HUNDREDS of people drifted through a sea of kelp for the final instalment of Warrnambool’s Laneway Festival on the weekend.
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With 10 festivals behind them, organisers hope to bring back the colourful hidden treasure events later in the year.
“What it’s proved is that art can breathe new life in the CBD and these laneways,” organiser and f project assistant treasurer Rachel Peters said.
Saturday’s final festival included a sea of plastic kelp hanging above the laneway, with much of the activity focused on kids.
“There was a lot for families. We had a lot of people come through, it was just constant,” Ms Peters said.
Whatever direction the laneways take next is up to funding and what the artists decide to do themselves.
“It depends on the project. It’s up to the artists to come up with the ideas but so far there’s been heaps of ideas,” Ms Peters said.
“I think it’s been really great and there’s been some diverse ideas.”
Everything from video art projected on walls at night to stories from people with brain injuries has been used to enliven the laneways.
But the season isn’t entirely over.
On a windy Sunday afternoon Warrnambool artist David Higgins was wearing a pensive expression as he looked at a massive mural work in Timor Lane.
“It’s bigger than I thought but I don’t mind a challenge,” the artist said.
For the last week he has painted a blue surface on the blank wall, preparing for the mural.
Over the coming weeks ocean life will start to materialise.
“It’s an underwater theme ... whales and seaweed basically.”