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From our Festival Director
Hi everyone,
Happy holiday season to you and your loved ones. Well, 2021 was a weird one but we made it (almost) and with a 2021 edition in the can and many other irons in the fire, it’s been a job well done. All the staff here at CSF HQ will be taking a hard-earned rest. But what’s in store for 2022? Well, I am certainly glad you asked.
Heralding in recovery, rebirth, and great art, we have decided to make the Dialogues program from the biennial festival a new annual festival. Scheduled over the 7th – 11th of April, so save the date in your diaries. Expect talks, keynotes, panels, and some intimate meals with your favourite writers, thinkers, and power brokers from around Australia. Taking place at the Goods Shed, see this is as us pushing the boat out on delivering amazing experiences all year round with the Goods Shed as the base.
But I am getting ahead of myself, 2021 isn’t even over yet I am sure you are all thinking right now, what can I get my favourite festival for Christmas? I thought this might be the case, so I have put together some ideas. Well, one idea. This holiday season give the gift that keeps on giving and join up our amazing patrons' program; A real beaut community of supporters who through ongoing donations ensure this festival is the best it can be. With 2022 lining up to be a big year and the next CSF in early 2023 we need your support today. So join up, more details on how are below.
Thanks again for joining us for all the support throughout 2021, see you all in what will be a very busy 2022. Speak again soon.
All the best,
Glyn Roberts
Image: Castlemaine State Festival team Photo: Penny Ryan Photography
We are excited to announce the six local artists that are the recipients of our new FURTHER Residency Program, an initiative aimed at artists with projects at mid-to-late-stage creative development level to help them reach the next phase of their creative journey.
Central Victorian artists, Brodie Murray, Eliza Hull, Brodie Ellis, Lucas Maddock, Alex Kelly and Punctum, will each receive up to $15,000 cash support, along with in-house support and feedback opportunities to develop and create their performing, projection or visual arts productions. Along with in-house support and feedback opportunities, recipients also receive free access to the newly renovated space, Goods Shed Arts facilities during their residency period.
Following a callout in September announcing the new residency, CSF was on the hunt for artists that celebrate regional Victoria’s diverse and forward-thinking community and we were rewarded with a large number of impressive initiatives. The program is in response to the
conditions produced by the pandemic, and an opportunity to engage artists to create great art, support local creatives, and activate the Festival’s newly renovated space, Goods Shed Arts.
It is an honour to be able to support these incredible regional artists and their exciting projects so their creations to be completed so they may be experienced and enjoyed by all. Further Residencies will run throughout 2022 at Goods Shed Arts, 21 Kennedy Street, Castlemaine. Visit the link below for all the details and keep an eye on our socials to find out more about the artists and their projects.
Photo:Darius Devas
Our loved dialogues program, a regular feature of our main Festival, will now be held every year. 2022’s program is curated by the wonderful Kristin Gill at Northern Books and we can’t wait to share it with you from the 7th-11th of April.
Expect talks, keynote speeches, panels, debates and even some intimate dining experiences with some of Australia and the world's most respected writers, politicians and activists exploring the notion of ‘change’ in a program set to both inform and entertain us.
Image: Dialogues Stage CSF2021 Photo:Julie Millowick
Join Creative Learning Producer Kate Stones and a host of local media professionals for two amazing days of discovery about all things digital media.
The Youth Media Summer School is for young people aged 12-25 and will prepare participants to work on upcoming CSF initiatives for 2022, with opportunities to host discussions, introduce guests, and work behind the scenes. Learn interview techniques, tips for writing commentary, get hands-on experience with digital media equipment and create content that will be used to promote the Team and the Festival.
Youth Media School will run on Mon 24 and Tue 25 Jan, 10-3pm at the Goods Shed. To find out more or register visit the link below.
BECOME A FESTIVAL PATRON
As 2021 comes to a close and you reflect on this year’s festival, we would like to invite you to join the CSF Patrons program and gain access to benefits such as priority bookings for festival events and meet the artist events, and a year-round calendar of parties and catch-ups that provide insight and delight to the festival aficionado.
Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in ensuring the Festival’s sustainability, enabling us to deliver the highest artistic experiences possible. Becoming a CSF Patron offers unique opportunities for you to have a deeper experience with the artistic riches of the Festival all year round.
The Castlemaine State Festival applauds our Patrons' as our most passionate supporters. Your gifts enable us to deliver the unique, inspiring and thought-provoking festival we love so dearly and help us in providing a great art experience for all.
You can join this incredible group for as little as $50 a year by following the link below, it’s that simple. We hope you decide to take the plunge and look forward to seeing you at a Patrons' event in 2022.
Photo: Diana Domonkos
FESTIVAL PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Sutton Grange Winery
The gates are back open for Cellar Door tastings on Sundays with our friends at Sutton Grange. Be one of the first to taste their latest 2021 Fairbank releases.
Book a seated tasting where you will experience nine wines across our Fairbank and Sutton Grange range. Wine tastings are $10 per person pre-paid.
Reservations are recommended so click below to make a booking. Expect about an 45mins of tasting and chatting.
The Taproom - Shedshaker Brewing
The team at The Taproom are huge supporters of arts and the official beer partner of the Festival with their Shedshaker brews. Head on down to the Mill Precinct over summer to sample their delicious craft beer brewed on-site and check out one of their upcoming gigs.
Dec 17 – Rebecca Barnard Saturday Dec 18 - bruiser & thistleswitch Sunday, Jan 9 - Jane Cameron
Jan 15 - Dalicados
Jan 22 - aplegate
Northern Books - Books @ The Brewery
Award-winning author, Christian White will be in conversation on Wednesday 15th of December, with the host of The Quiet Carriage, Paul Laverty
Additionally, they'll be celebrating with door prizes and a little bit of Christmas fun including some literary quiz questions to keep you on your toes throughout the evening.
So, if you've not yet booked, there are still places available. Secure your spot via the link below.
Long Paddock Cheese - Yes Please
Long Paddock Cheese are our latest festival sponsors and lucky for us they have Christmas boxes available at their store and cheese making school at The Mill Castlemaine.
Two different sizes (large $70, small $40) showcasing the very best cheeses in the Long Paddock range, drop their shop or get in touch with them via the link below to place your order and arrange a pick-up time
What's on in the Region
John Loane, The Shallow, The Deep (existential dichotomies), 2020, etching, foul bite, printmaking inks, shellac, on rag paper bonded to canvas.
Castlemaine Art Museum – 2021 Experimental Print Prize - 20 Nov-28 Feb
The 2021 Experimental Print Prize exhibition is now showing at Castlemaine Art Museum. The Experimental Print Prize recognises that experimentation and risk are essential to art. Entries were invited from artists using innovative approaches to traditional printmaking processes and resident in Victoria.
Image: Arts Open
Arts Open 2022 – March 12/13/14 & 19/20
Visual artists from all corners of Mount Alexander Shire will throw open their studio doors for Arts Open 2022. Members of the public have a unique opportunity to meet the artists our region is renowned for, witness the spaces in which work is created, gain insights into the creative process and purchase work directly from the artists.
Hilda Rix Nicholas, In the bush (detail) 1927, oil on canvas. The Gift of Grace and Alec Craig of Bendigo, Victoria, 2009
Bendigo Art Gallery - Exhibitions
Bendigo Art Gallery Collection: old and new
Modern Australia
Soul Fury
2021 Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize
Image: Newstead Arts Hub
Newstead Arts Hub – Re-Emerge
Newstead is coming together in a wonderful exhibition of artists who have exhibited and had workshops at the Newstead Arts Hub in the past 3 years.It is a celebration of creativity and life re affirming faith in the future and a statement of community after the long disruptions and uncertainties around COVID.
Image: Theatre Royal Castlemaine
ACMI X THEATRE ROYAL PARTNERSHIP
Theatre Royal have partnered up ACMI Cinemas (located at Melbourne's Federation Square) to run a joint program where a selection of ACMI films will make their way to Theatre Royal every month! They will start the program in the New Year and the best part if you become a Loyal Royal you will also be entitled to a free ACMI cinema membership! Sign up below.
Gigs & Festivals
BE FORGOT, a New Year’s Eve party in Castlemaine with bands, DJs, food, drinks and all your friends in the safe outdoor surrounds of Lot 19 Arts Precinct. |
Theatre Royal - slinging piping hot pizza and serving up hot gigs. 18th Dec - Hop it to the Top
Image: Grace Cummings |
Town Folk Festival is a one-day, multi-venue live music festival taking place in Castlemaine on Saturday 12th February 2022. Bringing together a cast of Victoria’s most exciting contemporary ‘folk’ artists, the show will take place across four stages at The Bridge Hotel, Shedshaker Brewery and Boomtown Winery, all just a casual stroll apart from each other in the leafy cultural hub of Castlemaine’s Mill precinct. |
The Castlemaine State Festival acknowledges the Jaara people of the Dja Dja Wurrung are the Custodians of the land and waters on which we live and work. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging. We extend these same sentiments to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations peoples.
By acknowledging Country we demonstrate the value of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoplesʼ ways of knowing and working to continue building positive relationships within local communities. By acknowledging the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia we foster respect and reciprocal relationships in the spirit of reconciliation. CSF recognises that good intentions are not enough and demonstrates that through practical actions, we contribute to reconciliation.
SAVE THE DATE
Castlemaine State Festival will return 24 March - 9 April 2023
