While the Sunshine Coast is an undisputed haven for surfers and families, it isn’t exactly known as a cultural paradise for its artists... But that’s about to change with Horizon, a multi-faceted event spanning 10 days celebrating arts, music, film and food.
Project officer Di Mills acknowledges the need for the vast, laid-back region to showcase the creativity that exists across the area. “With the Sunshine Coast, we have the Caloundra Music Festival and scattered events, but this is a region-wide festival, so we’re spotlighting different areas of the Coast. The idea of spreading it around was that there was a significant amount of community consultation and, out of that, it was identified that it would be great to create a concentration of arts and culture rather than all of these people doing things on their own.”
Amazingly, despite the enormous amount of work and time that has gone into the festival, many of Horizon’s events are free, thanks to generous grants from council and other organisations. The launch event, 'Horizon Ignite', kicks off in Caloundra where lantern artist Tamara Kirby will be holding a workshop to teach punters how to light up the night. With entertainment provided by Triple J darling Ayla and PocketLove, plus quality food and bars, it all combines to be a part of Di’s vision of the community chilling out together in a funky environment.
“It’s a parade that goes up through the main streets of Caloundra and leads into a Latin street party where the audience can participate. The whole audience gets an opportunity to learn how to dance, so it’s not passive.”
Cirque De La SymphonieLocal drama enthusiast Madeleine Kennedy will premiere her movie, 'Thicker Than Water' in Caloundra on Horizon’s first night and the event will literally roll out the red carpet for its actors including one Pete Murray. Filmgoers can mingle with the director and Pete at Nambour’s Bison Bar, as well as see other films that will play both at the coinciding Caloundra Film Festival, and across the Coast as part of the festival. The next day, in a now reinvented and seriously hip Nambour, artists working out of the old ambulance station will literally be painting the streets in a 3D chalk art block party.
Nambour’s abundance of second-hand clothes and record stores has provided the perfect environment for retailers to unite with artists. “The businesses in Howard and Curry Street are hosting an artist in their shop for the duration of the week. The level of community engagement has been phenomenal.”
Throughout the festival, an inflatable pod lounge will rove around the Coast where people can snap themselves on Instagram and sit and listen as artists tell stories and unleash slam poetry. Art lovers can check out Art Trail, which displays local artists' work that ranges from murals, ceramics and a pop-up gallery at the Coolum library.
PocketloveAlthough Horizon showcases local artists, there are a couple of well-known acts that will be performing: the ever-quirky Kranksy Sisters and the Umbilical Brothers who will be returning with their popular 'Speedmouse' show. “I think we have a broad range of genres. I’m happy with the diversity in the program. I think it sets the tone for the remainder of the program for the incredible artistic talent on the Coast.”
Other workshops that feature as part of Horizon include basket weaving, an introduction to ballet, and a free children’s eco art fest. In Eumundi, the Deadly Marketplace Feast and Film event will offer quality bush tucker and a movie while celebrating Indigenous culture.
The finale of Horizon may be the end of the 2016 event, but Di hopes Horizon’s success will mean it won’t be a one-off thing. “'Dawn Awakening' is a cross-cultural collaboration between our First Nations people and the public. 40 local school children from Coolum are making natural fibre canoes that they are going to be floating in to Stumers Creek. A choir will accompany the Gubbi Gubbi Dance Troupe. 'Dawn Awakening' is about continuing to carry the spirit of Horizon and, although it’s our finale, we look forward to years to come.”
