Media release – Burnie City Council, 18 August 2023
Chip In to Burnie’s Cultural Precinct Evolution
The Burnie Cultural Precinct is undergoing a remarkable transformation, fuelled by an $18 million funding injection from the Australian Government, and a $2 million contribution from the Burnie City Council. With construction of the cutting-edge facilities already in progress, the Burnie Cultural Precinct is well on its way to becoming a more vibrant, inclusive, and accessible hub for all members of the community.
A new campaign initiative by Burnie City Council encourages local residents to ‘Chip In’ their ideas to inform the brand evolution and contribute towards the narrative that shapes the precinct’s future. At the heart of the campaign are a series of casual gatherings accompanied by complimentary hot chips.
These events are scheduled for Saturday September 16th from 8.00am to 11.00am at Burnie Netball Courts (Howe Street Burnie) and Sunday September 17th from 11.00am – 1.00pm at the Burnie Waterfront (next to the sea creatures, Callum and Murray).
We want to hear from you on topics such as your favourite types of art, defining Burnie’s uniqueness, and envisioning the future of the city. By participating, community members will play an integral role in shaping the Burnie Cultural Precinct’s identity and ensuring it resonates with the people it serves – our Burnie community.
As part of the brand evolution – we will also be giving the community a sneak peek behind the velvet curtain! We will be showing you some of the objects, images and articles that will be displayed in the new Cultural Centre once opened in late 2024. From the old town clock to Advocate articles from the past. We’ve discovered images from Burnie in 1909, when the Ernest Albert Winters studio open in Cattley Street. His collection includes images of Burnie and many other areas of the north-west coast, as well as photographs taken of weddings, social activities, sporting events and family portraits.
We will show you objects from the 1950s where cards needed to be used to clock in and out of work, and an entertaining competition where the best Shirley Temple won a prize. We want to collect your memories. Burnie’s memories – and showcase them as part of our displays, creating a layered history that will bring connection from past to present. Do you have a connection with our past? A story to tell?
Teeny Brumby, Mayor of Burnie, emphasises this collaborative spirit, stating that “Burnie is a city that has arts and culture at its heart. Our new Centre will bring people together through arts and cultural activity, but we want it to be somewhere that we can draw more of our community into. We see this Cultural Centre building a stronger, more connected community. It will be an integrated and innovative centre with performance spaces, art and history spaces, gathering places, meeting spaces and working places – all within one inclusive and accessible site. We are asking our community to help us to find a voice for our new centre. To find the theme of its personality, and how we draw it all together as a centrepiece of #makingabetterburnie.”
Megan Perkins, Creative Director for the project’s branding and visual identity, underscores the value of community-driven input: “This is a unique opportunity for Burnie locals to contribute their ideas to help us frame the branding, visual identity, and signage for the precinct transformation, and ensure the collective wisdom of the community is at the centre of the new look, aligning with their aspirations and reflecting the special character of Burnie and its people.”
The campaign encourages submissions, offering participants the opportunity to contribute online at their convenience. Those preferring face-to-face conversation can ‘chip in’, share ideas and enjoy complimentary hot chips at the pop-up events, and workshops will deliver important brainstorming opportunities for community leaders to contribute.
Mark Viner, Burnie Arts Executive Manager highlights “The precinct aspires to make art accessible to everyone, our aim is to empower every individual to envision Burnie’s cultural landscape anew. We believe in art’s ability to resonate with everyone and transcend boundaries.”
Join us in shaping a precinct that mirrors Burnie’s distinct character, values, and aspirations. For more information, to find out where events and workshops will be held, and to contribute your feedback, visit burnie.tas.gov.au/chip-in or follow Burnie City Council’s Facebook page.
