ARTfest 2009 - Looking Back

Despite a wet and windy week the response to events was fabulous, especially the indoor ones.

The Opening events (Youth Lantern Parade, Fire demonstration by Circus 35 South and Pamoja Drummers) were rescheduled and wonderfully received as part of the Cinema by the Harbour event on Saturday evening.

An almost perfect morning on Sunday at Ulladulla Harbour for Art 'n' About meant that Artfest 09 was ArtFEst 09farewelled in fitting style - musicians, artists, dancers and culture lovers alike, congregated for the spectacular festival finale.

In between, close to 70 events attracted both locals and visitors. Events included exhibition launches, the Escape Arts Film Festival, Milton Gallery Walk, Literary lunches, readings, demonstrations, workshops, the Milton Music Fest and performances at Milton Theatre, Sculpture in the Forest, Glorious MUDsingers plus several other creative highlights - there's too many to mention everyone, so thank you to ALL.

One fabulous night was held at Milton Theatre on Thursday with the Artfest Awards Presentation and Slide Night. Here we witnessed a continuous show of picture highlights from the festival, readings by winners of the literary prizes and presentation of the winners from all the prizes held in conjunction with the 2009 festival.

Winners of the youth book reviews through Angus & Robertson

Matthew Rafidi, Zoe Peterson, Poppy Tay, Emma Rafidi, Darcy Tay, Tiarn Binder, Alice Gates, Ashlea Collins, Anneliese Cross, Georgia Frank, Jasmine Caltabiano, Jade March.

SOAP - Shoalhaven Open Art Prize: A themed competition for visual artists over 18yrs in any media. 2009 Theme: Community.

8x8 Canvas Prize: All entries are on an 8x8" canvas. Open to any media so long as it can be attached to the canvas extending beyond the sides. 2009 Theme: Community.

Escape ARTfest Youth Art Prize: Visual art competition for ages 5-18, open to any media. 2009 Theme: Community.

Angus & Robertson Short Story Prize: Entrants submit original short stories based on a theme in either the open or youth sections. Max word limits apply in both categories. 2009 Theme: Community.

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Festival A Real Celebration

Milton Ulladulla Times

Story: Hamish Richardson

30 September 2009

If Ben Hur had been an artist, Escape artFEST would have been the backdrop for the movie.

It is simply huge - artFEST, that is. Beginning this Friday (October 2), it is 10 days of relentless activity celebrating and recognising the arts and artists in our community.

Over the past few years the festival has become a galvanising force for locals, from school students to seniors - engaging painters, poets, drummers, dancers, circus performers, politicians, singers, sculptors, buskers and basket weavers - featuring the famous and the first-timers and all manner of creative souls in between.

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