Scenic Rim Regional Council, Media Release, 22 July 2022

What the heck is ‘placemaking anyway’? – that’s the hot topic on the table when Scenic Rim Regional Council hosts its third Arts Dinner of 2022 on Tuesday 2 August.

Set against the backdrop of the Life in Focus exhibition, which includes the Scenic Rim Story Marker Trails project, the dinner explores the concept of how public art connects people with places, builds community pride and reflects the space in which it resides.

Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group Chair Cr Michael Enright invited the community to join in the free evening event at The Centre Beaudesert and perhaps share a story from their own experience of living in the Scenic Rim.

“During the evening we will be looking at how installing public artwork helps to create a sense of community and makes a place more visually interesting and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike,” he said.

“The dinner discussion complements The Centre’s current exhibition, which features a selection of photographs of landmark locations across the Scenic Rim, showcasing remarkable stories of places of interest and heritage sites across the region.

“Guests have an opportunity to contribute to the more than 1000 Scenic Rim stories, which have already been gathered, by stepping into our recording booth and sharing something about a place, a memory or local history and, if they bring photographs, have these scanned in as a digital record of our region’s heritage.”

The Arts Dinner discussion, facilitated by Vast Yonder creative director Lincoln Savage, includes panellists who are nationally and internationally renowned placemakers.

Scenic Rim Cultural Officer Heritage Mark Paddick will lead guests into a deeper exploration of the Story Marker Trails project and how this has contributed to the Scenic Rim’s sense of place.

Joining the dinner discussion online will be City of Darwin’s Executive Manager of Community and Cultural Services, Angela O’Donnell, a Churchill Fellow who believes in the transformative power of art.

Other speakers include Courtney Guerin of the 4275 Collective, cultural producer Grace Dewar, journal editor Susan Hansen-Nuart and painter Gus Eagleton, who will be working his artistic magic on a mural, beginning from a blank board, so guests can see his creative process in action.

“Whether you are an arts aficionado or would simply like to learn more about placemaking and the role of public art, please join us for what promises to be a great evening’s entertainment,” Cr Enright said.

Tickets for the Arts Dinner are free but registrations are required for catering. Visit the liveatthecentre.com.au website to book or telephone (07) 5540 5050.

The Life in Focus exhibition, combining the Scenic Rim Story Marker Trails Project and When a Tree Falls by Donna Davis, continues at The Centre from Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, until Saturday 13 August.