There’s something for everyone at Storyfest – with over 180 sessions of workshops, free activities, performances, exhibitions and competitions on offer. Storyfest is Central Geelong Marketing’s 13 day multi-arts festival celebrating storytelling in all its forms. Storyfest offers traditional storytelling experiences (oral storytelling, books and music), and contemporary storytelling experiences (multi-media, visual arts and digital storytelling).
We also co-ordinate Storyfest’s sister program the Central Geelong Kids Fun Program, a program we’ve been running each school holidays for 14 years.
The inspiration for Storyfest comes from feedback from families who’ve participated in the Kids Fun Program. After each program we survey families and ask what kind of activities would they like to see in the future. Consistently the top three responses was, ‘More live entertainment, arts and crafts and storytelling’. So we created Storyfest for them and included all those elements and more.
We also wanted to create an annual event that was bigger than the Kids Fun Program, that was memorable, educational, experience rich and full of fun. And we wanted to showcase the amazing cultural facilities, book shops, cafes, attractions and public spaces where the activities take place.
This year Storyfest happens after Easter – from Tuesday 3 April to Sunday 15 April 2018. Highlights of the festival include:
- Our Story Hub – ‘The Story Garden’ is our magical fairy-tale themed space where you’ll find storytellers, magic shows, recycled crafts, music, dancing, elf abodes and fairy forts.
- Book Events – Dymock’s ‘Ailsa Wild – Squishy Taylor Workshop’. Author and illustrator Bronte Stead’s ‘Let’s Draw Horses’ illustration workshop, and the Books Around store Book Swap.
- Multimedia Workshops – Virtual and augmented reality, stop-motion animation, coding, 3D printing and gif making.
- Visual Arts Workshops – Watercolour art, abstract painting, zine making, print making and photography and more…
Last year we commissioned 3D artist Scott Jansen to produce five 3D wall murals for our Christmas in Central Geelong program. The community loved the murals so much that we asked Scott to create one especially for Storyfest.
‘The Storyfest Mural’ is a storybook themed mural depicting a collage of much loved children’s book characters. It is located in the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, Level 1, 51 Lt Malop St, Geelong. To interact with the mural sit on the book and you become a character in the mural.
To get a copy of the Storyfest program download it from www.centralgeelong.com.au/storyfest. Printed programs are available from Council customer service centres, visitor information centres, leisure centres, participating businesses, by calling 5272 4297 or emailing centralgeelong.com.au
Story: Belinda O’Keeffe. Photo: Scott Jansen
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