Hot on the heels of the Maroochydore City Centre People's Day on Saturday (August 10), which opened Stage 1A of the new city centre to the public for the first time, Horizon Festival is gearing up to take over the Metropolitan creative precinct (The MET) for 10 arts-fuelled days of free entertainment for all ages.
Festival Central will be the thriving creative hub of Horizon 2019, kicking off with the official launch event on Friday, August 23.
Festival Central at The MET, located on the corner of First Ave and South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore City Centre, will feature aerial performances, live local music, large scale projection, kids' activities, creative workshops, pop-up galleries and delicious local eats and drinks throughout Horizon Festival.
Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said Festival Central was designed to provide a taste of what the new creative precinct could deliver in the years to come.
"This is the first year we've had a central hub for Horizon and what better place to kick it off than at The MET in the new Maroochydore City Centre," Cr Baberowski said.
"The line-up of events at Festival Central will delight kids and families, music-lovers of all genres, film goers, visual art lovers and anyone who likes to get outdoors, see some incredible art and enjoy delicious local food and drinks."
SunCentral CEO Mr John Knaggs said Maroochydore City Centre provided the ideal stage for Festival Central.
"As People's Day demonstrated, the new Maroochydore City Centre site is a vibrant new addition to the Sunshine Coast where residents and visitors can come together to create, engage and explore," Mr Knaggs said.
"Stage 1A spotlights the city's creative credentials and Festival Central will inspire activity, movement and colour within the new city centre.
"We all have a stake in making this a contemporary city centre and I welcome the opportunity for the new city centre to host the Sunshine Coast's premier multi-arts festival."
FREE Festival Central program line-up
MOUNTAIN | Fri 23 – Sun 25 Aug, 6.30pm and 8.30pm
Lighting up Festival Central on opening weekend, Mountain is a stunning performance that combines aerial theatre with cutting-edge interactive technology. Performers meld acrobatics, dance and aerials to create a captivating spectacle. After each performance, the audience will have the chance to play with the interactive projection system.
OUR PEOPLE, OUR PLACE | Fri 23 – Sun 25 Aug, 9-10pm | Thu 29 Aug, 6-7pm | Fri 30 – Sat 31 Aug, 6-10pm
A large-scale photographic projection work that showcases and celebrates the rich diversity of our region. Combining portraiture, projection and sound, Our People, Our Place features 32 people from across the Sunshine Coast.
HORIZON KIDS | Sat 24 + Sat 31 Aug, 10am – 3pm
Each Saturday, Festival Central will be taken over by little people and their families with workshops and activities for making, playing, dancing and singing. From clay play, music making, box city construction, nature crowns and family dance parties.
LIVE + LOCAL SUNDAYS | Sun 25 Aug + Sun 1 Sep, 12-6pm
Wind down your weekend and settle in for a unique Sunday sesh, with a local touch. Enjoy local music, tasty local brews and delicious locally grown produce. See website for line-up.
AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS | Wed 28 Aug, 9-11am
A unique opportunity for intimate one-on-one conversations in experimental formats, tackling anxieties, debilitating habits and hard-to-talk about subjects like mental health. Conversations can be difficult, so how can we make them easier.
BLAK SOCIAL | Wed 28 Aug, 7pm
Celebrating the cultural resurgence of Indigenous peoples with a line-up including electronic music, dance, performing arts and song-writing. Artists: Alice Skye, Rebecca Hatch, Kee'ahn, The Ancient Bloods, Chocolatte Boxx, Katina Olsen and Gubbi Gubbi Dance
DESIGNING THE NOW | Thu 29 Aug, 7pm screening, 8.30pm industry discussion
A screening of HOMO SAPIENS, a film about the finiteness and fragility of human existence, the end of the industrial age and what it means to be human.
NOCTURNE | Fri 30 Aug, 7.30pm
An evening of classical music under the stars. Professional orchestral musicians and opera stars unite with local performing arts groups to celebrate the mystery and romance of night. Inspired by the dreaming, nocturnal sounds and the grandeur of natural and man-made spaces.
HORIZON SOUNDS | Sat 31 Aug, 6.30-9.30pm
A stellar line-up of free live music, with a packed program of established Queensland bands and musicians. Paired with a delicious meal and tasty brew from our festival bar and eats, this is the perfect night out for any music lover.
TQ CAPSULE | Fri 23 Aug – Sun 1 Sep
A pop-up exhibition featuring artworks by Brisbane and Sunshine Coast artists – crafting a new visual dialogue between these two communities. Included in the capsule will be an exhibition of artworks and a carefully curated store featuring publications, ceramics, apparel and prints.
>> INDUSTRY EVENT: THE DECONSTRUCTED BREAKFAST, Wed 28 Aug, 7.30-9.30am, $50 / $40 SCCA members
A space and conversation that promotes curiosity, awareness and action which facilitates the rich engagements needed for our collective mental health. Guest speakers Professor Jill Bennett and artist Debra Keenahan. Presented in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance and The Big Anxiety.
Visit the Horizon Festival website for Box Office, TQ Gallery, Pop-up Shop and café opening hours - www.horizonfestival.com.au/festival-central
Festival Central is located at The Metropolitan Creative Precinct on the corner of First Ave and South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore City Centre.
Festival Central is presented in partnership with SunCentral – delivering the new Maroochydore City Centre.
Horizon Festival is founded by Sunshine Coast Council.
Horizon Festival is made possible with the support of SunCentral – delivering the new Maroochydore City Centre, the Queensland Government through the Regional Arts Development Fund, Cultural Heritage Levy and Harmony by AVID Property Group.
Horizon Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It's Live! In Queensland events calendar, worth $800m to the state's economy in 2019.
