THE BOARDS will be ripped off the front of Civic Hall as its lobby is opened for the first time in over a decade.
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A design studio welcoming public input for the hall’s future will open on Saturday, with music, activities for kids and a ceremonial unlocking of the front doors.
Here Studio is behind the concept, and director Michelle Emma James said it would be a big day for the project.
“We’re celebrating (on Saturday) that this process is happening, and the shift from consultation to design,” she said.
Council has budgeted $200,000 for the project, which Save Civic Hall spokesman Jonathan Halls said would put the design of the site into the hands of the people that made sure it was not demolished.
“This gives them the opportunity to come along and participate in a process to design something for the site,” he said.
Mr Halls also said the design studio would be an opportunity for a new generation of Ballarat residents to get to know the Civic Hall site.
The future of the site is currently up in the air because the Napthine government has promised to relocate the VicRoads headquarters there if it is re-elected.
This would not impact Civic Hall itself, said Mr Halls, but it would change the scope of the final design studio project, which will be presented in about a year.
Ms James said there had been some excitement from community groups over the reopening.
“We’ve had contact from a fair few (groups). The chess club is running lightning matches and giant chess, there will be artists exhibiting there and a treasure hunt for the kids,” she said.
Several bands will also be playing, including Angela Crebbin from The Virginia Slims, Buck Junior and the Hammond Owill start at 11am, out the front of the Civic Hall site.
