In this presentation Amy will take you on a journey into one of Ballarat’s (somewhat hidden!) cultural jewels. She will discuss projects and experiences she has encountered in her new role as curator/researcher at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, activating a new photographic collection and producing an Open Day event.
The BMI is independently run from a beautiful heritage building in the Central Business District, housing a lending library, heritage library and book collection, archives, research facilities, tenants, and spaces for hire. It has undergone major refurbishment over the last decade and is looking great but the questions remain: Who is this place for? How to make it viable going forward? How to connect with the institute’s history as well as its contemporary life and functions, as part of a growing regional city?
Amy Tsilemanis, PhD student Federation University Australia, Curator/Researcher at Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
