Background

• ‘Wool Capital of the World’• Sheepvention is Hamilton’s

largest event• Static population growth• Lowest rates of Year 12

attainment in the State

Genesis

• What’s our ‘thing’?• The MOB and the Green Sheep

An email to Mem

• So, er, would it, um, kind of be okay… if, um, we….

The Project• ‘Fringe’ woollen arts festival running a week

either side of Sheepvention.• Inspired by wool or sheep themed children’s

literature – Where is the Green Sheep in 2014.

• Four distinct but linked components:– Flock of eight woollen crafted sheep, each

created by and representing the key towns of the Shire of Southern Grampians.

– Yarn-bombing installations in Hamilton (CBD parking metres and trees)

– ‘Where is the Green Sheep?’ themed shop window displays in the Hamilton CBD;

– Readings by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

Funding

Secret Weapon

Building up the flock

MARC and Roadshow

The Lead-up

Schools

The Woollen Arts Walk

The Businesses

Gallery Foyer

Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

Sheepvention

• 2000 people saw the flock at Sheepvention

• Branxholme emerged victorious. Arise, Sir Manx!

The Towns

Where we went right

• The project engaged many demographics in a single common project (over 400 contributors)

• Involving all towns and giving them free reign.

• Leveraging the Sheepvention crowds.• We brought more people into the CBD,

the Art Gallery, the Library, Sheepvention, and the towns.

• We revived a sense of pride in a traditional industry.

Next for the Fest…

• Expansion of woollen arts skill-sharing program

• Expansion of children’s literature program

• Expansion of town art • 2015 project to be announced

next month• www.facebook.com/woollywestfest

• www.woollywestfest.com