Townsville to host inaugural Northern Australian Festival of Arts

Townsville will host the inaugural Northern Australian Festival of Arts next winter.

The Far North Queensland city council has branded itself as the capital of arts and cultural in the North.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill said she was proud to deliver on another promise to the local community by hosting an annual arts and cultural festival.

“The Northern Australian Festival of Arts will be held in July, and builds on our already world-class cultural winter events season – which includes the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Strand Ephemera and many others,” Cr Hill said.

“We are going to build on the success of Festival 2018, which was a party the likes of which the city had never seen before.”

Festival 2018 drew 100,000 people over 12 days in April to see 700 performers, with Strand Park transformed into Uncontained and Spiegeltents hosting huge acts in Queens Gardens.

“A Spiegeltent will return for an extended period in Queens Gardens and host local, national and international acts during the Festival.”

The Northern Australian Festival of Arts will nurture the city’s established and emerging talent.

Colleen Doyle, chair of the Community and Cultural Development Committee noted, “We have a huge amount of artistic and creative talent here in Townsville and it’s important that we provide a local platform for them.

“Council is hoping to grow the festival to become a Northern Fringe similar to the events held in March in Adelaide.

“Next July, Townsville will be showcased nationally with the Northern Australian Festival of Arts, the city’s sporting calendar and winter events season.

“This will be a festival for locals and visitors to celebrate our rich cultural life in tropical North Queensland.”