30 October, 2021

Gunning Arts Festival 2021 returns online

 

The Gunning Arts Festival (online again due to the pandemic restrictions that were in place at the time of organising) is under way for 2021.

 

As with last year, there are a wide variety of events, categories and things to see. Here are some highlights to choose from the Festival which started on October 30 this year – all of the events below are freely available online

 

What’s out there?

 

Some spectacular images of local wildlife have been captured on trail cameras in the Gunning Landcare trail camera competition. An online exhibition of the best images is available as part of the 2021 online Gunning Arts Festival. As well as being a fun event, the trail camera competition has a serious side. It is useful for local landholders to be able to identify the native and feral animals on their properties and Gunning Landcare is encouraging people to become familiar with how trail cameras operate. From the amazing images entered into the competition it is clear that many locals are becoming expert camera operators.

 

Story Reading Time

 

Audio recordings of six short stories written by local authors are available as part of the online 2021 Gunning Arts Festival and they are simply beautiful to listen to. The stories were selected from entries to the Festival’s Flashwrite project, in which local writers submitted short stories about their life in our region. Turn off the screen, relax with a cup of tea or some creative activity and enjoy stories of our region read by professional local artists.

 

Creativity Off Leash

 

Southern Tablelands Arts has created a special activity for young people (and old) on how to create a small 8 page book called a Zine. What a fabulous way to unleash your children’s creativity. Watch the video on the Gunning Arts Festival website and be inspired.

 

Art inspired by the Festival Theme “Rejuvenation”.

 

The Picture House Art Prize has attracted artworks from near and far this year. Margarita Georgiadis, from The Picture House Gallery in Gunning said, “Finalists have now been selected and will be available to view as an online exhibition. Art works will also be available to purchase.” You are invited to vote in the People’s Choice Awards and the prize for the People’s Choice artwork is a Derivan Prize Pack of art materials worth $200.

 

Snapwrite Selection

 

A sample of images from the hugely successful SnapWrite Facebook page has been posted on the Festival website for everyone to enjoy  our beautiful landscape and special lifestyle. Browsing these pictures is a great way to remind yourself of how lucky we are to live where we do. How many places can you recognise?

 

The Nail House

 

What is a Nail House? And what trouble can they cause? Local author Greg Baines brings a story of modern China to life in his new novella The Nail House. Greg has recorded readings from the book for the Gunning Arts Festival. The Nail House is a gripping story beautifully read. A great opportunity to remind yourself of how wonderful it is to relax with an audio recording.

 

Music just for us

 

Gyan has produced some gorgeous music videos exclusively for the Festival. Enjoy listening to Gyan and the talented band she has put together for these video recordings.

 

Millicent Armstromng Comes Alive

 

Not many people know that the Gunning region was home to our own playwright, Millicent Armstrong, who lived from 1888-1973. Rehearsed readings of four of Millicent Armstrong’s plays were performed in 2021 at the Picture House Theatre in Gunning as a satellite event of the Gunning Arts Festival. These rehearsed readings of At Dusk, Thomas, Penny Dreadful and the award-winning, Drought by Millicent Armstrong featuring actors Chris Carroll, Heather Keens, Holly Ross and Dianna Nixon are now available on the Gunning Arts Festival website.

 

The 2020 online Gunning Arts Festival was the Upper Lachlan Shire Council Event of the Year for 2020. Once again, the team have transitioned the Festival online because of COVID-19, and they have pulled together an exciting and varied program with lots to see, listen to and do.

 

The Gunning Arts Festival project has received a grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal via its Tackling Tough Times Together program. The Festival is proudly sponsored by Bailey’s Garage, BJCE Australia, Upper Lachlan Foundation, and the Upper Lachlan Shire Council.

 

To see all the wonderful events of the online Gunning Arts Festival 

 

Visit: https://www.gunningartsfestival.com/festival-2021/(link is external) anytime from October 30 onwards