IT’S been 24 days, 60-odd events, over 10,000 participants and countless hours and now the eighth See Change Winter Arts Festival has come to a close.
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The celebration of arts in Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven began on May 16, with a focus on music.
JB Arts vice-president Sue Tolley said the initial concerts and music workshops sold out, and were followed by artist exhibitions.
“Gradually as each day unfolded more and more exhibitions opened, linking the arts trail throughout the villages of Jervis Bay,” she said.
“The second weekend was all about persuading the community to join in, with a real focus on young people.”
A pop-up art event, Art in the Park at White Sands Park in Huskisson, was one of the highlights, Ms Tolley said.
“A quote I heard was, ‘This is what a festival is all about’,” she said.
The focus then shifted to literature with Wild About Words events.
“That drew a different audience – we had book club enthusiasts, poets, closet poets who came out and spoke their own words or favourite poems,” Ms Tolley said.
Authors Tom Doig and Laura Jean McKay entertained audiences with compelling travel tales.
A firm favourite, Coming Home, featured young people educated in the Shoalhaven returning to tell their stories.
“It’s still the thing people are walking around saying was their favourite, it obviously struck a chord,” she said.
Ms Tolley said the organisers hoped to attract additional people to help with the next festival in two years’ time.
“We’d love to recruit some new blood and younger blood,” she said.
“We know it’s out there and we really value what they think about art.”
Anyone interested in learning more about JB Arts or the next
See Change festival can email jbbarts@hotmail.com or see the website: www.jervisbayarts.asn.au