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Country Arts SA brought its 25th birthday celebrations to Whyalla and gave a teaser of what is in store for regional arts during 2018 around the state and in our region.
It was a lead-in to the official launch of the full Country Arts SA program, and all the performances coming to Whyalla, which has now been released.
Country Arts SA, which runs the MIddleback Arts Centre in Whyalla, is proudly supported by the City of Whyalla. Country Arts SA not only runs our local arts centre and cinema, it is responsible for a host of events, shows, exhibitions, workshops and artistic endeavours throughout the city and region.
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer, councillors Jenny Barnes and David Knox and chief executive officer Chris Cowley were at the 25th birthday celebrations at the art centre where a new vision for the arts body was revealed along with a sneak preview of the 2018 arts program.
“It looks like being an interesting and diverse program that should have wide appeal,” Cr Knox said.
Country Arts SA CEO Steve Saffell said the “new way of working” would build on the 37,454 performances across the state and more than $9m in grants to artists it has been responsible for over the past 25 years.
“For a quarter of a century we’ve shared unique, diverse and fun experiences created by thousands of artists with communities in regional South Australia,” Mr Saffell said.
“2018 marks the beginning of a new way of working for Country Arts SA. We will start new alliances and work more closely with local councils (like Whyalla) and partners and we will establish a new foundation that supports artists in regional South Australia.”
An exclusive opportunity for the Middleback Arts Centre will be a series of workshops and master classes during a week-long residence of circus company Gravity and Other Myths in April, ahead of their mesmerising performance of Backbone.
Another will be an energetic performance later in the year by seven-piece Indigenous RnB band B2M from the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands, which has been hailed as “Australia’s answer to the Backstreet Boys” by the Huffington Post.
Other exciting events coming to the MAC in 2018 include:
- The Wharf Revue - Arts on Screen
- Rumpelstiltskin - Arts on Screen
- Black Screen
- Terrestrial - State Theatre Company South Australia
- The Australian Ballet: Cinderella - Arts on Screen
- The Season - Tasmania Performs Big Bad Wolf - Windmill Theatre Company
Arts Program Director Anthony Peluso further acknowledged Whyalla as one of the key regional centres for the arts.
“We have great audiences here in Whyalla,” Mr Peluso said.
“We’re about building those stronger relationships with individuals and organisations to have more arts and culture in the regions like Whyalla because I believe we can create the most unique experiences in the country that you just can’t create in the city.
“It’s about understanding the individual characteristics of the region and how we can amplify them and share them with more people throughout the state.
“We’ve also got an exciting program next year with exclusive features for each region that will attract people to places like Whyalla.”
The full Country Arts SA 2018 Season is on sale now. Visit https://www.countryarts.org.au/ to browse all upcoming events and opportunities and to book your tickets. Download a copy of the Summer Guide to help plan your arts activities in the first quarter of 2018.
PICTURES - Top: The Country Arts SA "launch" at the MIddleback Arts Centre. Centre: Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer with the hosts for the night at the launch. Above: City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley, Mayor Lyn Breuer and Country Arts SA CEO Steve Saffell at the launch. Above right: Councillors David Knox and Jenny Barnes along with Christine Knox at the launch.