Report to the Community 2014 | Page 15

VISUAL ARTS & FILM For the second year the popular Melbourne Art Trams project took art to the streets with eight moving artworks covering each of Melbourne’s tram routes. Framed Movements examined the shifting boundary between performance and visual art. A documentary film and photography exhibition explored the incredible story of Vivian Maier, a street photographer from Chicago that kept her talents secret from the world until negatives were discovered years after her death. The film program Arts, Politics and Protest explored the intersection between art and politics with films from Egypt, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and India. Many members of the public also rode on the Golden Mirror Carousel, created by Carsten Höller on display at the National Gallery of Victoria. EVENTS FOR FAMILIES In 2014, Melbourne Festival showcased a variety of family shows. The extremely popular Belgian circus work Carrousel des Moutons charmed ages 3+, PRIMO took place inside a pool and was enjoyed by toddlers, and from the UK Something Very Far Away told a heart-warming story of love and loss told through puppets and live animation. EDUCATION The Education Program for primary and secondary school groups allowed students to experience the very best of international arts with subsidised ticket pricing and learning resources – plus an array of free events. Schools were directed to information on 20 events appropriate for Secondary students and four events geared to Primary students. FOXTEL FESTIVAL HUB The Foxtel Festival Hub returned to the banks of the Yarra River, offering festival goers a pop-up performance space, a uniquely Melbourne food and beverage experience and a fun destination to catch up with friends. Three weeks of brilliant cultural stimulation. ABC ARTS NILS FRAHM | PHOTO: DAVID HARRIS MUSIC From the UK, Aurora Orchestra are known for reinventing the concept of the chamber orchestra and cross-pollinating with other genres and art forms. Aurora made their long-awaited Australian debut with a weeklong residency that showcased their diverse repertoire, breathtaking musicianship and originality of programming. The Festival’s ambitious three-year program presenting all 68 of Joseph Haydn’s string quartets continued in a range of formats and venues including iconic Collins Street Baptist Church, a private home and pop-up venue purpose-built for string quartets, Quartetthaus. The showcase of contemporary music included techno music legend Jeff Mills teaming up with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Greek pop superstar Mihalis Hatzigiannis at The Annual China Southern Airlines Concert in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, multi-Grammy jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and an outstanding selection of acts at the Foxtel Festival Hub. 15