At ACC our every day job is to support and build community. And this role has become particularly important as we are all compelled to retreat from public life in the face of Covid-19. Our amped-up online presence is purposeful in providing a range of information that is both helpful and entertaining whilst people are no longer out and about. We’re hoping that by sharing stories from others, from our own everyday lives, from the neighbourhood and beyond, we can keep growing our sense of belonging, our sense of neighbourhoodliness and community in these otherwise-isolating time.

And we are also trying to support some of the hardest hit industries in our local area. As I am sure you are all aware, the arts industry is one of these.

Our local Councils have acknowledged the need for support for the arts as whole in their Covid-19 response plans. If you haven’t seen the details of their response, we’ve included a link to Darebin’s here and Yarra’s here.

In the meantime, we can all play our part by exploring local artists that are starting to produce exciting online content.

And here’s a great one! Check out Polyglot Theatre’s new initiative, Polyglot at home - a series of videos for kids to have fun recycling things that are most likely already in the house.

The first video uses the cardboard tubes inside toilet rolls (we ALL know we’ve got these now right? Either you hoarded them and have heaps OR you have now found them back in supply and have adequate).

The second invites your kids to empty the soft plastic bin on the floor (every parent’s dream) to find the materials to make an Easter bunny outfit. I have to say the outcome is very impressive - and worth the mess (although I do suspect that I might send my kids outside onto the back verandah for this activity). It’s a perfect plan for mid morning after you’ve completed your Easter egg hunt - perhaps you could even incorporate some Easter egg wrappers in the inspired creations?

String, masking tape and scissors seem to be the additional supplies needed …

And … not only do they make things, but they then give some prompts for imaginative play and also provide a mechanism for sharing your family’s creativity, using the hashtag #polyglotathome.

The videos and the ideas really are gorgeous! Guaranteed to cheer up your day (even if you don’t have kids). Check them out.