Preserving a unique insight into the history of Waikeire – Jan Heppner, Waikerie resident and film collector
Collectors/Collections: Waikerie Films (CCWF) was a 3year history/heritage/art project (that began in 2016) in creative partnership with the Waikerie District Historical Society, The Waikerie Film Preservation Group, the artists Nadia Cusimano and Paul Gazzola and OSCA – Open Space Contemporary Arts.
CCWF focused on the preservation and presentation of 8mm films made by Waikerie residents and the associated knowledge related to each films content. These films form an integral part in recording the town’s cultural/social history as well as highlighting a period of time when the Waikerie Filmo club was actively making short artistic films. CCWF revealed how specialization and the personal, can provides the catalyst for a unique and socially inclusive cultural project about people, local histories, diversity, place and the evolution of the Waikerie communities’ post war development.
Outcomes took place from the 25 – 27 May 2018 as part of the SA History Festival and included a 3day exhibition, a series of street and shop front projections, one-night gala event plus a 48page booklet and edited collection of films. You can purchase the publication and 4DVD set here
In CCWF knowledge, specialization and individual interests became the key motivators and catalysts for discourse and visibility. The project was an investment in developing local leaderships skills and the capacity of these individuals to strengthen and preserve local culture through a series of highly accessible outcomes. For more info on Waikerie head to the Lost Waikerie facebook page.
CCWF was funded by The Regional Arts Fund, Country Arts SA, Arts SA, the History Trust of South Australia, the Bertalli Family Foundation through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the Waikerie Chamber of Commerce. With generous support from the Loxton Waikerie Council, The River News & local Waikerie residents.
