Design Canberra Festival City celebration for DESIGN Canberra’s final week – Design Canberra Festival

City celebration for DESIGN Canberra’s final week

City celebration for DESIGN Canberra’s final week

DESIGN Canberra has created a ‘festival within a festival’ in its final week of programming (19-25 November 2018) with a curated city program of events, talks and tours, artist installations and a peoples’ choice competition.

The ACT’s fastest growing festival, DESIGN Canberra has invested in city-based programming and activations since it started five years ago. This year, with the support of an ACT Government City Renewal Authority city grant, DESIGN Canberra has been able to take its city programs to a new level of quality, visibility, creativity and impact.

“DESIGN Canberra’s curated city program is a creative addition to the festival program and a timely voice in the current conversation about the future of Canberra’s CBD,” says Rachael Coghlan, CEO of Craft ACT and Artistic Director of DESIGN Canberra 2018.

The highlight of the new city program is when Montreal-based artists Daily Tous Les Jours will transform City Hill at the civic end of Northbourne Avenue into a vibrant field of balloons. The Museum of Possibilities is an international large-scale, interactive art installation inviting the community to share their hopes and dreams for Canberra’s city centre.

Anyone can simply turn up and explore the installation and consider your ideal city centre at your own pace. All ages are welcome, it’s perfect for families and the young at heart. A series of games have been designed to encourage community participation. Pick up a paper arrow and write down what you would like to see, do or meet in the CBD. Use a sticker to vote for your favourite idea. Enjoy playful activities including bingo, dice or enjoy a drink from the colourful juice of possibilities.

“Our CBD needs energy, diversity and vision to create a new standard in city living, urban quality, sustainability and resilience commensurate with Canberra as a global city of design. To support our city’s vitality, liveability and love-ability, we have curated a series of high profile events, local and international artists, arts installations and design collaborations,” said Rachael.

The installations by 15 local designers and artists – found on pavements, windows and bus shelters – have placed the works of artists front and centre in our city streets. Canberrans are invited to vote for their favourite installation on Instagram in the Peoples’ Choice award to win prizes for them and the winning artist. Entries close Friday, 23 November.

The City Hill Visible City forum will explore community-led renewal, asking ‘How do we make visible – within the city centre – the hopes and dreams of the community in an ongoing and tangible way?’ Guest speakers include: Anne Ouellette, Daily Tous Les Jours (Montreal), best known for work in public spaces, where passing crowds are invited to play a critical role in the transformation of their environment and their relationships; ACT Government architect Catherine Townsend, and Annalisa Rosso, freelance design journalist and independent curator based in Milan.

“We are honoured to have been able to receive this generous support from the City Renewal Authority. The vision of the DESIGN Canberra festival and the art of placemaking go hand-in-hand: merging architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, economic development, visual and festive arts, and natural and cultural history, to produce places where people choose to go,” explains Rachael.

The DESIGN Canberra festival has also produced a design-lovers map for the CBD and will present tours of iconic architecture and heritage in Civic.

Details are at designcanberrafestival.com.au. Highlights are listed below:

Week 3 Curated City program, DESIGN Canberra 2018

Event: Museum of Possibilities
When: Thursday, 22 November 2023
Where: City Hill, Canberra ACT, Australia
Time: 8:00 am—7:00 pm
Cost: Free

Event: Visible City: Community-led renewal
When: Thursday, 22 November 2023
Where: City Hill, Canberra ACT, Australia
Time: 12.30-2:00pm
Cost: Free

Event: Announcement of Peoples’ Choice awards
When: Thursday, 22 November 2023
Where: City Hill, Canberra ACT, Australia
Time: 6:00pm
Cost: Free

Event: The Embassy of Kindness
When: Thursday, 22 November 2023
Where: City Hill, Canberra ACT, Australia
Time: 6:00pm
Cost: Free

Event: CBD By Design: Architect’s tour
When: Wednesday. 21 November 2023
Where: Monaro Mall, Petrie Plaza entry
Time: 12:30-1:45pm
Cost: Free

Event: CBD By Design: Walking Tour
When: Thursday, 22 November 2023
Where: Meet outside Mocan and Green Grout, Kendall Lane, New Acton
Time: 4:30-5:45pm
Cost: Free

Event: Canberra Centre Design Bar
When: Friday. 23 November 2023
Where: Level 1, Monaro Mall
Time: 5:00pm-8:30pm
Cost: Free

Event: City Art Canberra: Graphic interventions
When: Until Sunday, 25 November 2023
Where: Various locations (see below)
Cost: Free

The following artists were selected for the City Art project:

The following CBD businesses and locations hosted the City Art project

The following sites feature the large-scale ground artworks:

As part of this year’s City Art: Graphic Interventions program, we are offering a People’s Choice award with great prizes including dinner at restaurants and cafes.

For your chance to win a design lovers package – for you and the winning artist – simply do the following before 21 November 2018:

  1. Explore the CBD and discover the work of local artists and designers splashed across windows and pavements
  2. Snap a picture of your favourite artwork
  3. Upload it to Instagram
  4. Follow @designcanberrafestival
  5. Tag your photo with #cityartcbr2018 for your chance to win

Terms and conditions at: www.designcanberrafestival.com.au