Mansfield
Shire Council
Mt Buller
Arts Council
of Mansfield
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"Our
Legends" is the theme for the High Country Festival 2008
Legends, lore and bush icons, celebrating horse and high country
huts, is the underlying theme for this year's 12 day High Country
Festival that kicks off with the Spring Arts Walk on Friday 24th
October. Horses and our high country huts were seen by our community
as important for Mansfield in a cultural and heritage sense after
extensive community consultation in 2007 by Festival Artistic
Advisor, Donna Jackson.This year's Festival will continue to focus
on horses but also build on our fascination with and love for
the high country huts and the spirit of our early pioneers.
Having our legends, horses and high country huts blending to create
the theme for the Festival, will give lots of scope to delve into
our unique culture, learn about our heritage and create some great
happenings and fantastic art.
What's on offer
The High Country Festival comprises a diverse variety of 23 events
ranging from art exhibitions, to unique and quirky community events
and of course, horses. The whole Mansfield district is involved.
Over 25 community groups work together to create a significant
themed, high quality event.
The 12 day event features heritage initiatives art exhibitions,
performance, music, bush markets, a grand parade, fireworks a
Melbourne Cup picnic race meeting, food and wine events. Six local
school communities are actively involved in a concert and the
region’s CFA brigades take part in the moving ‘Torchlight
Parade’.
The High Country Festival is an opportunity for young people to
be heard, artists and musicians to showcase original work, for
community groups to celebrate together and welcome friends and
visitors to the area. It is a platform to educate and highlight
little known and not exploited elements of High Country traditional
lifestyles.
Festival Background
The High Country Festival was established in 1983. It was founded
on the idea of mountain cattlemen of the high country participating
in a horse race inspired by the movie 'The Man from Snowy River'
which was filmed in the area in 1982.
The crack riders in the movie were local horseriders from Mansfield
and had a uniquely Australian style of riding developed over years
of hard riding and hard living in the High Country bush and mountainous
conditions.
The horses and the riders had a spirit of mateship and community.
The 'Man from Snowy River' captured this feeling, and the Mansfield
community wanted to continue the celebration.
In 2000 the High Country Festival combined with the Spring Arts
Festival giving the High Country Festival an arts focus in addition
to the traditional values of the Festival we have loved for 25
years.
The Artistic Vision
The High Country Festival strives to create an intimate
regional event which engages with innovative ideas and cultural
activities with 'design' being integral aspect; and which is committed
to supporting Australian artists and our local community. It aims
to present significant, high-quality work which local, national,
and international audience members will find stimulating, provocative
and entertaining.This year, all sectors of our community are collaborating
creatively to highlight dearly loved as well as little known aspects
of our region’s heritage and culture in an artistically
exciting and tantalising way.
Festival Staff
Karen Pirie is Festival Director for the High Country Festival
2008. Karen has been engaged by the Mansfield Shire Council to
coordinate the program of events, oversee the artistic themes
of the Festival and liaise with community groups and stakeholders.
Karen was Artistic Director of the Spring Arts Walk in 2007 and
was Coordinator of Across the Arts in 2005 & 2007.
All enquiries regarding the Festival can be directed to Karen
at director@highcountryfestival.com.au
Our Volunteers
We wish to thank the volunteers in the community who work
so hard to help shape, create, and deliver the event. Your loyalty
and effort is deeply appreciated.
The High Country Spring Arts Festival invites you to join in the
excitement and fun at the Festival Hub. We’ll need lots
of help for various events throughout the festival’s 12
day run and we would love you to be involved.
Opportunities for volunteers may include things like providing
assistance, setting up and packing up equipment, chairs, and tents
and so on, ushering at events, administration work, and a myriad
of other tasks involved in the organisation of the High Country
Spring Arts Festival.
What will you get out of being a volunteer?
You will be a part of a great team of people.
You will meet lots of like minded people.
Your assistance will help support the development of the Arts
in regional Victoria and in your local community.
Volunteers are a significant and valued part of our Festival.
If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact the
Festival Director, Karen Pirie
director@highcountryfestival.com.au
or 0403 219 188
or
Sue Arndt - Tourism & Economic Development, Mansfield Shire
Council
sue.arndt@mansfield.vic.gov.au 03 5775 8575
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