AUGUST -DECEMBER2019

Arts& CultureIN GANNAWARRA

Welcome to the August-December 2019 edition of the Arts and Culture in Gannawarra guide.

I continue to be impressed with the number of arts and culture-related events that are held in the Gannawarra. Many of these events are organised by community groups working together to make these celebrations so exciting.

Gannawarra’s arts signature is that we make each event unique to our sense of place. Towns can be known for hospitality, or creative direction of their events, or the quirky venue or really highlighting local artists. It’s something we should all be proud of: creating our own identity.

We look forward to your contribution to the new Arts and Culture Strategy, which is being developed during the second half of 2019. Please make your voice and ideas known, as this is your opportunity to build the next phase of our arts and culture community.

Kind regards,Cr Lorraine LearmonthMayor,Gannawarra Shire Council

Message from the Mayor

How to get involved

Gannawarra ACE Club Become a Gannawarra Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Club member to join in the fun and support all the amazing shows and events that we have within our region. The Gannawarra ACE Club organise tickets and transport to events if needed. Membership is $10 per year. Phone Cohuna Neighbourhood House on 5456 4666 or email nhcohuna@bigpond.com for more information.

ScreenworksAimed at emerging and established film makers in our region, Screenworks on Tour is coming to Swan Hill and running workshops to enhance skills, knowledge and career opportunities. Date: 2 – 3 December 2019To Book: Register your interest online at https://screenworks.com.au/event/screenworks-on-tour-regional-victoria

Regional Arts VictoriaRegional Arts Victoria’s Creative Arts Facilitators work closely with artists, communities and local government.Kim Bennett works in the Gannawarra region, supporting our community to develop creative ideas, projects and assisting with grant advice. To speak with Kim you can call 0438 920 653 or visit www.facebook.com/RAVSwanHill

Upload your event toCouncil’s online events page.

Go to www.gsc.vic.gov.au

Contact Council’s Arts and Culture Officer,phone 5450 9333

Join the arts email newsletter list byemailing arts@gannawarra.vic.gov.au

and write ‘Subscribe’ in the title.

The Whale’s Tale

Delivered as part of the 2019 Book Week activities, The Whale’s Tale by Born in a Taxi is an environmental anecdote to warm the heart with reflections about the consequence of our actions.

A whale is washed up on a beach and discovered by a child. Is it alive or dead? How did it get there?

Highly interactive, full of comedy and extremely playful, this performance will leave your children wanting to make a difference.

Time: 11.30am and 1.45pmDate: Tuesday 20 August 2019Venue: Cohuna Consolidated School

Time: 10.30am and 12.30pmDate: Wednesday 21 August 2019Venue: Kerang Memorial Hall

Duration: 45 minsPrice: FREESuitable for: All agesBooking: Bookings are made by your child’s school.

Co-Commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne and Windmill Theatre

Picasso and His Dog

Inspired by the true life story of Pablo Picasso and his sausage dog, Lump, Picasso and His Dog celebrates the animals with whom we share our lives with while exploring what it is to be creative and to create.

For anyone who’s ever patted a dog or been moved by an artwork.Picasso and His Dog is a rare show that appeals across ages. Young children sit riveted while the older dog-lovers chuckle at dog antics and art-lovers muse on the life of Picasso. It is a unique blend of puppetry, live performance and art-making as Picasso draws, sculpts, makes collages and paints.

A beautifully crafted work for family audiences, carefully walking the line between delighting young people with puppy/puppetry antics, and providing a sophisticated insight into how an artist can be inspired by the animal muse. It is visually beautiful, intelligent, funny and moving.

Created by Lemony S Puppet Theatre, Picasso and His Dog is about how the animals in our lives can inspire us to be excellent humans (and artists).

Photo: Jeff Busby

Time: 11.30amDate: Wednesday 18 September 2019Venue: Kerang Memorial HallDuration: 60 minsPrice: All tickets $5, 0-4yo FREESuitable for: All agesBooking: www.trybooking.com/YHKP

‘This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the

Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.’

Immerse yourself in theatre these school holidays with comedy and drama improvisation workshops in Cohuna and Kerang!

On offer is stand-up comedy workshops run by award winning Melbourne comic Geraldine Hickey, who has been seen on high profile comedy shows such as The Oxfam Comedy Gala, Upfront: The Queens of Comedy Gala, Tonightly and Comedy Next Gen, as well as appearances on TV and radio.

Following the two days of workshops, the Cohuna Comedy Gala will star Geraldine and Luka Muller and also feature local support acts. Come along and be entertained in what is sure to be a fun-filled night of comedy for all!

Stand Up Comedy Workshops,Cohuna Comedy Gala

Comedy Workshops Monday 23 September 20193pm – 5pmNDCH, KerangSuitable for secondary school aged students

Tuesday 24 September 20192pm – 4pmCohuna Memorial HallSuitable for secondary school aged students

Cohuna Comedy Gala Tuesday 24 September 2019Cohuna Memorial Hall Doors open 6pmSuitable for ages 12+To book, visit www.ndch.org.au/events

Keep up to date on the NDCH –FreeZA facebook page

Drama Improvisation WorkshopsWednesday 25 September 201910.30am – 12.00 noonCohuna Memorial HallSuitable for ages 6 – 12yoPrice: $5.00Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BEHAQ 1.00pm – 3.00pmCohuna Memorial HallSuitable for ages 13+yoPrice: $5.00Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BEHAQ

Drama ImprovisationWorkshopsDelivered by Victoria’s premier improvisation company, Impro Melbourne, these workshops are sure to inspire young creative minds with spontaneous theatre and an entertaining workshop for all ages. The actors and comedians coming to Cohuna these school holidays have been seen in numerous professional productions including Neighbours, Thank God You’re Here, Rockwiz and Prisoner. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to expand your skills, or get an insight into the energetic world of drama improvisation!

ExhibitionsThe Gannawarra Shire region has a range of local artistic groups who bring together members of the community and inspire people from different generations, cultural backgrounds and life experiences.

Golden Rivers ArtistsVenue: Kerang Sports and Entertainment Venue, 25 Victoria St, KerangDetails: Rotating Gallery, changing every 6 weeks and featuring works by the Golden Rivers Artist group.

Cohuna Community Art Gallery Venue: 23 King Edward St, Cohuna Details: open Fridays and Saturdays and shines a light on Cohuna artists.

Sir John Gorton LibraryVenue: cnr Shadforth St and Murray Valley Highway, Kerang

Details: • 18 July – 26 August 2019: Blurry Borders exhibition

• 28 August – 7 October 2019: Senior Golden Rivers Artists exhibition

• 9 October – 18 November 2019: Junior Golden Rivers Artists exhibition

• 20 November – 18 December 2019: Works by Northaven Residents

Below: ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Nyaung Shwe, Shan State, Myanmar. October 2016’Image from Kristan Emerson exhibition Blurry Borders

The SapphiresWritten and Directed by Tony Briggs

The Sapphires is a multiple award-winning musical play coming to an outdoor stage in Quambatook. Four young Aboriginal women from regional Australia who like singing country music, suddenly get the chance to change their tune and their lives.

The Sapphires is a funny, heart-warming, tale inspired by the true story of four Yorta Yorta women who sing classic soul hits against the backdrop of personal change and massive social upheaval during the Vietnam War.

Performed with a live band, frock up in your best 60s outfit to dance and sing along.

Bring your own chair and rug up for this outdoor performance.

“Sheer enjoyment. The Sapphires is a fun show with loads of appeal. (Helen Thomson, The Age)

Time: 7.30pmDate: Thursday 3 October 2019Venue: Quambatook Recreation Reserve, 43 Quambatook-Boort Road, Quambatook Duration: 2hr 20 mins, including intervalPrice: Adults $25, Concession $20Suitable for: Ages 7+Booking: www.trybooking.com/BDHEA, Quambatook Resource Centre and Council Customer Service centres in Kerang and Cohuna

‘This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the

Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.’

Quambatook Community Development Association

Time: 8.30pmDate: Saturday 26 October 2019Venue: Guthrie St, QuambatookDuration: 92 minsPrice: Adults $10, Students/Pensioners $5Rated: MSupporting Event: Pick up your locally made dinner at the cinema or make a weekend of it and stay at the caravan park (0428 857 122) or Quambatook Hotel (5457 1206)Booking: facebook @QuambySiloCinema

The iconic Quambatook Silo Cinema is playing Crackerjack.

An enterprising jokester is a member of a local bowling club purely for the purpose of renting out his car park spaces to nearby workers. When dwindling membership and increasing overheads makes the bowling club a prime candidate for a takeover, it’s all hands on deck to save the club.

Quambatook Community Development Association

Big Cohuna FestivalThe community festival brings together so much of Cohuna’s enterprise, creativity and community spirit. Make it a priority to get your backside Creekside this year.

St Mary’s Primary School productions are always a highlight, this year it’s Jules – A Rock’n’Roll Musical.

More details will be posted on the festival website and available from St Mary’s closer to the date.

Date: 30 and 31 October 2019 Venue: Cohuna Memorial Hall

JulesA Rock’n Roll Musical

Circus OzResidency Finale performanceCircus Oz is in residency at Kerang Primary School, 21 to 25 October 2019.

You are invited to the finale performance, see what the talented students have achieved during the week.

Time: To be confirmedDate: Friday 25 October 2019Venue: Kerang Memorial HallSuitable for: All the community to come and watch the Kerang Primary School students performBooking: Stay in touch with Kerang Primary School for further details

Date: 1 November – 5 November 2019

Booking: Festival Co-ordinator: Tracey Dehne Facebook page: The Big Cohuna Festival Facebook Page: Get Your Backside Creekside Website: www.cohuna.org.au

Photo: PIA JOHNSON Printed by Elliottprint 5450 3565