Media Release

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Featuring the Fairfax Festival Gala, Swan Hill's Got Talent, the Australian Poetry Slam heat, Arts Trail and Market, Living Books, community celebrations and much more – the 2009 Go North Arts Festival is not to be missed.

Getting underway on Friday, 23 October 2009 with Market Day in the Swan Hill shopping precinct, the festival - which runs until the Sunday, 1 November 2009 - promises a diverse range of culture and events with something for everyone.

“This year's festival is certainly packed with many events and has some great highlights including the community celebration at Riverside Park on the 24 October, which, together with our population's multicultural community, will celebrate with food and music,” Festival committee member Camille Cullinan said.

“The day will also see the official opening of the festival, including the presentation of the Cultural Achievement Awards.”

Pondi: The Creation of the Murray, an Aboriginal Dreaming play, will also be part of Saturday's festivities, with local artists, puppeteers and a wide range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members coming together to bring the story to life using music, puppetry, theatre, visual arts and dance.

“This year's Regional Art Trail, a flagship event for the 2008 Go North celebrations, will also return this year on the 25 October and will enable art lovers and tourists to experience artists working in their studios, local wineries and arts businesses and will cover four general locations - Tooleybuc, Speewa, Swan Hill and Lake Boga,” Ms Cullinan said.

Other events for the festival include:

• A workshop for children by author Lee Fox on Saturday, 24 October at the Library.

• Living Books at the Library on the 26 October.

• The Nationwide Poetry Slam heat (one of six across Victoria) at the Swan Hill Town Hall on Wednesday, 28 October.

• The 2009 Fairfax Festival Gala at the Swan Hill Town Hall on Thursday, 29 October.

• An illustration workshop for children by illustrator Craig Smith on Saturday, 31 October.

• A Gala Ball at the Lake Boga Community Centre on the 31 October.

• Swan Hill's Got Talent! – Finals, Friday 30 October (auditions taking place on Saturday, 25 October).

• An Artists' Market on the 1 November in the Art Gallery precinct with a range of local artwork and produce available for sale.

“Go North is all about celebrating our region's talent and culture as a community, as well as with people from across Victoria and interstate,” Ms Cullinan said.

“The vibrancy and diversity of Swan Hill's creative arts scene conveys the spirit of the region, and with this year's program offering so many activities people are sure to go north more often.”

The Go North Arts Festival is supported by Swan Hill Rural City Council and Regional Arts Victoria.

For more information regarding the Go North Arts Festival, please visit www.gonorthartsfestival.info or contact the Swan Hill Region Information Centre on 5032 3033 or 1800 625 373.