Reviewing existing festivals and events and developing three year plans for each event to ensure they continue to be high quality, innovative events for Banyule and the wider community.
  • Engaging the community in locally-based projects that will create and sustain vibrant places.
  • Reviewing the historic Boulevard Lights and developing a five year plan for the event.
  • Creatively documenting places of social and cultural meaning to the people of Banyule, such as public art, character buildings, trees and recreational spaces.
  • Promoting and celebrating Banyule's culturally diverse community in a range of innovative ways with the Banyule community, including celebrating Cultural Diversity Week.
  • Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communications Strategy to increase CALD groups' overall awareness of Council's role and service provision and deliver opportunities for CALD communities' involvement/engagement with the Banyule community.
  • Developing a Cultural Reference Group to help Council in its strategic direction for arts & cultural development within Banyule.

If you would like a copy of the Connected Culture Cultural Strategy 2007-2011 call 9490 4222 or download a copy here.

Banyule Event Guide - Guidelines, Checklists and Application forms

Council will be officially launching its new Banyule Event Guide as part of the Winter in Banyule-celebrating the arts festival in August.

The Banyule Event Guide is both a resource for event and festival organisers as well as an Application Form for the new Banyule Event Permit which is a requirement for all event or festival organisers who hold events on Council land, streets, roads and parks.

The Banyule Event Guide contains lots of information, including: 

* ‘how to’ organise an event
* which permits are required
* statutory requirements
* how to develop risk management plans- Manna Gum Man Jack Dan
* traffic management plans
* how to conduct an accessibility audit, and
* lots of templates and example forms to help you along the way.

It also provides a list of useful contacts for any festival or event organiser. The Banyule Event Permit is a new process for Banyule City Council’s Obstruction Permit - Local Law Number 1, Part 2, Clause Number 202. The Obstruction Permit has always been required for circuses, carnivals, festivals, street parties and processions but has never been adequately enforced.

Due to the amount of organisation and level of risk that is generated by holding an event or festival on public land, Council is now ensuring all event and festival organisers apply for a Banyule Event Permit to minimise this risk, and to ensure that events are well-planned and well-run.

For event and festival organisers who organise events on private land or within schools, this guide is also a great resource with easy to follow guides and checklists.

Many events that do not require a Banyule Event Permit may still need a Temporary Food Premises Permit or an Occupancy Permit from the Victorian Building Commission.

Details about these permits can also be found in the Banyule Event Guide. Council has also introduced the Event Management Team (EMT), an internal committee made up of Council staff from across the organisation.

The EMT is there to assist festival and event organisers determine which permits are required, what infrastructure they need and to assist them to apply for these permits.

For your copy of the Banyule Event Guide call 9490 4222 or email arts@banyule.vic.gov.au

Street Party Kit - Now available

Neighbourhood Street Parties provide a great opportunity to get to know your neighbours and build community spirit.  They also provide a way for neighbours to build relationships, enjoy conversation and meet new residents.

Council encourages residents to enjoy Neighbourhood Street Parties, and has put together the Neghbourhood Street Party guide to help make your party a success.

Click on this Link to go to the Re-Launch of the Street Party Kit