PERRY SANDHILLS CONCERT withMARK SEYMOUR and THE UNDERTOW. Early bird tickets on sale now!!

The 2012 program is currently in development and highlights include:

Sunraysia Daily Mardi Gras Parade and River Party

Featuring the MADEC Grape Crush and Fireworks display. Enter a team, enter a float and come along to the biggest free community event in the region.

Saturday 3rd March

Congratulations to 2011 Parade winners:

Christie Centre – Winner of best float
Trinity Lutheran College – Winner of best school entry

Comedian Dave O'Neil

Friday 9 March

Theatre Group Gumbo

Back by popular demand this crazy Japanese group thrill all ages.

Includes appearance in Mardi Gras Parade and performance at River Party as well as stage show ' "SAKURA SAYER" on....

Sunday 4th March

Music under the Stars @ Perry Sandhills (Early bird tickets on sale now)

Featuring Australian legend, Mark Seymour with The Undertow supported by his nieces, Mildura raised Madeleine and Clare Thiele, in this beautiful atmospheric location.

Saturday 10th March

Nightclubs/concerthalls

Presented by Speakeasy Percussion with workshops and a nightclub performance and support act for Perry Sandhills concert.

Thursday 8th March

Big Screen Film Festival

Australia's best films outdoor by the riverside at Mildura Homestead Gardens

performance and support act for Perry Sandhills concert.

7th - 11th March

Past Events

2011

Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival has wrapped for another year and despite storms (of both the weather and controversy variety) feedback reveals that we have presented one of the best Festivals to date.

The event has grown from an evening of music and poetry in 1994 presented by a passionate group of people - who remain so loyal, to now in our 16th year  a Festival that celebrates our community and generates pride, provides  challenging and uplifting art experiences and an impressive $3,000,000 of visitor income into the economy of the region.

Most encouraging was a Sunraysia Daily Vox Pop when readers were asked if they knew why the skirts were on the trees. Their response (100% spot on) was about ‘our’ Festival starting soon. This ownership by the community is central to the festivals existence and sustainability.

Which leads to heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, our board, our committees and volunteers, programming partners, tourism and visitor centres, all our service providers, local government and the hardworking, dedicated HHO staff. So what motivates audiences to come back and new ones arrive? It is the thread that ties artists to audiences, arts to community. We acknowledge our audiences, both local and visitors, we commend you for placing arts as a priority, for trying something new and finding that art can touch your heart, challenge your mind and uplift your spirits.

Thanks to the people of Mildura for your support during the Festival and although it was my last (after six years), the Festival will be back with bells on in 2012!

Helen Healy, Festival Director.

COMMITTEE AND CREDITS

Festival & Artistic Director
Helen Healy

Mardi Gras Committee
Donnie Byrne, Barb Bunting, Margot Mills, Sally Eastoe, Lorraine Nancarrow

IWD Committee
Donnie Byrne, Bernadette Edmanson, Roslyn Maye. Donata Carrazza, Sherrin Ford, Bev Hutchinson

Backlane Festival Committee
Kim Chalmers, Adam Hobbs, Daria Healy-Koljanin, Darcy Mullaney, Tristan Gange, Ben Rata, Elyse Sturre, Tania Houston, Ryan Casey, Sally Hederics, Tenille Chalmers

HHO Events Staff
Kara Smith, Erin Hoye, Rachel Kendrigan.

The Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival is one of Australia’s leading regional arts festivals and has been recognised with Major Festival Status by Arts Victoria. The festival offers a rich and vibrant 20 day program in February and March of visual and performing arts, workshops, theatre, Big Screen outdoor cinema, music, exhibitions, parades and comedy – all in a diverse range of venues that showcase the unique landscapes, natural beauty and rich heritage of the Mildura district.

Artsmildura’s vision is to be a regional leader in promoting innovative and challenging arts. Underpinning their ability to achieve this vision is their mission to explore and celebrate Mildura and Wentworth’s unique regional identity through the provision of diverse arts experiences. Artsmildura makes the most of their region – and the Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival packages unique artists and art forms, spectacular environments and gourmet produce in such a way as to bring the local community together, and draw visitors from the surrounding and metro regions.

The Festival incorporates ticketed and free events and presents a program which appeals across age, socio-economic and cultural divides. It provides the opportunity for local talent to perform and engage with international and national performers and artists.