Over 40 events across 2 states
Overall attendance in 2010 – over 28,000

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.

Highlights included the life changing Sarah Hopkins Projects, the sold out Kransky Sisters, the exquisite Koto Concert, the much anticipated Sunraysia Daily Mardi Gras parade and River Festival, the MADEC Harvest Grape Crush competition, the inaugural Admedia Back Lane Festival (that brought more young people to a MWAF event than ever before) and the cooperation and good hearts of many hands making light work to move the Perry Sandhills concert indoors.

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 we’ll be back with bells on in 2011!

Helen Healy, Festival Director.

Background

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 four week program 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 region.

Our vision is that artsmildura be a regional leader in promoting innovative and challenging arts. Our mission is to explore and celebrate our unique regional identity through the provision of diverse arts experiences. We make the most of our regionality and package unique artists and art forms, our spectacular environment, and our gourmet produce, into a four week program 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. Feature events, including Mardi Gras and River Festival and Music under the Stars make up the backbone of this engaging Festival.

We acknowledge our sponsors and funding bodies especially Arts Victoria and Mildura Rural City Council; our Education Partner, La Trobe University; Tourism Victoria, Wentworth and District Community Bank, Chalmers Wines Australia along with our many sponsors.

Our festival is unique for its many beautiful locations and we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land the Latje Latje, Njeri Njeri and Barkindjti people.

COMMITTEE AND CREDITS

Festival & Artistic Director
Helen Healy

Festival Consultant
Robyn Archer

MWAF Festival Committee
Geoff Brown, Kristen Penny, Donnie Byrne, Alison Mac Gregor, Antonette
Zema, Kim Chalmers, Sally Hederics, Sonja Hodge, James Giddey, Rebecca
Wells, Samone Bos, Silvana Forlini.

Mardi Gras Committee
Donnie Byrne, Patsy Barraclough, Barb Bunting, Margot Mills, Ron Dudley.

IWD Pearl Award Committee
Donnie Byrne, Bernadette Edmanson, Shadha Alqurnawi, Roslyn Maye.

Backlane Festival Committee
Kim Chalmers, Adam Hobbs, Daria Healy-Koljanin, Julia Russ, Darcy Mullaney, Chloe Mackie, Matilda Noack.

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

Development Consultant
Pauline Ashleigh-Marum

Special Thanks to
Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura Visitor Information Centre, Mildura Rural City Council Events Unit, Wentworth Shire Council and Wentworth Visitor Information Centre.

2010 Program Cover Photography
Photographer: Robin Sellick
Assistant: Rachel Kendrigan
Hair Stylist: Anna Fraiia
Make-Up Artist: Louise Fraiia
Fashion Stylist: Lisa Fraiia
Model: Austin Rigby