A community art project is celebrating the stories, spaces and creative spirit of Castlemaine and beyond.
Mapping Our Futures is the brainchild of self-confessed ‘map nerd’ Michael Chew, a local designer and social ecologist.
Michael worked alongside four other talented local artists, Wendy Hopkins, Sarah Taylor, Kirsten Moegerlein and Eunice Rigo, to bring the project to life.
The project officially launched on the weekend and will be open to the community for the next four weeks.
People are invited to contribute to a shared map of meaningful places, either on the real-life maps at the Castlemaine Library foyer or online.
Project director Michael Chew told the Express that the map created a canvas for people’s hopes for the community.
“It’s a great way, especially given the recent fires, for people to look at ways to do things differently,” he said.
“It’s a platform where community groups can connect with each other, and we are then able to relay the information to peak bodies like the council.”
Mount Alexander Shire faces significant social challenges, including an ageing population with a median age of 51 compared to the state average of 38, alongside social isolation risks. Many residents are disturbed by increasingly polarised social environments, environmental and economic crises, and rising cost-of-living pressures.
Community partners recognised a lack of opportunity for positive future visioning among their communities, while students expressed feelings of anxiety and disconnection with a strong desire to contribute to community conversations about shared futures.
Mapping Our Futures emerged from this need as a way to bring community members, artists, researchers and local organisations to collect experiences and visions.
Through workshops, storytelling and public engagement, Map Futures explores how place shapes our identity — and how our stories shape the places we call home.
Their goal is to create a living, evolving map that reflects the richness, diversity and imagination of our region.
Whether it’s a site of creativity, memory or inspiration, adding a pin helps craft a collective picture of the cultural landscape.
To take part, visit Castlemaine Library Foyer during library opening hours or visit www.mapfutures.org
