Hobsons Bay City Council and Hubcap Productions have launched an exciting new community-based biennial celebration, the Art & Industry Festival, which will build local identity, champion local assets and inspire interaction between local artists, residents, industry and businesses.
Motivated by the local industrial resources of electricity, oil, petrol, sea water, blue stone, glass and transportation, the inaugural Art & Industry Festival will culminate in multiple art presentations and activities throughout many unique places in the Hobsons Bay area across ten days from 18 – 27 November 2016.
Working in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council, the Art & Industry Festival was instigated by long-term Newport resident, Donna Jackson and her company, Hubcap Productions.
Councillor Peter Hemphill, Mayor of Hobsons Bay, explained that Council is very happy to be working with Jackson on this unique and exciting event, “Through her company Hubcap Productions, Donna has a terrific reputation around the country on bringing communities together in unique and inspiring ways,” said Councillor Hemphill.
“Being able to put a spotlight on our industrial and manufacturing past and present through an arts lens is at the heart of the Art & Industry Festival, and it is consistent with some of the themes in our arts and events plans, as well as the importance we place on our economic sector, its contribution to our history, and the importance of its growth into the future.”
A creative consultant with experience of creating unique art projects that engage communities through innovative approaches, Jackson explains that she wanted to investigate the theme of industry that is an important and crucial element of the Melbourne’s western suburbs.
“Industry is a lens through which we can view and acknowledge the past and generate ideas on how we build and design the future,” said Jackson. “The Art & Industry Festival will create astonishing and important art that will move and connect the local community in authentic, inspiring and surprising ways.”
The Art & Industry Festival runs 18 – 27 November 2016. The program will be revealed on Friday 9 September. For more information, visit: www.artandindustryfestival.com.au for details.
Image: Donna Jackson, We Built This City, 2006 – photo by Georgia Metaxas