‘In Conversation’ discusses innovative ways to design, create, manage and maintain public spaces:
Wednesday 8 March 2017
6:00-8:00pm at The Stage, Maude St Mall, Shepparton as part of the Shepparton Festival

We know that public spaces can benefit social, health, environmental, economic benefits; they can promote reinvestment, generate healthier lifestyles, increase land value and strengthen communities. Responding to the Festival theme ‘Mapping Shepp’ we want to ask how do you map culture, create the visitor experience, and support artistic engagement? How do you sensibly and successfully curate places that support programmatic activities and spontaneous, non–structured gatherings – how can places become activated by the community and by arts practice. How do the arts inform public space, how do the creative industries inform and support social connection and cohesion – how does design generate a sense of place. What is the arts relationship with the built environment? How do the creative industries inform design in both temporary and permanent public spaces?

Hosted by Hilary Harper, the presenter of Saturday Breakfast & Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne and Victoria, I spoke alongside Dr Rebecca Coates, curator and Director, SAM; Matt York, Principal Consultant, Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, Spiire; and Shepparton Festival Director, Ros Abercrombie.

The event has been recorded and will soon become available through the Shepparton Festival.