90-minute lecture and project profile for PSi #27: HUNGER (Conference)

 ABSTRACT

How do you build a community around a systemic problem such as food justice in a crisis via creative methodologies?

‘We’ve never done this before’ became the motto of Fawkner Commons when local residents, Jen Rae from Fair Share Fare and partner Sally Beattie co-founder of Fawkner Food Bowls mobilised local food system food producers and community members to covert a community garden into an urban farm and a disused lawn bowling club into a community-led Covid-19 response food hub distributing over $116K boxes of no-cost/low-cost culturally-relevant food boxes and over 2,400 prepared meals in 2020.

Fawkner is the most food insecure and culturally-diverse suburb in the City of Moreland (5kms north of the CBD of Melbourne, Australia). It was heavily impacted by the 2020-21 Covid-19 Victorian state lockdowns, restrictions, case numbers and deaths. In this presentation, artist-researcher Jen Rae will delve into some of the creative methodologies underpinning the success of Fawkner Commons and its legacy in the community.