In just five years, the City of Melbourne’s population has grown from less than 40,000 to more than 52,000. In the year to 30 June 2001, the city’s population grew by 10 per cent, the fastest growth of any Local Government area in Australia. Visitors are increasingly praising the city’s ambience and atmosphere, surveys show.
“People are returning to our city and embracing its charms,’’ says Lord Mayor John So. “Melbourne is a safe and welcoming city.”
Council’s City Plan 2010 vision is for an ‘inclusive and engaging’ city that welcomes and enables all people to participate fully in city life. For the City of Melbourne, the influx of residents and visitors is evidence that its vision is a reality – the city is being recognised as a lively and energetic centre in which to work, live, visit and prosper. The city supports arts, recreation, cultural heritage, events, services, sports and street festivals for the greater benefit of the community.
From sponsorship of major events such as the Melbourne Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival to establishing a lending library in the central business district and ensuring a diversity of housing in its municipality, Council’s agenda is wide and varied.
Arts and culture
The City of Melbourne is committed to creating an environment that supports the development of quality arts activity and highlights Melbourne’s identity as a significant city for the arts locally, nationally and internationally.
Council’s backing for the arts spreads from supporting major events such as the Melbourne International Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne International Film Festival to awarding arts grants that support a vibrant arts scene. This year, Council will hand out more than 100 arts grants totalling more than $1.5 million for artists and arts organisations.
Projects awarded grants include the following.
- A multimedia dance work by renowned dancer Lucy Guerin in collaboration with Australia’s 2002 Venice Biennale entrant Patricia Piccinini.
- A project to connect a cluster of high rise buildings via a series of static light beams.
- A dance, video and music installation in the top floors and towers of buildings at a Flinders St intersection.
- An electronic music festival.
- A Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus take on the Marriage of Figaro.
- A storytelling festival.
- A circus collaboration between young indigenous members of Circus Tarrangos and a team of professional indigenous artists.
Council’s Laneways Commissions program has also proved enormously popular with the second series due to start early this year. The Commissions give artists the opportunity to create temporary site specific art installations in lanes of their choice.
Council’s Melbourne Conversations has become well entrenched on the city’s arts calendar. Free monthly discussions at Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Conversations draws hundreds of people to hear lively explorations of what’s vital and unique to the city. The North Melbourne Town Hall Arts House and Horticultural Hall, which is also in North Melbourne, continue to thrive as innovative cultural venues, with North Melbourne Town Hall hosting 316 arts and culture activities in 2001-2002.
All the visitor needs
Melbourne Visitor Centre is a new era in the way Melburnians and visitors experience our city and Victoria. Opened in October 2002, the $4.5 million centre is located in the heart of the city at the new Federation Square. Council contributed $1.5 million to the centre, which is staffed by City of Melbourne employees and volunteers. Visitors have the choice of information from local volunteers or of using the Internet, navigating via special touch screens, watching hi-tech audio visuals or selecting from thousands of brochures. They can also read newspapers, withdraw cash, book tours and accommodation, buy public transport tickets and shop for gifts. About 600,000 people are expected to visit the centre in its first year.
Council volunteers, the City Ambassadors, recently won a prestigious 2002 Victorian Tourism Award. The ambassadors dress in distinctive red uniforms and roam city streets offering directions, entertainment ideas and a welcoming street presence. The City Ambassador Program won the Tourism Awards’ New Tourism Development category, which recognises excellence in the planning of tourism infrastructure or services.
Events capital
To ensure Melbourne continues to thrive as Australia’s events capital, Council is dedicated to attracting, supporting and creating key events that reflect the diverse needs of its community. This year the City of Melbourne revamped its much loved Moomba festival, the country’s biggest free family event. Renamed Melbourne Moomba Waterfest, the event from March 7 to 10, stretched the length of the Yarra from Birrarung Marr to the Docklands. The diverse program included a Moomba parade, live music headlined by major Australian performers, championship water skiing, children’s performances and a food and wine festival.
