A Wairarapa Arts Festival

Plans are afoot for the region to its own Arts Festival.

The 10 day festival, proposed to be held from October 18 – 27, 2013, will see the region’s woolsheds, wineries, historic homesteads, galleries, theatres and streets come alive with colourful parades, street theatre, dance, exhibitions, workshops, music, theatre and film.

  Wairarapa Arts Festival Trust Chairman James Smallwood says the inaugural arts festival will have the theme “Flight of the Imagination” and is something new for the region. He says it is being developed by locals to help profile both local, national and international performers and artists.

“The Wairarapa Arts Festival will bring performances and art to the rural doorsteps of resident’s right across the region,” he says. “It will be an invitation to enhance our day to day lives and attend a variety of inspiring, thought provoking and professional performances.”

  Mr. Smallwood says the Festival will be a cultural and artistic extravaganza encompassing a wide variety of mediums. He says it will be accessible to communities living in the Wairarapa thanks to a touring schools programme, free community events and workshops suitable for all ages, backgrounds and cultures.

Artistic Director Heidi Holbrook says she is looking forward to bringing the community together to provide extraordinary opportunities for local involvement through creative workshops.

“I want to encourage and highlight all the wonderful artists living and working here as well as inspiring them through opportunities to collaborate with other national and international artists whilst simultaneously putting on a fantastic festival for the whole community to enjoy,” she says.

  She is also looking to feature newly commissioned works from leading local artists and provide opportunities for local people to participate in a theatrical public performance.

The Trust has asked the South Wairarapa Council for funding towards the festival to the tune of $10,000 a year – for the next ten years. The Masterton and Carterton Councils have each been asked for $20,000 a year.