Nothing says community like a festival and nothing says festival more than live performances, exhibitions, tours, workshops and fun activities for the kids.
The Prom Coast Seachange Festival goes from strength to strength. It grows in size, reputation and participant numbers, and two big weekends, 24 to 26 March and 31 March to 2 April, are needed to do justice to the diverse program of events.
With the last two festivals offering over 50 events each, expectations are high for a bumper program for 2017. Organising Committee Chair Deb Bray said, “The Seachange Festival provides the opportunity for people to get involved in community-run events that showcase the best of what the Prom Coast has to offer and it attracts quality, world renowned artists to this magnificent region.”
Pivotal to the success of the festival is the support and generosity of its longstanding sponsors the Toora & Foster Community Bank® and Welshpool Agency, Esso BHP Billiton and South Gippsland Shire Council. Many festival events will be free of charge or a gold coin donation, while others, such as the internationally acclaimed Grigoryan Brothers, require bookings and ticket purchases. On sale via the festival website will be tickets for The Clip Clop Club Returns to The Fish Creek Hotel; Opera at the Vineyard, performed by Samantha du Rennes; Locally Sourced Dinner with Dark Emu author Bruce Pascoe; An Evening with Ian Bland; and, Stephen McIntyre at the Celia Rosser Gallery.
Returning to the festival are a number of popular events including the Fish Lunch at Port Franklin, the Ark Clothing Company workshop, Breakfast with the Birds, WGCMA canoe tour, and the Agnes Falls Open Day. The festival’s media partner ABC Gippsland will have Rachael Lucas and Bec Symons on the ground interviewing, reporting and delivering the ever-popular ABC Writers’ Workshop.
School children will enjoy opportunities offered by renowned local author and artist Alison Lester; the popular Sustainable Architecture Tour returns; Brad Beach is directing FAMDA’s production of The Vagina Monologues; Prom Coast Arts Council’s annual The Great Southern Portrait Prize will be exhibited at the Stockyard Gallery in Foster; and Sandy Point will be alive with kite making and a mermaid/ merman trail for kids and the young-at-heart.
Many businesses in Foster are partnering with local artists in the Double Take art installation turning their shop windows into exhibition space for exciting works of art that will be created utilising or depicting elements particular to the hosting trade. “On Saturday 25 March, the main street of Foster will be turned over to musicians, performers and the traditional long lunch,” adds Deb Bray. “It’s be a great opportunity for locals and visitors to join together to make the most of regional food and wine from traders and vendors.
You’ll be delighted by a mix of street entertainment that includes face painting, hula-hoops, ukuleles, the Doggies in Cozzies Pettacular and much more”
A Makers Market will be held at the Fish Creek Hall on Saturday 2 April showcasing high quality, locally-made and unique items.
“This is only some of what is on offer, the program is ever evolving and visiting the festival website is the best way to keep up to date,”
www.promcoastseachangefestival.org
