Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Annual Report 2018-19

2. Inspiring Plant Learning
OUR COMMITMENT:
We create experiences
and special places that
help everyone to learn and
see the world differently.
Whether our actions are
big or small, they inspire
people to think and act.
Corporate Plan: 2014–2019
Spring Into Nature in the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Gardens
YEAR IN REVIEW
To inspire plant learning, the organisation’s
Programming and Audience
Development; Visitor Experience,
Access and Tourism; and Development
Marketing and Communications teams
worked together to promote and deliver
seasonally curated programs and events.
The Communications and Media team
also focused on sharing the exceptional
horticultural and scientific work of the
organisation via proactive media stories.
Programs and events across the year
included artistic responses to the Gardens
such as exhibitions, tours, artists in
residence, workshops, outreach activities,
participatory and interactive programs.
Participant and partner feedback, as well
as press and social media commentary for
our new programming was excellent.
New programs were developed with
specific visitors in mind, such as Branch
Out: Experiences in the Gardens for over
60s, supported by our new Major Partner,
Regis Aged Care. Work was undertaken
in collaboration with key Melbourne
festivals to incorporate our programs as
part of their seasons, including Melbourne
International Arts Festival, Melbourne
Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne
Writers Festival and Melbourne Design
Week, to firmly establish Royal Botanic
Gardens Victoria as part of the vibrant
cultural life of Melbourne and Victoria.
This year, the Programming team focused
on health and wellbeing. A number of
programs were developed to encourage
visitors to slow down and engage
with nature to nurture their health and
wellbeing, foster a sense of wonder,
connection with and respect for each
other and with and for plants, nature,
biodiversity and the land.
Cultural programming partners in
2018–19 included exciting projects with
Melbourne International Arts Festival,
Yirramboi First Nations Festival (City
of Melbourne), Circus Oz, Melbourne
Writers Festival, Australian Poetry and
Red Room Poetry, Victorian College of
the Arts, Melbourne University Science
Faculty, Arts House (City of Melbourne),
Linden New Art, Melbourne Design Week
(NGV), Sustainable Living Festival, and
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Many ongoing collaborations continued
in Learning and Cross-Cultural
Programs with funding support from the
Department of Education and Training,
Catholic Education Victoria, Department
of Health and Human Services, Kids in
Nature Network, City of Casey and a
range of community service organisations
in the Cranbourne region. New learning
partnerships were developed with the
State Library of Victoria, Charcoal Lane
Restaurant, William Angliss Institute, and
the Department of Environment, Land,
Water and Planning (DELWP) To promote
these activities and drive attendance and
awareness of our organisation’s values,
the Marketing and Communications
teams utilised a wide range of mediums,
including press and digital channels, to
engage new audiences.
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS BOARD VICTORIA — ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 41