Farifax Festival

ABOUT

Festival Aims

The Fairfax Festival has three main aims, in line with the philosophies of theatre making that were important to George Fairfax.

  • To encourage young people to be creative, imaginative, inventive, adventurous, collaborative and skilful in the creation of original devised or scripted short theatre performance.
  • To develop theatre skills and the appreciation of the creative arts amongst young people.
  • To engage young people in the festival spirit, and to encourage the mutual appreciation and positive regard of each other’s work.

The Festival achieves these aims by:

  • Inviting regional secondary schools and youth groups to make short theatre performances and to present them as part of the festival programme
  • Encouraging students, young people, teachers, mentors, parents, friends and other community members to be part of the audience for performances by students from other schools as well as performances by their own school
  • Engaging experienced theatre industry professionals and arts educators to participate in the Festival Feedback Panel
  • Acknowledging the achievements of young people in the creation of their work

2011 Fairfax Festival – 15 years, 15 groups

The committee is marking this momentous occasion by introducing five new innovations which will not only increase the profile of the Festival itself but also Youth Arts and Arts in Victoria.

  1. The Festival will now run for four days (Tues 25th – Fri 28th October) culminating with a gala performance in the Swan Hill Town Hall PACC leading directly into the Go North Arts Festival weekend of celebrations.
  2. For the first time in its history the Festival will not only be open to schools but youth groups from throughout regional and metropolitan Australia.
  3. The Committee will be conducting free information sessions throughout regional and metropolitan areas for group leaders and teachers to attend.
  4. The Festival is now providing one Year 12 graduate and former Festival Participant with the opportunity to work with the Festival Committee and to engage in professional development with theatre companies throughout Australia while awarding them $3000 to contribute to their future tertiary education.
  5. Workshops provided for teachers and leaders will now carry Victorian Institute of Teacher (VIT) accreditation.