Plunge Art & Culture Festival program released

COVID-19 STATEMENT 18 MARCH 2020

Clarence Valley Council is working with the plunge Art & Culture Festival event hosts to ensure community safety is a priority.  Some events have been cancelled or postponed and at this stage smaller workshops will be going ahead, this may change and the situation is being monitored daily.  People should check social media or contact the event organisers for up to date information.  All event hosts have been provided with information on ensuring safe spaces for people to engage in art and culture activities, in some cases this means workshop capacity has been reduced.  Most exhibitions and galleries are open.  An announcement regarding the plunge festival opening will be made on Friday and the Grafton Regional Gallery will continue to assess public programs and make announcements as required.

 

Events postponed:

Fay Boyd’s Fine Art School (to October)

City of Grafton Eisteddfod (tba)

Festival of the Bike (tba)

Harmony Day (tba)

Strassman:  The Chocolate Die (tba)

Events cancelled:

Glenreagh Cedar and Steam Exhibition

Peter McGrath art at home

Clarence Valley Orchestra Musical Feast at the Cathedral

Eye see, I see exhibition at Cowper Gallery

 

PROGRAM

The program for the annual Clarence Valley Plunge Arts & Culture Festival was released last week featuring more than 160 events including cultural experiences, music, dance and theatre performances, exhibitions, launches and workshops. This festival created by the community for the community is a way for people to showcase their work, talents and encourage participation and build ongoing relationships. Now in its 7th year, the Plunge Arts & Culture Festival continues to support creative businesses and organisations in the Clarence Valley.

“The best results are when groups pitch in to come up with projects together” said Sarah Nash, festival co-ordinator. “It’s a beautiful thing to see relationships between creatives develop year after year and ideas turn into sustainable ongoing projects. Also to see artists develop their skills and business and take their practice to the next level. We’re looking forward to 2020, especially after the terrible fire events of late 2019, and are looking forward to promoting the healing and regenerating power that the creative arts can offer to our communities in their efforts to rebuild.”

The launch of the month-long plunge Arts & Culture Festival will be held at Ferry Park Gallery in Maclean on Friday 27 March and will feature the opening of the annual 8×8 small works exhibition hosted by the Lower Clarence Arts & Crafts Association.  The festival will be opened by Mayor, Jim Simmons who said “after the events of 2019 there isn’t a better time to acknowledge the healing power of the creative arts.”