Regional Arts Victoria joins us as a Principle Partner
In recognition of its 15th year supporting young artists in regional and remote Australia, the Regional Arts Fund has announced its support for this important regional theatre event.
Joining the Arts Centre and the Hugh Williamson Foundation in their generous support, these institutions recognise the place the Fairfax Festival holds within the lives of young people disadvantaged by location, learning or linguistic disabilities and/or socio-economic factors.
“The Fairfax Festival promotes the sharing of ideas, tolerance and understanding of diverse cultures and backgrounds, but most importantly the young people who participate in the Festival learn and develop skill in the performing arts. They are given the chance to tell their own stories while making new friends and simply having fun.” said Hannes Berger, Program Manager for Outreach & Access Education, Families & Young People at the Arts Centre.
First established in 1996, the Fairfax Festival began when the then Performing Arts Director for Swan Hill Rural City Council John Fowler, invited George Fairfax to direct and host an evening with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to be held on the banks of the Murray River. George accepted the invitation but, sadly, became ill and died before the event could be presented.
With the aim of remembering George in some significant way, John approached George’s wife, Vicki Fairfax, with the idea of establishing a regional schools’ theatre festival in the same general area where George had spent his childhood. Vicki not only agreed to have the festival named in George’s memory, but also accepted the invitation to become its patron.
The first George Fairfax Memorial Regional Youth Theatre Festival was held in November 1997.
In 2009, the festival was remodelled into a three day, non-competitive event comprising of workshops and rehearsals with leading professional artists and a gala performance event on the final evening.
“The Fairfax Festival is a time for young people from all over Victoria who are disadvantaged by their regional or remote location or socio-economic situation to come together and show each other the creativity and ingenuity that they are capable of achieving,” Fairfax Director Claire Glenn said.
Ms Glenn, who is now in her fourth year of involvement with the festival added that it was rewarding to give young people from regional and remote regions of Victoria opportunities that were not readily available to them, and having been both manager and director of the festival, has seen it go from strength to strength.
“This festival provides its young participants with the opportunity to showcase their talent while learning from the best in the business and the Fairfax Festival is proud to boast a “Who’s Who” of Australian performing artists as our tutors.”
In 2011, the Fairfax Festival can confirm the participation of guest artists Don Bridges, Kaarin Fairfax, Penelope Bartlau, Beth Child, Douglas Bair and Dan West. The festival also continues its proud association with The Arts Centre who will provide this year’s principal tutor, Petra Kaliv.
Along with the Festival Director, the Festival Committee is also proud to announce the first ever Fairfax Family Young Artist in Residence. This is an opportunity for an ex-participant of the festival, who, having completed Year 12 in 2009 or 2010 aims to pursue a career in the Arts.
Caitlyn Barclay is excited to be awarded the first recipient of this residency and will receive $3000 to help support her career development, plus the opportunity to work with professional artists throughout 2011.
“The opportunity to give something back to the festival that first kindled my love of the Arts is an amazing gift especially as it’s the 15th year,” Ms Barclay said.
Festival Partners
