M~M2014 Description

2014 AWARDS

• 2014 Australian Event Awards:
  • National award for Best Community Event;
  • State (VIC) award for Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event; 
  • Finalist in the Australian Event of the Year category.
• VicHealth’s 2014 Health Promotion Foundation Awards:
  • Arts Award.

On May 9th to May 10th 2014, from You Yangs mountain top to Barwon River mouth, a contemporary songline was walked across the municipality of Geelong.

Close to 1,000 people took part in all or some of this 80 kilometre pilgrimage.

Water from the ancient rock waterhole at Big Rock, and fire from the traditional smoking ceremony – Gathering of the Elders - held to begin M~M2014, were carried in an ephemeral artwork called Canoe.

More than 80 artists worked with over 2,400 participants creating thousands of original art works at each of twelve walking circles, resting stations along the way.

Geelong After Dark brought to life Central Geelong on Friday night and was the midpoint providing an overnight rest.

Then through rain and shine the pilgrimage continued from dawn on Saturday through to the dusk Fire on Water ceremony at Barwon Heads Foreshore.

An estimated 12,000 people gathered to watch M~M2014 – over the 24 hours.  

M~M2014  was Geelong’s first 24 hour extreme arts walk. 

M~M acknowledges Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of this land and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who are part of the Greater Geelong community today.  M~M is part of the Connecting Identities project of the Arts and Culture Department of the City of Greater Geelong.