A workshop for potential About Time event organisers was held at the City of Charles Sturt Civic Centre in Woodville on Tuesday 20 November. History SA’s About Time team, Mandy Paul and Karen Blackwood assisted by volunteer John Connolly put together a very useful and inspiring program in readiness for next year’s history festival in May.
Allison Russell, Migration Museum’s current Acting Director spoke about engaging new audiences while South Australian Maritime Museum‘s Curator Emily Jateff shared her experiences of organising events with a difference. Lesley Attema from the Prospect Local History Group entertained the gathering with the tale of Sluggo the cat and how this local feline identity had become an extremely successful marketing tool. The group’s very popular self-guided walking tour was cited as a great example of how to stand out from the crowd.
Karen ended the workshop with a run-down of the registration process. Several registrations have already been received while online registrations will be available by the end of November. Registrations close on Friday 1 February 2013.
One of South Australia’s largest community events, the About Time festival promotes the State’s wonderful collections, places and stories through an amazing range of history related activities. History SA coordinates and promotes the overall festival. Organisers register an event, which is listed on a dedicated website and in a free printed program, 30,000 of which are distributed state-wide. Event organisers receive free promotional posters and venue signage.
2012 saw the festival being combined with the inaugural Open House Adelaide, joining major cities around the world providing public access to buildings and spaces in the City of Adelaide over a weekend. This will be on again in 2013 on the weekend of 4/5 May.
About Time began in 2004 as SA History Week and has grown each year, becoming a month long festival in 2011. In 2012 it won a Ruby Award, South Australia’s arts and cultural Awards in the Community Impact under $100,000 category.
About Time provides an opportunity for organisations to promote their place in South Australian history and enjoy the benefits of being part of a state-wide community festival.