Celebrating Tasmania and its seasonal bounty

 

Tasmania is renowned for hosting several outstanding festivals.

Events like Taste of Summer, Festivale and Dark Mofo are all major drawcards.

Less commercial and more connected, ECHO is the East Coast Harvest Odyssey festival, a smaller. more focussed "festival of the senses" that will run from March 13-15 in 2026.

The brainchild of singer and gin-brand owner Ange Boxall, ECHO has grown from small beginnings in 2019 into an event that Boxall describes as being "all about connection".

 


The event launch was held today in Hobart and full details are now available at echofestival.com.au.

ECHO is a festival of storytelling with close connections to First Nations culture, but also indigenous food experiences, hands-on adventures and music.

There is also plenty of wine, with several local producers involved - Spring Vale, Gala Estate, Mayfield Estate and Craigie Knowe among them - as well as Boxall's Spirited Gin brand.

From bush foods and medicine to morning yoga and drinks masterclasses, ECHO showcases live music, art, culture, storytelling and knowledge-sharing. It is a celebration both of harvest and the laid-back East Coast lifestyle.

"Our theme, Layers: Woven in Time, celebrates the people, stories and landscapes that give the East Coast its unique rhythm," says Boxall (below, at the launch).

 

"This year’s early program release features coastal storytelling with surf legend Dustin Hollick, woodworking using rare Hydrowood timbers, a cultural creative space with palawa creative Melissa West, blacksmithing in a historic forge and more.

"The music line-up brings together a powerful mix of emerging voices and established artists from Tasmania and beyond. Across intimate stages and open coastal spaces, musicians will share original sounds rooted in place, story and community. Expect soaring vocals, rhythmic collaborations and atmospheric performances that echo the landscape itself."

The much-loved Native Bounty Feast will also return as the key element of the opening evening.

ECHO, held in Swansea. is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

See https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/90c6baf5-d569-408a-bc77-91650ed7ff7b

Dark Mofo returns to brighten up Tasmania's winter

Tasmania's Dark Mofo mid-winter solstice festival,will return in 2026 from Thursday, June 11-Monday, June 22.

Alongside large-scale public art installations, live performances and musical acts, Dark Mofo 2026 will include familiar rituals: Winter Feast, Night Mass, the Ogoh-Ogoh burning and the Nude Solstice Swim as the sun rises after the longest night of the year.

While the full festival program will be announced next year, organisers have revealed that a strictly limited first release of tickets to Night Mass - Dark Mofo's late-night takeover of Nipaluna/Hobart CBD - will go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, November 5, to those who have pre-registered via the Dark Mofo website.

"Mark your calendars," urged Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite. "It’s exciting to share Dark Mofo’s 2026 dates today as we take our first steps towards next year’s festival where we’ll once again bathe the streets in red, feast by firelight and indulge in a smorgasbord of art, music and performance.

"With plenty of surprises in store, revellers have an opportunity this week to access an early release of tickets to Night Mass and get a head start on planning their winter debauchery."

Following a one-year hiatus, the return of Dark Mofo in 2025 attracted over 50,000 interstate and overseas visitors to Tasmania and delivered over $67 million in economic benefit to the state.

"We’re so grateful for the continued support from David Walsh, and that of the Tasmanian Government, not to mention Tasmanian businesses, residents and visitors - all of whom enable us to continue celebrating the dark," Twite says.

Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said: "Dark Mofo is an iconic Tasmanian event, which drives visitation to the state during the off season and one that is recognised as a world-class winter festival. The Tasmanian Government is a proud supporter of this event.

‘Dark Mofo has something for everyone and we know how important it is to our tourism and hospitality sector during the quieter months. Visitors to Tasmanian events stay longer than the average visitor, and stays have grown, now 2.5 nights longer than they were in 2019."

 # Dark Mofo is a project of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, with additional support provided by the City of Hobart.

New festival sets itself some lofty goals

A new festival in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales has set itself some rather lofty goals - with the confident announcement that The Horizontal Festival is set to "transform Australia's festival landscape".

The new festival, which will debut at Centennial Vineyards on October 4-5 is, apparently "positioned to become a major annual highlight on the state’s cultural calendar".

Big boasts. And the press release carries on in similar vein.

"Horizontal Festival is not just another food and wine event. It is an immersive journey, placing the customer experience at its heart by blending the best of NSW’s food, wine, music, and art in creatively curated spaces."

Sounds huge. But what makes it different?

"Festival-goers will enjoy varietal-led wine tastings, exceptional local cuisine, live music performances and art installations - all designed to foster meaningful connections between producers, visitors and industry."

To be honest, it doesn't sound drastically different to plenty of other festivals.

On we go.

"Horizontal Festival reimagines the festival experience by seamlessly merging the energy of a music concert with the discovery and charm of agri-tourism.

"Throughout the festival, guests will enjoy live performances and curated music in every zone, alongside captivating art installations, interactive workshops, and demonstrations by sommeliers, chefs, and artisans - creating a truly immersive, multi-sensory festival experience that invites exploration and engagement at every turn."

Hmm.

Festival creator and founder Amanda Fry, who I have known for some time, says: “Events have evolved beyond what’s on stage or on the plate - people are craving unforgettable, immersive experiences that engage all the senses.

"I designed Horizontal Festival to put the guest at the heart of the action from the moment they enter the event. Every space offers a multi-facetted experience because I want people to walk away having been part of something fresh, new and exciting.

“By blending the very best of NSW’s food, music, wine, and art in creatively curated spaces, we’re setting a new standard for what a festival can be. A festival that truly puts the customer experience first.

“Across all the events I curate, supporting local businesses and artisans is at the centre of everything we do. So Horizontal Festival is a platform to showcase the extraordinary talent and craftsmanship found right here in the Southern Highlands and across New South Wales.

"We want every guest to walk away feeling inspired, engaged, and part of a vibrant community and planning their next trip to meet the makers in their home towns.

“We’re thrilled that Destination NSW is investing in a regional event of this scale. Their support is instrumental in helping us shine a spotlight on the beauty and potential of the Southern Highlands as a backdrop to celebrating all the NSW makers, creators and growers can offer.”

At the heart of the Horizontal Festival experience are a series of distinct, immersive zones - each "thoughtfully curated" to transport guests on a journey of taste, sound, and discovery.

The organisers are certainly setting themselves a very high bar. And giving potential attendees high expectations.

Check out festival information, program highlights, ticket sales, and updates at www.horizontalfestival.com.au.

When to immerse yourself in both wine and art

There are myriad great wine tasting opportunities in the Margaret River region, but man cannot live on wine alone.

Wine lovers might want to time their visit coincide with spring when over 150 artists from Busselton to Augusta will throw open the doors to their creative spaces as part of the 12th annual Margaret River Region Open Studios.

The event will run from September 13 to 28 and offers a once-a-year opportunity to meet artists, explore working studios, and experience art in the raw - all free of charge.

The 2025 line-up includes iconic names like Leon Pericles, Rebecca Cool, Lauren Wilhelm, Lesley Meaney, Caroline Juniper, Nathan Day, Christian Fletcher and Ian Dowling - along with 30 new artists joining the program for the first time.

Visitors can expect a dynamic mix of artistic expression, from traditional Japanese gyotaku (fish printing) and encaustic beeswax painting, to basket weaving, tattoo art, and immersive sculpture installations.

This event is now in its 12th year and chair Jim Davies said it is now one of the most popular events on Western Australia's arts calendar.

“MRROS is such a special event for both artist and visitor, giving everyone the chance to access art and creativity,” he said.

“Art lovers can explore the Margaret River Region via studios in some of our most picturesque and inspiring locations. Studios might be converted barns, sea containers, railway carriages or inside artist’s homes. The variety of art and experiences provided by our artists is phenomenal.

“Visitors can plan a trail of their favourite art mediums such as sculpture, painting, pottery, jewellery or glass; or by location or artistic style."

Image: Artist Leon Pericles in his Margaret River sculpture garden

Woolly thinking: Canberra's very sheepish festival

Australia is home to an estimated 69 million sheep and 35 million breeding ewes - and celebrates both its wool and its lamb industries.

There are also  hundreds of llama and alpaca farms across the country. 

Canberra’s Old Bus Depot Markets, will dedicate two days to showcasing all things woolly at the upcoming two-day Canberra Wool Expo, on the weekend of May 17-18.

“This is the chance for all visitors to the market to see the complete process from raw fibre, to yarn and then to the many fabulous finished wool products at this two-day wool extravaganza,” said Old Bus Depot Markets’ manager Richard Vagi.

 
“Locals and visitors to Canberra can come along to market and enjoy demonstrations including hand-spinning, weaving, crochet and cross-stitch, have a chat with the region’s most talented craftspeople and designers, and get up close to alpacas, llamas and sheep.”

Canberra Wool Expo has a long history at the Markets, with this being the event’s 12th year.

Having moved from a single day event to a two-day expo back in 2017, the event pulls crowds from near and far who come for the pure love of wool and its many uses.

In 2025, the expo will have more wool stallholders than ever before - and from all around Australia.

Wool producers attending will range from locals Black Wattle Yarn from Murrumbateman to Fibre Naturally Woollen Mill from Macclesfield in Victoria, and Kaalund Yarns from Banyo in Queensland.

“Whether you like the comfort of rugging up all cosy and warm in woollen garments in the cooler weather, find it relaxing to knit, crochet or craft with wool, or want to see some more traditional wool practices in action, the Canberra Wool Expo will be a great weekend out,” said Vagi.

“Many craftspeople from Canberra, the surrounding region and interstate come to create, demonstrate with, and sell wool at the Canberra Wool Expo. And families love it because the kids can get up close to llamas, Hephner the alpaca and Andy and Armani, two Black Nose Valais sheep.”

At the Canberra Wool Expo visitors can also try their hand at contributing to a giant crochet with the Knitters Guild NSW (Capital Region Group) as well as browsing and buying hand-felted garments and accessories, designer and farm label knitwear, and woollen yarns including hand spun and hand dyed.

The Expo will be open from 9.30am – 2.30pm each day. For more information, see www.obdm.com.au

A fun festival with a sustainability message

If you like your festivals small and quirky the Tasmania’s ECHO festival should be on your radar.

ECHO, the brainchild of singer and entrepenueur Ange Boxall, combines of activities and experiences in a rural setting on Tasmania's east coast.

The festival, officially launched yesterday, will run from March 14-16 next year, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a celebration of music, local produce, sustainability, creativity, and the natural world.

The festival’s Friday evening signature event: Native Bounty Feast (above) will again showcase Tasmanian produce, this time incorporating elements inspired by the tides.

ECHO Festival is renowned for its hands-on workshops and artisanal demonstrations, and the main day on Saturday will see guests involved with traditional craftsmanship, such as blacksmithing in the on-site 200-year-old forge, where they’ll create unique anchor wall hooks.

Woodworking enthusiasts can craft a boat paddle-shaped spatula from Tasmania’s legendary Huon Pine.

Festivalgoers will also have the chance to explore their creative side at the Writer’s Corner with acclaimed Tasmanian author Robbie Arnott, and dive into the world of bees and pollinators with a special Bee & Honey Workshop hosted by Wild Hives Honey.

Additionally, the festival will feature seaweed activations, highlighting the ecological importance of these coastal organisms.

Throughout the event there will be live music performances and attendees can also enjoy gin, wine, and whisky masterclasses, led by top distillers and producers.

The Trashions on The Field fashion parade, where participants showcase outfits made from recycled materials, will return for another year.

For food lovers, the Farmers Corner will feature a selection of local producers offering fresh Tasmanian products.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.echofestival.com.au.

Images: Dearna Bond

Dark Mofo to return in 2025

Tasmania’s leading cultural and culinary festival, Dark Mofo, will be back in 2025 - bigger than ever.

Many Dark Mofo events were on hiatus in 2024, but organisers of the midwinter solstice festival today announced a full return in 2025 with an ambitious art and music program including Dark Mofo rituals Winter Feast, the Ogoh-Ogoh, Night Mass and the Nude Solstice Swim.

Dark Mofo 2025 will take place in Hobart from Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 15 with the swim making a splash on Saturday June 21.

While the full festival program will be announced next year, organisers have revealed that a limited pre-release of tickets to Night Mass - Dark Mofo’s expansive art and music CBD takeover - will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday November 5 to those who have pre-registered via the Dark Mofo website.

Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite said: "Dark Mofo is back. For our eleventh chapter once more we’ll bathe the city in red and deliver two weeks of inspiring art, music and ritual. Today we’re giving Dark Mofo devotees a chance to access a limited pre-release of tickets to the sprawling behemoth, Night Mass."

Twite added: “Night Mass is a beast, and this year it will evolve once more; worming its way through the city with new spaces, performances and experiences to dance, explore or crawl your way through.”

The full Dark Mofo 2025 program details will be announced early next year. Sign up to the mailing list for updates www.darkmofo.net.au.

* Dark Mofo is a project of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

Slovenia's capital hits the right notes over summer

The delightful Slovenian capital of Ljubljana comes alive with music and dance over summer.

The Ljubljana Festival is the main summer festival in Slovenia and is one of the oldest festivals in Ljubljana. And it runs for over two months.

Lucky for the locals, they get to experience all the fun for two jam-packed months of warm weather, blooming flowers, arts and entertainment.

The traditional opening concert on June 20 features the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra & Big Band and the RTV Slovenia Youth Choir.

 


Every summer the Ljubljana Festival makes an important contribution to the cultural life of Ljubljana - and entertains visitors - with a program covering a wide variety of genres, including ballet, opera and theatrical productions, musicals, chamber and symphony concerts, the International Art Colony, master classes, and children’s and youth workshops.

Highlights include the Ljubljana Festival events on the River Ljubljanica - the river that runs through the centre of the capital.

Among those participating will be the London Symphony Orchestra, the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra, the ADDA Simfònica Alicante, the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Filarmonica della Scala, and soloists including tenors Jonathan Tetelman and Juan Diego Flórez.

Pianists Mikhail Pletnev and Grammy winner César Camargo Mariano, saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito d’Rivera, violinist Vilde Frang, prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, and conductors such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Riccardo Chailly, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, András Keller, Aleksei Kornienko also feature.

Entertainment will be provided by 4,000 artists from more than 40 countries.

The 72nd edition of the Ljubljana Festival will run from June 20 to September 3, when it will end with a gala concert by pianist Martha Argerich.

See https://www.visitljubljana.com/ and https://ljubljanafestival.si/

How to enjoy some of Melbourne's secrets on foot

Melbourne is a city with lots of hidden secrets.

Laneways with impressive graffiti, tiny speakeasys with no signage, arcades offering gourmet treats and ethnic restaurants that fly under the radar. Until they don't.

There is one company that concentrates on showing off Melbourne's lesser-known charms to visitors: the appropriately named Hidden Secrets Tours.

Focussing on laneways and back alleys, this walking tour operator conducts small group walks in the urban centre with a focus on fashion, art, food, wine and urban design.

Guides offer a little history and architecture as guests descend into basements or climb discretely marked stairwells, to find the haunts locals love. 

You can do much of this on your own, of course, but there's lot you will miss, including context. 

The focus is on Melbourne-based businesses, and local design and the good news is that you will not be fleeced in some dodgy store selling expensive tourist tat.

"We take no commissions from any places we visit and ensure an authentic discrete local experience," Hidden Secrets promises. There is even a tour for French speakers on offer.  

Sounds like fun, Another one added to my Melbourne "to do" list. 

See https://hiddensecretstours.com

Image: Winsor Dobbin   

Vivid: Celebrating humanity at a time of peak inhumanity

Vivid Sydney, the southern hemisphere's largest multi-artform festival, has unveiled its program for 2024.

Among the highlights: 40km-long laser beams to be projected from the city's tallest structure, Sydney Tower and 2023 Archibald Prize winner Julia Julia Gutman to transform Sydney Opera House for .Lighting The Sails.

Vivid Fire Kitchen returns in a brand-new space, Budjerah, Mos Def and Air will headline Vivid Music and, bizarrely, there will be an exploration of sex work in Australia's notorious red-light district of Kings Cross.

The run from May 24 to June 15, the festival runs over 23 nights exploring the theme of 'Humanity' through Light, Music, Ideas and Food.

There will be light installations and 3D projections from Circular Quay to The Goods Line; genre-spanning music performances and creative showcases; a Vivid Ideas program and the popular Vivid Food program.

John Graham, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy (hell of a job title John) said: “Vivid Sydney is an important event every year that Sydneysiders and visitors alike have come to love.

"It's not just a light show, it's a celebration of light, music, ideas and food - a program full of rich cultural experiences that resonate with locals and visitors alike.

“Vivid Sydney brings together important parts of Sydney's culture - Light, Music, Ideas and Food. It celebrates what's great and unique about our city, and our state and creates a uniquely Sydney experience. That's why it's been so popular over so many years.

“This year's festival will have a variety of free and cost-effective events on offer to provide many opportunities for people to come together and celebrate."

In 2023 the vent drew over 3.48 million attendees generating more than $206 million in visitor expenditure.

Vivid Sydney festival director Gill Minervini said this year's festival looks at how creativity fuels our interconnected world.

“Humanity is at the core of everything we do [duh], and this year Vivid Sydney is diving deep into what makes us uniquely human,” Minervini said.

“We have curated a diverse program that explores the human spirit, designed to foster connections, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives. Everyone is invited to be part of this global event in the world's most beautiful city to connect, create and celebrate.”

Staged across Sydney, Vivid Sydney festival locations and venues include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, State Library of New South Wales, Walsh Bay, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, University of Technology Sydney, The Goods Line, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Carriageworks.

Tickets are now on sale. For more info see vividsydney.com.

Power play for a drinks icon

Cocktail icon Campari has a new-look bottle inspired by its home town of Milan, the birthplace of the aperitivo boom.

Campari will showcase the new bottle design at the 24th Biennale of Sydney arts exhibition at White Bay Power Station.

 
The new bottle is said to "reflects the sleek, minimalist fashion and contemporary design that Milano is known for - it is a visual homage to the city, combining effortlessness and understated elegance."

Campari will join leading artists for the Biennale, which runs until June 10.

The main exhibition will be serving a range of Campari cocktails including Negroni, Campari Spritz and Campari Soda.

The event will mark the first time White Bay Power Station has been opened to the public in over 100 years.

“Since its creation, the Campari bottle has evolved alongside Milano, continuously drawing inspiration from its resourcefulness and its excitement, traits we feel are deeply bound to the spirit of our brand," says an enthusiastic Paolo Marinoni, marketing director of Campari Australia.

"We wanted to continue to pay homage to Milano through the design of the new Campari bottle and we could not be happier with the story it tells.

“We’re thrilled to showcase the new Campari design at the Biennale of Sydney alongside global artists and offer art enthusiasts a delicious refreshment.”

Campari is available at [select retailers including Dan Murphy’s, BWS, First Choice, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars and selected independent retailers] for $50. For more info visit campariau.com/.

Just shucking: discover Tasmania's festival of the wild and wacky

Fancy working with a blacksmith/artist to create your own oyster shucking tool? 

Or maybe showing off your fashionable clothing design made from found/recycled materials? 

Tasmania's ECHO festival - the brainchild of country artist Ange Boxall - is a celebration of the eclectic. It is described as "guiding guests on a journey of exploration that encompasses all the senses - taste, smell, sight, sound and touch".

The festival returns for another year in 2024, running over the weekend of March 22-24 on the picturesque east coast of the island state.

The 2024 program brings together chefs, winemakers and producers along with artists, musicians, storytellers and thought leaders. It is a boutique 18+ event.

March 22 is dedicated to a Native Bounty Feast dinner (probably sold out by the time you read this), while Saturday 23rd is the main day and evening. Activities start at 10am and music will continue late into the evening.

BYO camping is available for Friday and Saturday nights, while a shuttle bus will also be available to Swansea town centre on Friday evening and throughout Saturday.

Among the highlights: the chance to work with blacksmith/artist Pete Mattila in a 200-year-old forge.

With the 2024 festival theme being oysters, Mattila will use a venue once used to make horseshoes to allow visitors to craft a shucking blade and then brand it with the ECHO stamp.

The wooden handles will be made from beautiful Tasmanian hardwood timber retrieved from the depths of the Pieman River, donated by Hydrowood. 

There will also be the opportunity to make traditional Aboriginal rope made from stringy bark and cutting grass with proud palawa artist and educator, Trish Hodge. 

This can be used to hang your handmade shucker in pride of place in your kitchen. 

Along with gin and wine masterclasses events will also include Sunday morning yoga, and Trashion on the Field.

ECHO patrons can make their own fashions from found objects, unwanted clothing, and pieces of plastic or rope from the local beach areas. This event is billed as a "a riot of absolute rubbish!" 

For tickets and details of the wide range of eclectic experiences see https://events.humanitix.com/echo-festival-2024

Travel magnet: Vilnius lights up for summer

Until this month the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius had not been on my travel radar.

I knew it was a lovely city, but not a lot more.

But the Lithuanians have upped their PR game with some interesting stories abut festivals - including the Vilnius Light Festival, which is being held this weekend,

Residents and visitors have the chance to experience 20 pieces of light art by creators from Lithuania, as well France, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

The sixth annual festival marks Vilnius celebrating its 701st anniversary on January 25.

Here are some of the terrific images they supplied, which I think speak for themselves. I'm hoping for an invite to visit soon (fingers crossed).

# Go Vilnius is the official tourism and business development agency of the City of Vilnius. 

How to get arty in the far south of Tasmania

The Huon Valley is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Tasmania - for many good reasons.

The southernmost local government area in Australia, the Huon has beautiful scenery, myriad cider and wine producers, delightful cafés and eateries showcasing local produce, and artists and artisans aplenty.

Huonville is only a 30-minute drive from Hobart and it the gateway to townships including Franklin, Cygnet, Geeveston and Dover.

If you have been meaning to visit, the weekend of October 28-29 might be a good time.

The Huon Valley Studio Art Trail over those two days will feature artists and makers from throughout the Huon Valley opening up their studios to share their creative talents and artworks.

Over 30 artists and makers will be involved and visitors can start the trail in the hamlet of Crabtree and make their way through Ranelagh, Cygnet, Glen Huon, Geeveston, Waterloo and Dover.

Those involved produce sculpture, woodwork, photography, painting, print-making, drawing, mixed media, public art, furniture, instruments, jewelry, ceramics, metalwork, textiles and more.

Studios along the trail will be open each day from 10am to 4pm.

View the Huon Valley Art Trail brochure here: Huon Valley Studio Art Trail – 2023 brochure

Disclaimer: GOTR is based in Cygnet

Tasmania's latest drawcard is a working artisans studio

The small southern Tasmanian town of Cygnet is known for its many craftspeople, several art galleries and lively café scene.

Now Cygnet has a new attraction for lovers of arts: the The Artisan's Hand creative space in historic Balfour House, which specialises in multi-dimensional arts and crafts.

 


The brainchild of furniture maker Peter Rhodes and partner Kerrie, who have completely restored the lovely space, The Artisan's Hand opens today to give locals and visitors an inside look at creative arts and artists.

Among the featured artists are Peter himself, who will also offer classes in how to make items including wooden tables and stools, ceramicist Freda Bosgra from Raw Ceramics and her husband Aaron, a graphic artist and screen printer, as well as jeweller Emily Duggan.

 


One room has been put aside for pop-up artists doing temporary residencies, including the likes of weavers and wooden spoon carvers.

There will also be regular small group classes in the likes of pottery and weekly art classes conducted by Ruth Lindsell from Ripples Art Farm, who will hold both day and night sessions.

 


The Artisan's Hand will initially be open Thursday to Sunday from 10am until at least 2pm, and sometimes later, and offer the chance to see artists at work and talk to them about their skills.

If you want to follow the artists check out the artists in residence: @bosgray_at_glaziers_bay, @emmirejewellery and @petermarkrhodes_tas

The Artisan's Hand is at 22 Mary St, Cygnet, TAS 7112 - just a stone's throw from where I live.

New Perth festival celebrates indigenous culture

A new festival in Perth (Boorloo) will celebrate Western Australia's Aboriginal culture.

EverNow will run from October 4-9, promising five nights of sound, light and fire.

The event will celebrate during the Noongar season of Kambarang - when an abundance of flowers and colours change the land.

The series of free evening events will be held at locations across Perth - including the Supreme Court Gardens, Government House Gardens and Kings Park (Kaarta Koomba).

Kings Park will host the reimagining of Boorna Waaginy: The Trees Speak, transforming the park with a display of light, sound and projections - telling the stories of Noongar culture and the beauty and biodiversity of the region.

Nearby, the doors to Government House Gardens will also be opened to the public as it is transformed into Fire Gardens, described as "a dreamscape of leaping flames and shadows".

Inspired by conversations with Noongar elders, the fiery wonderland will be set alight by international flame experts Compagnie Carabosse.

The city's Supreme Court Gardens, overlooking the Swan River (Derbal Yerrigan) will play host to Song Circle, a live performance and celebration of Noongar song and dance.

The three events will all be free to attend, with some requiring a ticket to gain entry, and will be held at different times across the five-night festival.

Song Circle: Supreme Court Gardens, October 4-8
Fire Gardens: Government House Gardens, October 5-8
Boorna Waanginy, The Trees Speak: Kings Park, October 6-9

Developed by Perth Festival, and supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, EverNow will run for an initial two years, with the intention for the new homegrown event to become an annual staple on the state's major events calendar.

Find out more at evernow.com.au.

Indigenous food to take a starring role at Sydney Opera House

Indigenous chef Mark Olive is to open a new restaurant at the Sydney Opera House in July.

To be known as Midden by Mark Olive, the eatery will showcase the talents of the Bundjalung man, who will helm the venture.

Olive will create a menu that draws on his Indigenous Australian heritage and heroes a produce-focused menu of native Australian ingredients – from wattle seed and bush honey to saltbush and succulents, the press release says.

Midden by Mark Olive will replace Portside in the western foyers of the Opera House.

Seasonal menus will feature choices like damper bread infused with native herbs served alongside whipped eucalyptus butter and blue gum-smoked barramundi; wallaby shanks braised in bush tomato, and quandong-glazed chicken stuffed with warrigal greens.

Matinee high teas will be served on Wednesdays and weekends.

“Opening a restaurant at the Sydney Opera House on Tubowgule, Gadigal country is a dream come true," says Olive.

"I could not be prouder to follow in the pioneering footsteps of leading Indigenous Australians like Rhoda Roberts, Justine Saunders and Stephen Page, who have brought incredible First Nations storytelling to this place over the past 50 years.

"Of course, the land on which the Opera House stands was a gathering place for ceremony and culture for thousands of years before the building itself was ever conceived and I hope the menu we’ve created will give guests a real taste of that millennia-old history and maybe even inspire some to cook with our vibrant native ingredients at home too.”

Sydney Opera House Chief Customer Officer Jade McKellar said: "We’re excited to welcome celebrated Indigenous Australian chef Mark Olive and Doltone Hospitality Group on board.

"Together, they will deliver an inspiring new dining experience that embraces Australia’s distinct and diverse native produce within one of the most iconic settings in the world.

"Midden by Mark Olive will be integral to the Opera House and all it stands for, and I can’t wait for our visitors and audiences to enjoy this unique food offering that celebrates our First Nations’ heritage.”

Midden will open daily for lunch and dinner plus for the matinee high teas.

For trading hours and bookings visit the Sydney Opera House website.

Image: Yazzen Omar

Let's dance: free performances at Sydney icons

You don't get much for free these days, but from this month until September free performance art will take centre stage with Performances on the Quay, a series of evening programs jointly presented by the Sydney Opera House and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA).

The performances are being supported by the NSW Government’s Culture Up Late initiative.

Using the Opera House and MCA Australia as their stage, five contemporary Australian artists will present artistic interpretations of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the climate crisis, highlighting the spirit of street dance.

“More than ever, the world around us is rich with questions that art can help us make sense of," said Sydney Opera House Director of Programming Fiona Winning..

"These works respond to the physical site and our contemporary world by using movement, music and the spoken word to challenge ideas and spark imaginations. 

"I’m excited to see these innovative Australian artists reimagine the spaces around us in this fantastic collaboration with our neighbours at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia."

Go behind the scenes at world-famous Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world - and a symbol of modern Australia.

Celebrating its 50th year, it is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, the nation’s premier tourism destination and an architectural masterpiece.

It is mark its 50th anniversary with a year-long season of special events and performances and today announced a brand new intimate tour, Hidden House, launching for a limited-run from June to October.

From pulleys to props, scenery to sound-checks, the new tour has been specially curated to open up more of the Opera House to locals and visitors, exploring never-before-seen areas of Australia’s most recognised building.

The tour will journey into back-of-house spaces including the Concert Hall’s world-famous organ - believed to be the largest mechanical action pipe organ in the world – the follow-spot lighting room, which puts a spotlight on world-class talent from Lizzo to The Cure, and the Joan Sutherland Theatre’s backstage lift, which carries up to twenty tonnes of set props for performances by Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet.

Intimate groups of just 10 people will be hosted by two Opera House tour guides, and - for the first time on an Opera House tour - stage and lighting technicians will share anecdotes of what it’s like to work in the landmark.

Following the tour, a leisurely high-tea brunch will be served at Portside restaurant, known for its sweeping harbourside views.

“The Opera House is more than just a piece of beautiful architecture. It is a living stage for culture, creativity and imagination," said Sydney Opera House Chief Customer Officer Jade McKellar. 

"During our milestone 50th anniversary year, we’re opening up our doors in new and exciting ways so that more people can experience the magic of the Opera House. With this brand new tour, we’re drawing the curtain back on the building’s thriving epicentre and the powerful stories that bring our icon to life every day.” 

"The new Hidden House tour complements the Opera House’s quintessential tour which is available in seven different languages, the Mobility Access Tour, the Architectural Tour, Taste of the House, a guided culinary adventure through all of the Opera House’s on-site bars and restaurants, and the Junior Adventure Tour, perfect for little explorers."

More information can be found on the Opera House website.

Images: Ken Leanfore 

Accor and Opera Australia link arias of expertise

Accor, Australia’s largest hotel operator, is broadening its partnerships to link up with Opera Australia.

Accor, which also has stadium sponsorships and links with Hobart's Dark Mofo festival, will become the preferred accommodation partner for Opera Australia throughout its 2023 season.

So unleash all the musical headlines you can think of: high notes, conductors, key moments, right notes, choir authorities, being tuned in. And many more.

“We are delighted to partner with Opera Australia - one of Australia’s most celebrated cultural institutions," says Accor Pacific CEO Sarah Derry.

"We believe that arts are an integral part of our culture, so we’re thrilled to support Opera Australia’s mission to perform some of the greatest music ever written, to as many people as possible.

“Through this partnership, we will provide our guests with unique experiences that showcase the best of Australia’s arts, culture and hospitality."

The partnership will result in a range of special experiences for members of Accor's ALL loyalty group, including backstage tours, VIP tickets, and an even a walk-on role for one of Opera Australia’s upcoming productions.

Opera Australia presents more than 600 performances every year to a combined audience of over half a million people. Some of the highlights of the 2023 season include Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour, Miss Saigon, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle in Brisbane.

Accor has 19 international brands across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, including Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten, Novotel, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget.

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