The organisers of this year’s Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival have launched a series of colourful posters, asking local people to contribute to the October 26-27 event.
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A series of 20 posters have been created by local graphic designer Rosie Johnson, challenging individuals, groups, businesses and others to contribute to the cultural celebration.
‘What are you doing for the festival?’ the posters ask. “Whether you’re a dancer, musician, visual artist, poet, local business, school, government department, non-government organisation, service club, stall holder, volunteer, or “just a local”, you can help make the 2013 Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival the biggest and best festival in the region!”
Rosie Johnson used photos of the inaugural 2011 River Arts Festival, taken by Steve Woodhall to create the colourful designs.
“I’m getting really excited,” Mrs Johnson said.
“The cultural life in Forbes is starting to strengthen and blossom and I would like to support that.”
Mrs Johnson said she plans to enter the art competition “Big is Better”, organised by Mezzanine proprietor Janine Whitfield, and also hopes to set up her own ‘pop up’ art gallery over the festival weekend.
“I’m hoping that the various committees in the region who are organising other cultural events, such as the Jazz Festival, Heritage Festival, Forbes Show, Picnic Races, the biggest barbecue, polo matches and sporting events, can put on their thinking caps to work out how they can be part of the River Arts Festival too,” Mrs Johnson said.
“I can even imagine sheep shearing demonstrations and a sheep counting competition for farmers, a polo exhibition, and why not a speed boat exhibition for all those keen water skiers? I’d encourage everyone to get involved.
“This is the beginning of something special - something that will really help put Forbes on the map.”
Forbes Sports and Recreation Club manager Lyn Ford is also looking forward to the October event, with the club to again host the ‘festival lounge’.
The festival lounge will offer a quieter, more relaxing atmosphere, featuring regional wine tasting, a tapas bar and low-key musical performances.
Ms Ford is also helping coordinate ‘Forbes has talent’, which will aim to find several local performers to be showcased on the festival’s main stage.
Musicians of all genres will be welcome to audition, along with dance troops.
Ms Ford is also seeking expressions of interest from people or businesses to sponsor the festival appearance of Albert’s Jason Owen, who last year finished second on TV talent quest, X-Factor.
Coordinator of the inaugural festival, Merrill Findlay, said sponsors are also needed for the lantern parade, which was one of the highlights of the 2011 cultural gathering.
Ms Findlay said the parade was sure to be a highlight again, along with a number of visual art exhibitions being planned, a national sculpture competition, and the inaugural performance of the new Lachlan Region Community Orchestra.
Ms Findlay said the festival board hope to announce the appointment of a festival director soon.
For more information, visit www.riverartsfestival.org.au. This festival site has been recently redesigned by Forbes digital media artist, Amy Whitfield.
