The Village Square was a temporary pop-up venue in the heart of Castlemaine creative recovery project through 2021-22, supporting hundreds of local creative workers. The Village Square, has been a temporary, outdoor creative infrastructure project made possible by the Victorian State Government including through the Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Fund; Creative Neighbourhoods Partnership Pilot Program; and Outdoor Activation Fund. With project funding now complete, Council will return the site to the landlords in July 2022. Through the project, Council has purchased mobile outdoor event infrastructure and is awaiting outcomes of grant applications to pursue further outdoor program development opportunities. The site was chosen to highlight Council’s plans to improve Frederick Street, including through temporary arts activations, (Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards 2020). Since March 2021, the Village Square project has included: - 160 performers presenting 39 free live music events - 12 live radio broadcasts (Main FM) - 10 festival partnership investments (Castlemaine State Festival; Castlemaine Fringe Festival; Village Festival; Festival of Winemaking, Brewing and Distilling; Castlemaine Jazz Festival; Taradale Mineral Springs Festival; Maldon Folk Festival; Coscar’s Youth Film Festival; Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival and Castlemaine Pride Festival) - 5 cinema screenings - 3 circus skills workshops - 2 outdoor theatre productions (Castlemaine Theatre Company) - 2 mural commissions - 2 Christmas late night trading events - 2 stages (one powered entirely by solar energy) - 1 garden constructed by 15 children (Village Festival project “Village Garden”) - 1 youth employment skills program (FreeZA and Youth Advisory Committee)