The Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival is introducing something new this year.
Two local celebrity ambassadors will give talks about their lives and careers and will also be out and about at events.
Renowned sculptor Peter Cole and television personality and author Tonia Todman are this year’s ambassadors.
Cole said he was excited to be a part of the festival.
“It has always represented something in Kyneton. It represented, hopefully, the end of winter!” he said.
“One really interesting thing about Kyneton is the change that’s happened, there’s a huge amount of people here connected to music and the arts.”
As a public artist, Cole has made a significant contribution to the urban landscape and public spaces of Australia receiving the Australian National Trust Heritage Award and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture Award of Merit for Foundation Park, a permanent work at The Rocks, Sydney.
His work is prominent in many public and corporate collections throughout Australia, including Parliament House, Canberra, the National Gallery of Australia, and Brisbane International Airport.
Known as Australia’s queen of craft, Tonia Todman has had extensive involvement throughout her life in publishing and media, is accomplished in all things ‘lifestyle’ and is an advocate for women and ageing well.
She worked on several lifestyle television shows, has published 28 books about craft, cooking and decorating, and spent 10 years at Vogue Australia magazine.
“I’m very honoured to know that the festival committee believes I’m ambassador material!” she said.
“The fact that I’m doing something in the community I love, that involves gardening, is just perfect.”
Cole will be giving a talk at the Mechanics Institute from 2-3pm on Monday September 4 about his career and art.
He and Todman will also be attending a long lunch at the Piper Street Wine Company.
Todman will give a talk at the Mechanic Institute on Tuesday September 5 from 1-2pm, and will be judging the gardens for the festival.
The festival runs from August 31 to September 10. Details at www.kynetondaffodilandartsfestival.com.au
