A huge crowd packed The Goods Shed on Saturday morning for the launch of the impressive 2023 season line up for the Castlemaine State Festival’s highly anticipated 24th biennial event.
The diverse curation of the very best local and international arts talent and events will bring focus to Castlemaine, spotlighting the arts culture of the region while bringing visitors from across Australia and overseas to experience this renowned family-friendly, fun, and accessible 17-day event which will run from March 24 to April 9, 2023.
The crowd were welcomed to country by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson and then greeted by Castlemaine State Festival board chair Dennis Goldner who gave a brief overview of the event’s incredible history which celebrates 47 years in 2023.
Mr Goldner said the flagship Australian festival was born from the imagination and determination of founder Berek Segan AM OBE and that once the planned Goods Shed redevelopment was compete the Segan name would be given to the new community arts space in honour of the family’s contribution to the long running festival.
Mayor Rosie Annear shared memories of attending the festival as a child, teen, young adult and more recently as a parent and said she was honoured to be representing council in a festival year.
Cr Annear said the council was proud to support the 2023 event with grants, in-kind and office hours support of $100,000 to help make the festival a success.
“Let’s dream big! This may be the best festival yet!” Cr Annear said.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards was also in attendance and spoke about the state government’s long time support of the festival, including the $100,000 commitment towards this year’s festival in the recent election and $6 million for Stage 2 of The Goods Shed redevelopment and the establishment of flexible performing and visual arts spaces.
“I must congratulate Festival Director Glyn Roberts and his team on putting together another incredible program in 2023. I can’t wait to see Castlemaine come alive over the 17 day event,” Ms Edwards said.
Festival Director Glyn Roberts then officially launched the program with an overview of some of the incredible offerings audiences can expect to enjoy at this year’s festival.
Roberts said this year’s engaging musical line-up includes a free opening night performance from Frente under the Festival ‘big top’ on Western Reserve, and also performances by Vika and Linda Bull, The Southern River Band, Jaguar Jonze, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Castlemaine’s own Kian, Killing Heidi’s Ella Hooper and Jem Cassar-Daley, The Gesualdo Six, Electric Fields, Dallas Woods and Alter Boy just to name a few.
There will also be various after parties and collaborations with the Castlemaine Fringe Festival.
There will also be delicate music from Bendigo Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, the Australian National Academy of Music; an intimate Salon Series at Buda and the chance to celebrate the music of country artist Dolly Parton.
Mr Roberts said the beloved Dialogues program also returns with thought-provoking discourse from some of the country’s finest thinkers.
Theatre and performance highlights will include Gravity and Other Myths – A Simple Space, Maloya Moshpit, Night Walks with Teenagers, Dirty Laundry, Brat Kids Carnival, I Am Woman, 27 Club: The Music that Never Died, Macbeth and many more.
Visual arts will be represented with exhibitions including For the Love of Song: David Frazer; David Rosetzky: Air to Atmosphere; Damon Kowarsky; Essays on Earth – Brodie Ellis in collaboration with John Wolseley & Paul Kane: On Land; more than 70 Open Studios and a curated Open Studios Group exhibition at the Market Building.
Pick up your free program in today’s Express. Tickets are now live visit: castlemainefestival.com.au. Follow the Festival on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
