City of Stonnington is excited to be partnering with the Chapel Street Precinct and Prahran Square to present a larger-than-life immersive art experience in the heart of Prahran until Sunday 17 August.
The artwork named IWAGUMI AIR SCAPE is designed by renowned art and technology studio ENESS. It celebrates the beauty of nature, while paying homage to the Japanese artform of Iwagumi – which translates to 'a collection of rock formations'.
This installation comes as one of the first actions from the Council's recently endorsed Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan. The plan takes a holistic approach to boosting business, improving safety and driving visitation to the area in response to community concerns about the decline of the precinct in recent years.
Not only is this a fun, immersive experience for all ages to enjoy – it's an excuse for locals and visitors alike to come into the area and enjoy all that the Chapel Street Precinct has to offer day and night. From world-class restaurants and bars to the vibrant retail scene and myriad services covering health & wellness, fitness, creativity and culture.
And while the vibes are great, it's not just about vibes. This is about focused action, backed by evidence and the data speaks for itself. As of 12 August, over 30,000 people have been though Prahran Square to check out the towering artwork. With five days still to go, it's drawn an impressive crowd and created significant foot traffic for the Chapel Street Precinct.
Three reasons why investing in art and activation is good for our city:
- Increased visitation: Increasing foot traffic to an area like Prahran Square has a flow on effect to the wider Chapel Street precinct, encouraging people to have a drink, grab a bite to eat and explore the local shops which is great for business.
- Sense of safety: Drawing diverse groups of people together in a space not only increases vibrancy, it also creates enhanced natural surveillance – or 'eyes on the street' which is exactly what the Chapel Street precinct needs.
- Celebrating culture: Investment in the cultural life of our city is a big part of what makes it a vibrant destination and an enjoyable place to live. A thriving creative sector generates jobs and attracts talent, supports businesses and is a catalyst for cultural tourism.
What else is on the go?
The Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan is just getting started and this is one of the many actions we're taking to reinvigorate the area. Along with an exciting calendar of marketing and activation over the next 12 months, we've upped our local laws patrols to keep the area feeling safe, increased street cleaning, and we're working on some murals to help brighten up the area. Planning is also underway for a nightlife safety campaign in September which will provide training for licensed venues and promote safer nightlife messaging.
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