ARTS ABLAZE LIGHTS UP THE SCENIC RIM

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Artists in residence band

Queensland's biggest ever regional arts conference and celebration, Arts Ablaze, has lit up the Scenic Rim, drawing thousands to a visual spectacular at the Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley.

The event opened on Wednesday 2 October with a smoking ceremony and welcome to country by Mununjali Ngari and Aunty Dell Paulson, highlighting the region's rich Indigenous heritage that was celebrated by elders and community members who travelled from Yarrabah, Townsville, Blackall, Woorabinda and the Torres Strait to share their culture with the first nations of the Scenic Rim and the wider community.

Scenic Rim Councillor Michael Enright and Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz welcomed the conference delegates and arts workers to the landmark event in the cultural life of the region at the conference opening ceremony.

Mayor Greg Christensen said as this was the first Regional Arts gathering to be held in Queensland since 2013, he was sure it had placed the Scenic Rim firmly on the cultural map.

"Arts Ablaze was much more than an arts conference - it was about creating connections between people and place, which was reflected in its strong Indigenous theme and celebration of arts and culture that brought our community together,” Cr Christensen said.

"I am sure that the arts practitioners and conference delegates, many of whom travelled many days and hundreds of kilometres to be here, have found new creative inspiration in our spectacular scenery and natural environment."

The three-day conference was followed by two full days of community celebration featuring free family fun, workshops, food trucks, artisan markets, poetry readings and story-telling, art installations and a variety of performances and entertainment never before seen in the Scenic Rim.

Artisan workshops included bamboo flute making, basketry, blacksmithing, clay portraiture, eco dyeing, gourd art, didgeridoo making, puppet making, jewellery revamping and silversmithing.

"Arts Ablaze had something to ignite creativity in everyone and has helped transform our perspectives of art and culture," Cr Christensen said.

  • Arts Ablaze is funded by the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund, Festivals Australia and Regional Arts Fund.
  • Arts Ablaze is supported by the Queensland Government through the Regional Arts Services Network, the Queensland Arts Showcase Program and the Regional Arts Development Fund which is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Scenic Rim Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
  • Arts Ablaze is an initiative of Scenic Rim Regional Council.
  • Arts Ablaze is made possible through Australian Government Regional Arts Fund funding provided through Regional Arts Australia and administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance.
  • Arts Ablaze is supported by the Ramada Resort Kooralbyn Valley, Artour, Central Queensland University and Arts Front.