Excitement soars for Beechworth Biennale volunteers

A FORMER Beechworth Secondary College (BSC) student is excited to be a volunteer for next month’s unique Beechworth Biennale being held between March 8 to 12. The second volunteer-run event held is set to draw huge crowds of art and history lovers to the town from near and far to experience the work of 16 highly acclaimed artists from around the nation. Creatives will present works in sound, sculpture, photography and film bringing the festival to life with projections on three buildings lighting up the town at night. Among many intriguing historic sites, works will be showcased in the barrel cellar below the Hotel Nicholas, the Powder Magazine, the grand Italianate façade of the town’s former Ovens Goldfields Hospital and an abandoned swimming pool in the Old Beechworth Gaol. BSC graduate Rubi Taylor has joined around 15 BSC students and 50 locals who have put their hand up to volunteer and said she was eager to help out. “You get to see what happens in an art festival and meet the artists,” she said. “I don't know many other towns where I would get to do something exciting like this and volunteering is a great thing to do.” BSC year eight student Isla Baird said she was looking forward to meeting many people visiting Beechworth. “The Biennale shows Beechworth can be different,” she said. Biennale volunteer coordinator Lesley Milne said volunteers are the lifeblood of the event. “We have a small committee team and we would not be able to run this exciting event without volunteers,” she said. “There are 16 sites and 16 artworks with supervision needed for sites, and artists need support with installation too. “We need volunteers to help with tours and some of the public program events.” Ms Milne said contemporary art to be presented is challenging, interesting and beautiful, showcasing the town’s extraordinary heritage buildings and sites. “It is a dialogue between new works and new ways of thinking for our historic town,” she said. Biennale artistic director Nina Machielse Hunt said people are interested in art and history and interpretation. “It’s exciting to bring dynamic art with art stars coming to our region,” she said. “With layers of our history there is so much to be uncovered, celebrated and sometimes questioned.” Ms Machielse Hunt said the event added a different dimension for a reinterpretation for the future. Visitors can pick up a map and explore all the works for free in their own time or join one of the volunteer-led guided tours or see the works at night on a Curated Supper tour. The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday at 9am. Visit website www.beechworthbiennale.com.au for all details and to book tours and special events.

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