Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong embraces the arts
by Sally Lauder 23 Feb 2018 00:16 PST
10-12 March 2018
2016 Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong © Tom Smeaton
The Yanmar Wooden Boatshop Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong has long been associated with the arts and culture community.
With a primary school art competition taking place at each event, held every two years, the Festival provides an opportunity for even the youngest of artists to get into the maritime spirit.
In 2018, the Wooden Boat Festival arts component has expanded to include an art exhibition and sale by local Geelong artists, to be held at the historic Geelong Club. The works, which all have a maritime theme, are available to be viewed at 74 Brougham Street, Geelong, on Saturday 10th and Monday 12th March, with the venue closed on Sunday for a private function.
"We are so pleased to have the Geelong Club as part of this local art exhibition and sale," said Wooden Boat Festival Chairman Stuart Dickson.
"The Festival is really expanding and to be able to include new venues for our arts program is very exciting. The Geelong Club has a long and proud history in Geelong, as does the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, and the partnership for this event is perfect – being able to showcase Geelong artists and celebrate our maritime heritage is fantastic."
As well as the exhibition of local artists at the Geelong Club, the Wooden Boat Festival has partnered with the Geelong Art Gallery, who will mount a nautical themed cluster in the Hitchcock Gallery.
"The Geelong Art Gallery has been such a wonderful supporter of the Wooden Boat Festival," said WBF Arts Coordinator, Linda Carr.
"They have generously provided us with some beautiful images of historical Geelong artwork that will be reproduced and displayed on the fence of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club as part of the event, as well as the nautical themed cluster of artwork on display in the Hitchcock Gallery."
As part of the event, visitors can participate in an "Art & Heritage Walk", departing from the Wooden Boat Festival Information booth, located at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club. This 90 minute tour will include a visit to the Geelong Club and to the Geelong Art Gallery, while hearing about the history of Geelong and viewing some maritime outdoor artwork along the way. The walks will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th March at 10am and 2pm, and on Monday 12th March at 10am and 1pm.
Mr Dickson, who has chaired the event since its inception in 2005, is excited about the future of the Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong. "The activities on offer for the 2018 event are so unique, and the whole philosophy of the Festival fits in so well with the Clever and Creative strategic direction of the City of Greater Geelong."