OLYMPIAN Steve Moneghetti has been a portrait muse but will now help to guide the highly anticipated Biennale of Australian Art.
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Mr Moneghetti, who joins the BoAA board, was keen to ensure there was a real sense of community ownership and interest in the festival, which runs from late September to November.
The Biennale is expected to capture strong attention across the nation as the largest showcase of living Australian artists, across three art villages.
Mr Moneghetti hoped the event would build on the White Night effect and encourage locals to explore.
“Events are so much better when there is buy-in from locals. Most events I’ve been involved in – and the Commonwealth Games are a great example – that when the event is in town, all the locals have left. Venues might be full but beyond that, the town is empty,” Mr Moneghetti said.
“If locals are involved, as artists or volunteers, that really helps. I really love the phrase that BoAA has equal representation from all nine Australian state and territories – the ninth being Ballarat.”
BoAA will activate the city’s heritage buildings with 65 curated solo exhibitions and public art projects, including 36 art installations running alongside the Steve Moneghetti Track around Lake Wendouree.
Mr Moneghetti liked the concept of taking art to the people and getting people wandering around, appreciating all the city has to offer.
“There is a real growth in our arts culture,” Mr Moneghetti said. “I think people are now realising the diversity of cultural offerings in Ballarat. We’re a great sporting city, we have great food and an arts culture that we have probably taken too much for granted for a long time.”
BoAA artistic director Julie Collins said Ballarat artists had been creating exciting projects to showcase at the Biennale.
The festival will also entwine music with art in what Ms Collins said aimed to entice a growing appetite for arts culture in Ballarat.
BoAA is a not-for-profit organisation and still seeking sponsors and support for artists to show in the festival.
Tickets and details are online at boaa.net.au.
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