Horizon Festival 2020 is here

The time has come – the reimagined Horizon Festival 2020 is here with an outstanding program of online events and experiences to delight arts-lovers, artists and anyone looking for a creative escape from iso-life.

The June line-up features a breathtaking Open Air concert by Deline Briscoe, a conversation with artists and change-makers for Act x Activism, the first heat in a spoken word competition series with The Bunker, our first two Homegrown local artist commissions, a young artists visual art project, plus we Rewind to a 2019 festival highlight, A Galaxy of Suns.

Community Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the online-format 2020 festival was at once strikingly imaginative, more collaborative and necessarily delivered in new ways but would delight art lovers and new comers alike.

“Our local artists and Horizon Festival team have done an outstanding job in rethinking the program to deliver the festival experience on new platforms;  this is a high quality program that pushes through the constraints of our challenging times,” Cr Baberowski said.

“I encourage everyone to jump into the program early and be transported through the looking glass of these remarkable and diverse events back out into the world as seen by the artists.”

Horizon Festival director Lynne Bradley said the June program would challenge our thinking and inspire us through music, art and conversation.

“We have included a wonderful mix of events, all of which speak to these extraordinary times in which we find ourselves,” Ms Bradley said.

“Our goal has been to celebrate our fabulously talented local artists, whilst programming events that will promote reflection, connection and engagement with local, national and international audiences.

“This is the great gift of an online festival program - the opportunity to showcase our region and artists to the world.”

PROGRAM:

OPEN AIR: Sunday, June 7 @ 5pm

We’re kicking off this series with Yalanji Woman of Song, Deline Briscoe (pictured), who will perform a selection of music from her critically acclaimed debut solo album, Wawu. Deline will be singing from the Glasshouse Mountains Lookout and will be joined by Uncle Noel and Aunty Helena who will officially welcome us to Jinibara and Kabi Kabi country.

Watch: Don’t miss this special performance, available online via Facebook and Instagram@horizonartfest at 5pm on Sunday, June 7. After the performance, the stream will be available on the Horizon Festival website.

REWIND: Monday, June 8 @ 9am

Join us as we rewind to Horizon Festival 2019 for this incredibly special performance of A Galaxy of Suns, held at Bankfoot House. Featuring award winning local choir, Oriana Choir, the spectacular work sings the stars as they rise and set over the 360˚ of our horizon. As we recap this stunning performance, we’ll hear from lead artist Michaela Gleave to explain how the work transverses contemporary art, music, astronomy and design.

Watch: A Galaxy of Suns will be available at www.horizonfestival.com.au from 9am on Monday, June 8.

WORDS AND IDEAS: Art x Activism - Thursday, June 11 @ 7pm

Join us in-conversation with leading artists working across mental health, climate change, cultural resurgence and social and political justice, as they discuss art as a catalyst for change.

Hosted by Emily Devers, visual artist and owner of Third Quarter Gallery, with panellists:

• Spectator Jonze – Digital illustrator and musician (Jaguar Jonze)
• Anisa Nandaula – Spoken word poet, author and actor
• Dr Ryan Presley – Visual artist and academic
• Emily Coleman – Acting associate artistic director of Digi Youth Arts and creative producer
• Bianca Tainsh – Artist and activist

Watch: Tune in via Facebook@horizonartfest at 7pm on Thursday, June 11.

A CLIMATE OF CHANGE: Monday, June 15 – Thursday, June 18

2020 has been a wild ride and Horizon Festival has invited four local visual artists - Kane Brunjes, Aaron Craig, Claire Matthews and Ashlee Becks - to reflect on 2020 and the kind of future they want to create. Over four days, the artworks prompted by this reflection will be released, serving as a reminder that we too can be part of a movement of positive change.

Get the daily artwork release via the Horizon Festival website from Monday 15 – Thursday 18 June.

THE BUNKER: Thursday, June 18 @ 7pm

The Bunker Spoken Word Series returns bigger and better than ever, with an online competition and international guest performers beamed in from across the globe. Online heats will be held in June and July, alongside the best international spoken word talent, Sabrina Benaim from Toronto, Canada (Heat One), and Anthony Ananxagorou from London, UK (Heat Two).

From slam poets to bush poets and storytellers, the professional judging team will be on hand to send five finalists from each heat to the grand final in August.

Register to compete or watch all the action at www.horizonfestival.com.au 7pm on Thursday, June 18.

HOMEGROWN:

Friday, June 19 @ 7pm

What Now? is a film-based project about this strange world we live in, stuck between new rules and old as the immediate threat of COVID-19 subsides. Artist Timothy Birch deep-dives into the lives of three local artists, visiting them in their homes to understand how 2020 and the recent times have impacted them.

Sunday, June 21 @ 5pm

Recorded at Third Bay in Coolum and streamed online for you to enjoy, Plastic Belly is a contemporary dance work by Sunshine Coast-based choreographer Courtney Scheu and visual artist Itamar Freed. Created with the support of dramaturge Liesel Zink, and set to original sound score by Harel Tsemah, this work is visually captivating, sensitive and delves into human connection.

July: The inspiration will continue next month with the program to be revealed on July 1.

Get the program delivered to your inbox - visit www.horizonfestival.com.au and sign-up to the e-newsletter.

Get involved

If you’re a local artist and would like to get involved, expressions of interest are now open for the July round of Homegrown. Expressions of interest for August will open on 1 July. Visit www.horizonfestival.com.au for details.

Homegrown is supported the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Image credit: Deline Briscoe. Photo Nic Morley Films