The Marion Historic Village Project
The Marion Historic Village project aims to bring people together to create a stronger sense of neighbourhood and greater recognition of the unique heritage of the Marion Historic Village.

The project is a partnership of the local community working with Marion Council since late 2006. Over the next year we plan to develop an interpretive walking trail, entrance statement and streetscape concept plan.

It is one of a number of current City of Marion projects which seek to improve connections, engagement and a spirit of working together with local communities.

To find out more, please contact Marg Edgecombe on marg.edgecombe@marion.sa.gov.au or 8375 6682.

Growing the Art of Respect The Art of Respect program seeks to create mutual respect among community and aerosol artists. It is designed for young people who engage, or are likely to engage, in graffiti vandalism. It aims to increase the confidence levels and awareness of people involved in aerosol art in the streets, by exploring and improving their artistic skills and providing a positive purpose for their activity of choice.

Art of Respect was first piloted in 2004 by Marion Cultural Development and Crime Prevention staff working together with local young people. Since then, this annual program of aerosol art workshops has lead to two exhibitions at the Marion Cultural Centre's Gallery M.

The last series of workshops were held in October 2007, and in 2008 a mural project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Flinders Medical Centre's Arts in Health program.

The success of the Art of Respect program has spread like wild fire, and more Art of Respect workshops have also been run in collaboration with the City of Onkaparinga, with support from the Office for the Southern Suburbs.

As well as producing aerosol artworks on canvas, the program has also created a number of murals (eg. Warriparinga Walk) and lead to the development of the 'Mind the Gap' project at Perry Barr Farm.

"I hope there is another program like this soon because I now know I can do heaps better - it helped me have patience with the canvas. Since the program I have been painting on canvas at home and not on the streets." - Art of Respect project participant.

For more information contact Vassi on 8375 6891 or email vac@marion.sa.gov.au

'Mind the Gap' at Perry Barr Farm The 'Mind the Gap' project was based at the historic Perry Barr Farm, Quailo Avenue, Hallett Cove in 2006. Through arts workshops involving exchange of skills between young and older people, it sought to build relationships and reduce the lack of understanding between older and younger generations. Supported by artists Gerry McMahon and Irene Dougan and Cheryl Dean of Beach Road Artworks, community members made works which interpret the heritage of the area. These included a hand-made tile mosaic picnic table depicting a farmhouse dinner, aerosol murals and metal sculptures of a larger-than-life Victorian women's dress and three pig 'seats'. Neighbouring residents take great pride in these artworks which, along with the comprehensive new landscaping, have enhanced existing public and community art to make the area well worth a visit. "These community art projects have given me the opportunity to work out of my comfort zone in a totally non-threatening environment – and it was great fun." - Elizabeth Storoschuk For more details about the project, please contact Vassi on 8375 6891 or vac@marion.sa.gov.au

For further information please contact Marg Edgecombe on 8375 6682 during office hours or by email Marg.Edgecombe@marion.sa.gov.au