Fun fires up in Burns Lane as laneway activation moves in

Published on 07 April 2021

The next project under Singleton Council’s Living Laneways program promises to be a real traffic stopper as Burns Lane closes to motorists on Monday 12 April to become a blank canvas – literally.

And after new artwork, lighting and street furniture moves in, Burns Lane will be the location for Firelight on Saturday 29 May, the first large-scale community event in Singleton since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded by the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces program, Living Laneways is designed to reconnect the community to businesses, generate a sense of local identity as well as bring much needed reactivation to the public spaces in Singleton’s town centre.

Vicki Brereton, Council’s Director Organisation and Community Capacity, said Council had worked with the University of Newcastle School of Creative Industry to develop the 12-week program, which includes lighting installations, live music, public art, street furniture and landscaping. 

“We’re transforming Burns Lane into a creative canvas designed for people to stop and interact in, breathing energy and life into Singleton’s CBD,” she said.

“There are some really exciting activities planned over the next few months, including the installation of a light-up canopy over the laneway, a temporary mural painted on the road surface, as well as more street furniture and planters designed for people to stop and linger longer in our town centre. 

“We are also really excited to announce that Singleton’s favourite autumn festival, Firelight will return on Saturday 29 May, and we will be turning up the heat - literally – in Burns Lane and John Street with vibrant performances, hearty food and live entertainment.”

Burns Lane is the fourth of five laneway activations, including the mural artworks in Tre Bella and Evidence Lanes, and the popular Shadowgram activity in Bourkes Arcade.

“Living Laneways is also the first program in the lead up to the launch of the Arts and Culture Centre in Townhead Park later this year, and it’s been a great opportunity to experiment with public space and create an authentic cultural experience in Singleton,” Ms Brereton said.

“We have been really pleased with how the community has responded to these activations and we look forward to seeing many more enjoying the festivities planned in Burns Lane over the next few months.”

To keep up to date with information about the arts and culture centre and the Living Laneways program, visit https://www.singleton.nsw.gov.au   

 

ENDS