The full program for the Sunshine Coast’s premier arts festival has been revealed, with a diverse array of music, cabaret, theatre, comedy, family events and more in store.
Staged in stunning locations and unique venues, the 2023 Horizon Festival program is bursting with free and ticketed events for all ages and interests.
The festival salutes the vibrancy of the Coast, with artists, their stories and the community at the heart of this year’s program.
First Nations-led programming once again beats through the heart of the program, celebrating Kabi Kabi and Jinibara artists and makers, who share their incredible cultural experiences.
Festival director Hannah Clissold said this year’s program was designed to offer residents and visitors to the region an abundance of opportunities to engage with premiere works by local artists, as well as nationally and internationally recognised acts.
“There are so many special and unique experiences in this year’s festival, and I hope this year’s program will leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends,” Ms Clissold said.
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Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson extended a special invitation to locals to experience Horizon Festival, describing it as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most anticipated annual events.
“We are proud to present an accessible, inclusive and diverse program this year, with exhibits, performances and events from the coast to our beautiful hinterland,” Cr Jamieson said.
“Across 10 days and nights, the multi-arts festival supports the growing and sustainable arts and cultural ecology of our region.”
The festival’s opening weekend features programming in and around the popular Wonderland Spiegeltent and Festival Hub at Cotton Tree Park, with an array of free events and experiences.
The opening ceremony will be followed by NOISE by Dancenorth, a work of epic proportions featuring the newly formed Horizon drumming band; interactive installations Kabi Kabi Connections and Concrete Collage; and free live music program Live & Local.
Other Wonderland Spiegeltent events include ROUGE, a decadent circus for grown-ups; the all-ages Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure; Dirty Laundry, a cabaret from Briefs Factory; and Conversations with Men, moderated by Clementine Ford; plus the Common People Dance Eisteddfod and Sunshine Coast Comedy Gala.
“The atmosphere at the Festival Hub will be exhilarating and uplifting, and this year we’ve programmed more food, free live music, art experiences and family entertainment to complement the world-class program of shows,” Ms Clissold said.
She said his year would see a wealth of accessible and inclusive experiences as part of the free program for children and families, including a free maker space, a rock concert just for kids and performances by the eye-popping Dr Hubble’s Bubbles and Bees by Polyglot Theatre.
The festival will this year again present programming across the region in a range of stunning locations including a unique live music event featuring an intimate sunset performance by Lior in the Glass House Mountains, From Rations to Wages to Treaty at Coolum and Blak Social Party at Solbar in Maroochydore.
Visual art lovers can experience six diverse exhibitions including the leading Sunshine Coast Art Prize; You Are Neither Here Nor There by Queensland artist Sam Cranstoun; collaborative photo exhibition Your Local Photo Club; WARP by Jack MacRae; a group exhibition at the historic Old Ambulance Station Nambour; and moving Jinibara exhibition Njumga Djum Yo:ran Ba Djuwan in Maleny.
The closing weekend of the festival unfolds with the world premiere of Tallo-Billa (‘humpback whale’ in Kabi Kabi language), an on-water experience on Sunreef’s Whale One; internationally acclaimed theatre work Yes Yes Yes, Living Waters: A Short Film Event in Maleny; workshops and performances by Let’s Organise Your Leisure; the all-ages and family-friendly Sunshine Sounds Festival in Eumundi; and the festival’s signature ceremony Dawn Awakening at Stumers Creek – a moving multi-arts celebration of remembrance, dreaming and ritual.
Horizon Festival runs from August 25 to September 3. For program information, bookings and updates, visit horizonfestival.com.au and follow @horizonartfest on social media.
Horizon Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
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