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Month of art launched with music and film

‘Come and Play All of May’; a creative program involving month long workshops, artist residencies, exhibitions, music and theatre.

By news@gippsland - 4th May 2016 - Back to News

People gathered to celebrate ‘Come and Play All of May’; a creative program involving month long workshops, artist residencies, exhibitions, music and theatre. Guest were greeted with the music of acoustic duo, Nic and Mad.

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor, Cr Jordan Crugnale, launched the festival and encouraged everyone to get involved and explore all the wonderful arts Bass Coast has to offer throughout the month of May.

"In it seventh year, the celebration highlights the whole of Gippsland, but also Bass Coast artists, orgnaisations and activities," Cr Crugnale said.

A"There is nothing more valuable to community outside of food, warmth and shelter, basic human rights and survival, I think, than the arts.

"If we had no arts, in its myriad of disciplines, execution and form, or story telling coming down ancestral lines, we would have no idea where we have come from, who we are and what we could imagine to be. We would never grow as a society let alone as a person.

Cr Crugnale said Creative Gippsland is the six Gippsland councils coming together to promote inspirational and exciting artists, events, exhibits, festivals and productions and set this all against an ancient, stunning backdrop that makes up the story of the region.

"This year, over 190 activities, demonstrations, workshops, masterclasses, artist talks, residencies, bus tours and more traverse the Gippsland region emanating out of studios, galleries, spaces and the outdoors itself," Cr Crugnale said.

"Thirty-six are right here in Bass Coast Shire and the focus this year is on artist residencies and open studios. I encourage you all to get around this Shire and those neighbouring to get artistic saturation."

The launch was celebrated with a screening by local film maker Rex Kane-Hart’s five minute movie Stanely, which received resounding applause from the audience. Rex said the movie is about the pressures of the final year of school and was filmed using puppets with real people. The musical score was composed by fellow local artist, Kallam Baker.

Particpating artists also presented lightning pitches for their workshops and exhibitions in creative ways, such as through poetry, and a show and tell.

If you’d like to try a new art or explore what’s on offer, pick up a brochure from Council’s Visitor Information Centres, Customer Service Centres and participating venues, or download one from www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/creative.

Photograph caption: (left to right) Grant Van Cuylenberg, Cr Neil Rankine, Mandy Gunn, John Carlson, Ray Daylstrom, Frank Schooneveldt, Andy Kemp, Rex Paul Kane-Hart, Mayor Cr Jordan Crugnale, Maddie Wilson and Nic Huigsloot.

Simone Short