Arts and culture event Flotsam Festival returns to the Gold Coast for a third consecutive year this May.
The celebration shines a spotlight on the Gold Coast’s rich surf heritage and world-class waves, through photography and film, as well as contributions from and crossovers with musicians. It’ll deliver several new initiatives, welcoming works from a selection of international stars.
The festival was created as a way to foster and spotlight individual artists, creators, and talent alike.
One of the new initiatives for 2024 is Flotsam International Masters Of Surf, featuring more than 30 of the biggest and brightest luminaries of the surf photography genre including Art Brewer, Russell Ord, Brent Bielmann, Chris Burkard, Chris Van Lennep, Jeff Flindt, Damea Dorsey, Christa Funk, Todd Glaser, John Witzig, Corey Wilson, Sean Davey, Jeff Divine, Helio Antonio, Tom Servais, Mike Coots, Rambo Estrada and more.
Plus, surf filmmakers George Greenough, Jack McCoy, Taylor Steele and Andrew Kidman will have work featured in showcase events during the festival.
Naturally, Flotsam will also take to the outdoors – as venues and locations are activated with pop-up exhibitions, workshops and events. Up-and-coming creatives will have no shortage of options for inspiration during the festival.
“Entering year three, the Flotsam line-up is set to deliver one of the largest ocean-inspired arts festivals of its kind,” Flotsam Festival Director, Carolyn Emge says. “The calibre of international talent from across the eras joining us will ensure this year’s exhibitions and film events are truly world class.”
Birren
There are multi-day events like the Flotsam Focal Point Exhibition – an outdoor photo exhibition capturing peak moments by top surf photographers. It's a free arts trail curated by Tim Baker, telling the stories behind the images. And Flotsam Road Trip – a collision of photo and film celebrating the Aussie surf road trip through the ages, as Andrew Kidman and his band The Windy Hills take audiences on a journey with a live music score. There’ll be solo exhibitions too, from artists Shelli Bankier, Ella Tubman, Ozzie Wright, and Jacqueline Scott.
If you’re looking for a day of Flotsam fun, there’s a bunch of single-day highlights sure to capture the energy of the festival in one hit. Why not attend one of the opening parties for the festival itself, or Flotsam Canisters, or Masters Of Surf? There’s also a ten-year anniversary recap of Mick Fanning opus, ‘Missing’, joined by Taylor Steele. . . And another film buff’s paradise will be The George Greenough Movie Experience – packed with six of revered surf filmmaker George Greenough’s short films.
The single-day stuff continues with the Flotsam Media Makers Forum, a showcase and forum with rotating panels of leading creatives of the magazine, podcast, film, book and TV realms. . . And, as one festival door closes, a boardmaking precinct opens, at Flotsam Foamo x Burleigh Boardmakers. Attendees can enjoy live surfboard shaping displays, music, film, and a photo slideshow with surf pioneer Peter Drouyn, who will be sharing stories behind iconic images.
Love Banana
The Flotsam Homegrown wrap party and screening night will explore all the good parts about home, in a creative tsunami of film, photo, and live music from musicians Birren and Love Banana. Finalists will be screened and winners will be crowned, in an event overlooking the superbank at the Kirra Hill Cultural & Community Centre.
Tickets on sale now.
Flotsam Festival is on across the Gold Coast from 1-12 May.
