Horizon Festival 2018 program unveiled

Get set to immerse yourself in 10 arts-fuelled days across the Sunshine Coast with the full Horizon Festival program now available.

Between August 24 and September 2, the program includes events and activities for everybody to enjoy, whether you’re an avid arts lover or first-time festival goer.

The 52-page program features more than 150 events in visual art, film, literature, performance, comedy, music, theatre and children’s programming.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the countdown was on to another outstanding major event for our region.

“Each year, Horizon provides a great opportunity for our local artists, alongside specially invited national and international guests, to come together and showcase their talents to the community and the many visitors to our region,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“In the first two years, close to 90,000 people attended Horizon events – an amazing illustration of how quickly this festival has been embraced by both locals and those from outside our region.”

Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the curated program catered to the popular, the emerging and the experimental.

“During Horizon, you can dip your toes in, or really immerse yourself and step outside your comfort zone,” Cr Baberowski said.

“There’s so much variety in the program this year.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the String Symphony puppetry, The Bookbinder performance and, of course, the beautiful Dawn Awakening ceremony.

“The best part about having a festival such as Horizon right here on the Sunshine Coast is that we can all enjoy quality arts and cultural experiences without having to leave home.”

View the full program and book your tickets now at www.horizonfestival.com.au.

If you’re looking for a fun way to explore all that Horizon has to offer, the festival’s GooseChase will be on again. GooseChase is a fun online scavenger hunt with great prizes up for grabs.

The chase will begin on August 13 so check out the website for more details and register to play.

Get social and share your festival experience using #horizonartfest

Horizon is proudly presented by Sunshine Coast Council and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Horizon is supported by the Cultural Heritage Levy, Harmony, SunCentral, Tafe Queensland, My Weekly Preview, 92.7 MixFM, SeaFM, ABC Sunshine Coast, eARTh emag, mouthful mag, Coastline BMW, Go Transit, Living Smart, Mantra Hotels and Visit Sunshine Coast.

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland’s Destination Events Program, is proud to support the Horizon Festival which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Here’s a taste of what’s to come:

String Symphony

Cotton Tree | 24-29 Aug

Harmony Development, Palmview | 31 Aug – 2 Sep

A large-scale, interactive performance installation that uses puppetry to explore connection, community and collaboration. Hand-woven using more than one kilometre of rope, the giant illuminated puppet is brought to life by the audience.

Music on Kings – Hot August Night

Kings Beach Amphitheatre | 25 Aug

Get ready for some “beautiful noise” as acclaimed musician Darren Percival, his eight-piece band The Business and a number of young local musicians, including Mason Hope and Genevieve Langford, take to the stage for an exciting Neil Diamond inspired night of 70s music.

Manafest

C-Square, Nambour | 25 Aug

Highly visual and immersive, Manafest showcases the offbeat and vividly entertaining world of pop culture. Enjoy live performances, music and anime film screenings, or sit and enjoy it all with food and drinks at the Japanese-inspired Maid Café. Experience the art of cosplay (costume roleplay) by taking part in the cosplay competition or simply watching as the distinctive costumes hit the runway.

The Bookbinder

The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour | 24-26 Aug

Be enthralled by this story of mystery, magic and mayhem from award-winning NZ company Trick of the Light Theatre. From pop-up book to puppetry, storytelling to live action, the inventive one-man performance tells the story of an old man who sits down to read the tale of an erstwhile bookbinding apprentice, and as he speaks, the story spills from the pages and into the bindery.

The Bunker

Imperial Hotel, Eumundi | 26 Aug – 1 Sep

A celebration of local, national and international stories and poetry through spoken word performance, The Bunker Series features workshops, competition heats and a signature competition event.

Dawn Awakening

Stumers Creek, Coolum | 2 Sep

Dawn Awakening has become the signature finale event of Horizon Festival. An evocative, ceremonial celebration where past, present and future are celebrated through the awakening of a new dawn at Stumers Creek in Coolum – a place of gathering, remembering, dreaming and ritual.

Image: String Symphony. Credit Luke Baker