The Bermagui Create and Make Crew will create mini-Vivid style events in the Bega Valley starting with the launch of the Festival of Open Minds. Photo: Supplied.
The opening night of the Festival of Open Minds will be a spectacular light and sound show featuring creations by local youth.
Bega Valley Shire Library Service is part of this creative endeavour that comes with a new opportunity for young people aged between 16-25 years, who are looking to gain hands-on digital media experience.
The Bermagui Create and Make Crew will lead and inspire three interactive, audio-visual public events to be held throughout the Shire to showcase the skills of the participants, the Festival of Open Minds being one of the events.
The library’s Programs and Partnerships Officer, Scott Baker, says the Create and Make Crew is a new concept initiated by Bega Valley Shire Council and funded through a grant from NSW Family and Community Services.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for youth to learn a range of digital skills in sound, lighting, events management and so much more,” Scott says.
The program aims to equip participants with skills and training opportunities by accessing the expertise of artistic mentors in fields such as media, photography, performance, installation, sound and music. Participants will have access to a range of creative technologies based at Bermagui Library.
In addition, participants will receive a Statement of Attainment for accredited units delivered by TAFE NSW that will give them a kick start in any future vocational courses.
“It’s possible that some participants may be able to gain skills to establish their own creative business,” Scott hopes.
Louise Morris at Tanja Church. Photo: Lisa Herbert.
Louise Morris, a new creative force in the region, will coordinate the project. Louise comes to this having been a lecturer in arts and performance at Deakin University in Melbourne, apart from a life long passion for site-specific theatre. Louise and her partner have just launched Navigate Arts out of Tanja Church.
The three major events on the Bermagui Create and Make calendar:
- Festival of Open Minds Launch – Friday, September 13, 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm, Littleton Gardens, Bega. A mini-Vivid style audio-visual event that will involve projection, sound installation and performance.
- Bega Valley Synth Festival – Saturday, October 19, 10.00 am to 10.00 pm, Murrah Hall, Murrah. A musical event showcasing digital music and visuals; as well as workshops, demonstrations and performances from local and interstate artists, producers, retailers and manufacturers.
- Participants’ Own Event – Saturday, December 7, location and time to be decided. Participants will use the skills developed over the course of the project to design, manage and promote their own collaborative artistic event.
The Bermagui Create and Make Crew will meet every Wednesday from July 31, from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at Bermagui Library plus there will be three 3-day workshops in September, October and November to be held in Bega, Murrah Hall and Tilba, respectively.
Participants will need to provide their own transport, however, there will be limited transport options available if needed. Lunch will be provided for all days and workshops.
More information and sign up forms are available from the project’s Facebook page or contact please Scott Baker on 6499 2172.
What a great way to launch the Festival of Open Minds! The whole community is invited to take in this free event on the night of Friday, September 13 in Littleton Gardens.
Aside from mini-Vivid, the festival launch will also feature performances by Aboriginal dancers, and local choirs as well as the opening of ‘South East Interference Volume lll‘ at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery.
A night of local arts and culture followed by our dynamic program of speakers and ideas on September 14 at the Bega Civic Centre.
Local performer Damon Davies whoops it up at the 2018 Festival of Open Minds. Photo: Chris Sheedy.
The theme for Open Minds in 2019 is ‘People With Oomph’ inspired by Bega Valley song man Damon Davis and his song of the same name.
“People with oomph – they’re not lyin down. People with oomph – spread the good life. People with oomph – keep their own style. People with oomph – walk mile after mile,” Damon sings.
The 2019 Festival of Open Minds line up so far includes:
- Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, World Vision;
- Nas Campanella, blind Triple J newsreader;
- Pastor Christie Buckingham, spiritual counselor to executed Bali 9 drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran;
- Aly Khalifa, founder of Oceanworks, focused on harvesting plastic waste from our oceans;
- Emma Booth, para-equestrian competitor, represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics;
- Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, comedian, joke writer, grew up in Tathra.
More announcements will be made in the coming weeks, stay in touch via the festival website.
Early bird tickets and lunch options are on sale now via Eventbrite.
Thank you to our Festival partners – Southern Phone, Julie Rutherford Real Estate at Bermagui, Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre, Bega Valley Library Service, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Tathra Beachhouse Apartments, Bega Valley Innovation Hub, North of Eden Gin, and Tilba Real Dairy.
Loading ...
