AFTER a cultural binge at last week’s Fairfax Festival, organisers are looking to open up next year’s event to orchestral performers, expand YESFest and attract even more young people to Swan Hill.
A total of 130 students, leaders and tutors travelled from Victoria and surrounding states to take part in last week’s festival.
Swan Hill Rural City Council’s director of performing arts Adrian Corbett declared the sixteenth Fairfax Festival a great success, and said the organising committee was already working on next year’s festival.
“It’s been great to see community support for this event,” he said.
“Each year we’re expanding into new areas of the arts, so next year hoping to branch off to include orchestral musicians.
“It’s an ongoing thing that we are always working on.”
According to council, last year’s festival injected around $43,000 into the community, and Mr Corbett said the amount was expected to be more this year.
Ninety-three Fairfax Festival participants filled the car park and accommodation at Pental Island Holiday Park last week, and manager Mary Greenham said they were highly welcomed guests.
“It’s been very good for us to have the kids there — this is our second year with them, it’s been wonderful.”
As well as drawing plenty of participants for the main festival, Mr Corbett said last week’s ‘YesFest’ attracted audiences of up to 400, and a turnout of more than 300 people at Friday’s gala performance.
Mr Corbett said feedback from the local community had been great, with participants taking to the Fairfax Festival Facebook page.
“We’ve had comments of what an amazing event Swan Hill has, there’s nothing quite like it,” Mr Corbett said.
“The picture it paints for what we as a community are doing for young people is immeasurable in terms of exposure.
“And the skills the kids have picked up, in terms of their ability to communicate, will have knock on effects in the community.”
