For 20 nights throughout March, the metal feature wall outside the Cafs (Child and Family Services Ballarat) building on Lydiard Street will be adorned with a projected installation featuring art from Ballarat's LGBTQI+ community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Captain Moonlite Ride Again launches on Friday night from 8.30pm with the launch to be broadcast live on Channel 31's LaNCE TV from 9pm.
From March 5-25, Paintings, poems, drawings, photos and other pieces of art will be woven into the story of bushranger Andrew Scott who was better known as Captain Moonlite and recognised as one of the first members of Ballarat's LGBTQI+ community in the 1870s.
After the launch event, the video projected onto the building will also be available to be stream online along with a soundscape tying into its narrative.
Cafs chief executive Wendy Sturgess said the goal of the project was to create conversations around inclusivity and diversity.
"We're keen to promote this because we want people who identify as queer to know that [there is a] long history and we're celebrating that long history," she said.
"This artistic endeavor is another layer of reaching out to the community and saying it's good to do this, start a conversation, get people talking, get people changing their views, get people challenging, questioning and celebrating is important."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Diversity and inclusion lead Liz Hardiman said the idea for the video projection came from a previous White Night installation that was displayed on the building and includes wedding photos from Ballarat same sex couples.
"It's a celebration because we think back to our past as a city and didn't give a lot of heed to marginalised communities and individuals, so this is an opportunity, after having a pretty rough year, to actually start celebrating our communities again," she said.
"One of the artists sent in a beautiful... I think it's a lino print, she described it as pretty much being a 10-foot love letter. That's a mystery behind that, but it's a beautiful piece of art in itself.
"The interpretations taken by a number of people in the community or artists themselves have been really unique."
Ms Hardiman said the project continued Cafs' work to include people from all backgrounds.
"The families that access our service at Cafs come in all different shapes, sizes, creeds, lived experiences, so it's important for us to live our values and to be a welcoming organisation so that when a family steps through the door, whether they're LGBTIQ+, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse or a religious affiliation, they feel when they walk in the front doors that there is a very much a welcoming sense of kindness and we exclude no one," she said.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.