THE inaugural Flinders Fringe Festival – a three-day creative arts festival to celebrate the diversity of the Mornington Peninsula’s art scene, will be held 17-19 February.
Artistic director Melissa Jackson is one of the instigators of the event, along with a team of artists who aim to showcase local established and emerging artists.
“Following a tough two years for the arts, the festival is set to showcase and support local artisans and performers with a new platform to share their craft,” Jackson said.
Shen said there would be more than 30 events and a mixture of free and ticketed activities for all ages.
Performances and events will be held at different venues in Flinders, including the Flinders Village common, the bowls clubhouse, the golf clubhouse, the Flinders Hotel, Studio @ 74, Everywhen Gallery, Flinders ocean beach and in the historic St John’s Anglican Church and church grounds.
Jackson, who creates artistic millinery pieces, said she was focussed on reigniting arts and culture on the peninsula by providing employment and exposure to artists through a program of events that foster audience engagement.
Some of the highlights of the event will include literary brunches and lunches, an artisan fair, a documentary on the general store, singer songwriter performance, opera and more.
“The Flinders Fringe Festival is set to entertain, captivate, and inspire,” Jackson said.
“The program includes a broad selection of immersive, interactive and educational activities including a four-day community choir workshop, soundscapes, jazz, ocean dancing, opera, artefact-making, giant puppets, cabaret, nature walks, painting, First Nations workshops and more.”
The festival is a not-for-profit enterprise overseen by the Flinders Festival coordination committee. Profits will go to the Mornington Peninsula Foundation to provide music and creative arts programs for children and young people on the peninsula.
The festival opens with Mirror Dance, a collaborative performance event, and concludes with a community sing-along (Viva Voce in the church) and a festival picnic, with a concert stage, featuring a variety of performers and choirs.
For a rundown of the events and artists visit flindersfringe.com.au or Instagram @flinders_fringe
On course for seadragons
COLOURED giant seadragon puppets will feature in the opening performance of the Flinders Fringe Festival at Flinders golf course 8pm Thursday 16 February.
Choreographed by Ian Cuming, the dance tells the life cycle of the weedy seadragon, unfolding in a seagrass meadow and including two giant puppets and the seadragon family.
The dance will be performed by members of the Flinders community on Bunurong Country. Volunteers, including school-aged children, can sign up to participate in the community performance at jotform.com/230178667607868
For more information about the performance and to book free tickets visit: flindersfringe.com.au/events/mirror-dance-weedy-seadragon-mating-dance/
First published in the Western Port News – 15 February 2023
