Listening Booths tells our local stories
Published on 20 June 2023
Lismore City Council today launched a new Listening Booth and a Community Book Exchange, bringing local audio stories and book swapping to the laneways in the heart of Lismore’s CBD.
The bespoke ‘activation pods’ on Carrington Street look like retro phone booths. However, once you step inside the Listening Booth, Lismore comes to life by simply pressing a button for audio content or scanning a QR code to hear and see more from local musicians, artists and community events.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the Listening Booth brings together the diverse voices of our city and rhythm of our community.
“With Lismore’s continuing renewal, it’s exciting to launch new attractions for visitors to discover and now there’s even more to enjoy in our laneways with the new Listening Booth and Community Book Exchange,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to hearing new tunes from our renowned musicians, connecting with stories behind local artworks and unique spaces in our city, listening to inspiring insights from our business community, and celebrating the rich voices and resilience of our community.”
Mayor Krieg said Council is working with Lismore’s creative organisations for future audio programming and invite local ideas for stories and sounds to share.
Make sure you visit Lismore Laneways’ Listening Booth to tune in, find out more and get involved.
And while you are there, you can also visit the Lismore Laneways’ Community Book Exchange to update your reading and share your favourite books with the community.
The Book Exchange is managed by Lismore Library.
Area Librarian Michael Lewis said: “Community book swaps are a wonderful way to celebrate our love of reading with families and friends, and this book exchange is a fun, accessible way to share books in the Lismore community.”
The booths are another element of the Lismore Laneways Project, which commenced in 2021 to help reinvigorate our inner-city laneways precinct and attract more visitors. The project was interrupted by the 2022 natural disaster, however, Council is now in the final stages of completing and restoring the project works. Council plans to continue revitalising Lismore’s laneways over the coming years.
Council worked closely with the Back Alley Gallery on the elements of the Lismore Laneways Project due to their history and activity around the site.
Other Lismore Laneways Project elements that can be found in Carrington Street and Eggins Lane include public artworks, colourful street furniture, decorative lighting, wayfinding and new street art.
The Lismore Laneways Project was funded through a $510,000 grant, as part of a $1.5 million grant from the NSW Government for the ongoing revitalisation of the Lismore CBD.
To find out more, go to visitlismore.com.au or contact business@lismore.nsw.gov.au
Picture: Area Librarian Michael Lewis (right) and work experience student Tom fill the Lismore Book Exchange.