RAV - Regional Arts Victoria - The peak body for regional arts activity in Victoria

The Marysville Big Screen Project wraps up

Following the unprecedented bushfire events in Victoria during Jan and Feb 2009, Federation Square (FSPL) approached Regional Arts Victoria (RAV) with the offer of transporting their old Big Screen to a regional location.

After much community consultation, RAV and FSPL agreed to work together to install the Big Screen in Marysville from September 2009 to January 2010. Funds to support the installation were provided by Centacare and the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust.

A Local Steering Committee was established to drive local community engagement, supported by a Project Reference Group with representatives from key partners including Fed Square Pty Ltd (FSPL), RAV, Centacare and Marysville and Triangle Development Group.

On the ground delivery of the project was provided through Local Project Manager Bridget Lloyd Jones, and supported by RAV’s Arts Recovery Project Officer.

The primary purpose of moving the screen into Marysville was to provide a place for community members to gather, to share stories, to participate in workshops and make their own short films and to being to re-imagine themselves as part of a new Marysville.

After a period of six months in residence, the Big Screen is now getting ready for its return trip over the Black Spur to Melbourne. The final screening will take place on Wed 10 February.

Some recent Big Screen program highlights include:

Melbourne Cup Day, Tue 3 Nov 2009

On Tuesday the 3rd of November Marysville celebrated the Melbourne Cup with a picnic day at the Big Screen. Locals and visitors to the town enjoyed a day on the grass with the crowd of approximately 120 swelling to around 300 by race time. The day’s MC and one of the organisers, Chris Muir welcomed everyone, and encouraged all in town to come and join in and celebrate all that is good about Marysville.

ACMI’s Bush Science: Documentaries of the Natural Kind, 4-5 Dec 2009

Marysville Big Screen hosted a series of extraordinary feature length films from the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers, an event that brought to Australia international producers and broadcasters of scientific documentary work.

Harry Potter Marathon, 18-23 Dec 2009

The last day of school for the year saw the first of the Harry Potter films with one screening each night for the next 6 nights. Mostly young families attended, bringing a picnic and enjoying the night.

Carols by Candlelight, 24 Dec 2009

Christmas Eve saw a group of regular screen goers gather together (despite the elements) to enjoy the broadcast of the iconic Carols By Candlelight from the Sydney Myer Music Bowl.

Big Screen New Year Celebrations, 31 Dec 2009

The night began with the family screening of the original Willy Wonka and then was switched to the broadcast of the ARIA countdown to the New Year. At about 11pm an electrical storm swept in cutting off the signal to the screen! This did not stop a group of locals from staying on and celebrating together under the marquee and exclaiming that it was the best party they had had in Marysville for some time!

Australia Day Celebrations, 26 January 2010

Australia Day celebrations have been a long-standing tradition in Marysville featuring a parade down the main street and various community events. This year the day finished with the screening of “The Castle” on the Big Screen.

The local community needed a place to share experiences, to re-imagine themselves as part of a new Marysville which they will all take a role in shaping as the town is reborn.

Regional Arts Victoria would like to offer sincere thanks to our Project Manager Bridget Lloyd-Jones, our delivery partners Fed Square, Centacare and MATDG, Centacare and the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust for their financial support and to the community of Marysville for hosting us for the last six months.

 

Image: Participants in the Play Animation workshops enjoy games before the family screening