Horizon Festival proves collaboration is key

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective to perform at opening night of Horizon. Image: supplied

From 25 August, Horizon is set to connect, disrupt and delight through arts, culture and creativity.

The 10-day festival features over 200 events across visual art, film, literature, performance, street art, comedy, music, theatre and new media – all made possible through collaboration with the local, national and international arts community.

‘Horizon Festival is a really great example of collaboration between artists, committees, organisations, funding partners, event partners and the arts community,’ said Jo Jordan, Festival Lead for Horizon.

A program highlight is the Australian premiere opening night featuring William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. This spectacular concert will take place at Kings Beach Amphitheatre, which will be turned into an instrument when 24 harp strings will stretch out and travel almost 100m from the stage over the heads of the audience.

‘It will feel like being inside a giant cello,’ said Jordan.   

‘This event is an extraordinary example of a major collaboration we have been working on,’ added Jordan ‘and will see LA based Close collaborate with local talent including musicians and performers Linsey Pollak (windsynth), Lizzie O’Keefe (vocals) and Louise King, (cello), together with Tjupurru on the didjeribone (an Australian made instrument fusing elements of the didjeridoo and trombone).’ 

Another program highlight is the REMIX Academy Summit featuring an incredible line up of speakers from various creative industries. Thought leaders including Lori Martin, Senior Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Toronto; Marina Guo, Founder and president, Huashan Multiversity and Rotating Chair, China Innovation Service Alliance for Culture & Technology; and Peter Tullin, Co-founder, CultureLabel.com and REMIX Summits will tackle the big ideas shaping the future of the creative industries and the creative economy.

The REMIX Summit is supported by USC, Sun Central, the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance and Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast and for Janine Symons, Unit Coordinator, Creative Arts & Events at Sunshine Coast Council, this proves just how committed businesses in the region are to the creative community and integrating it into the broader cultural fabric.

‘The most exciting aspect of Horizon Festival is how it is a leading cultural development vehicle for the region,’ she said.

The arts and culture scene on the Sunshine Coast is burgeoning, Symons added. ‘The local government has just put an arts advisory board together with talented individuals and are also developing a 20-year arts plan under the direction of the board,’ she said.  

Sunshine Coast Council has also changed their vision statement from ’Australia’s most sustainable region; vibrant green and diverse,’ to ‘Australia’s most sustainable region; healthy, smart and creative,’ signifying the value of arts and culture to the community.

As Symons explained, such creativity and culture has always been inherent to the region, but Sunshine Coast is seeing a coming of age. ‘It’s a case of lifecycle and maturity and getting those runs on the board – the airport, the solar farm, a new CBD is coming online, it is fantastic.’

With Horizon Festival taking the lead, it’s clear the Sunshine Coast is the place to be. ‘We are so aware of the need to have creativity, arts and culture to create that lifestyle where people want to come and live,’ concluded Symons.

The growing interest in the festival is clear in this, its second year, with expressions of interest from artists wishing to take part growing from just 15 in 2016 to over 70 in 2017.

‘There is an opportunity for the festival to continue to develop and grow and be a reflection of the Sunshine Coast arts community,’ said Jordan.

Reflecting the diverse community is at the heart of our collaboration focus. ‘Our model is quite unique – we not only produce our own events but we also encourage, assist and connect others to produce theirs,’ said Jordan.

‘This is an exciting time for arts on the Sunshine Coast as council will continue to share the vision and development of Horizon with the arts community.’

Horizon Festival of Arts & Culture
25 August – 3 September 2017
Sunshine Coast

Program: www.horizonfestival.com.au

REMIX Academy Summit Sunshine Coast
Friday, September 1, 8am-6pm
USC Innovation Centre
Tickets: www.remixsummits.com/sunshine-coast