Media Contact, Pip Miller: Mob: 0419 681 543 Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

Media Kit

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CONTENTS PAGE

Cairns Festival Program Launch

3-4

Festival Highlights

5-6

Grand Parade

7-8

Biddigal Dreaming

9

Block Party

10

Father’s Day Fun

11

Circa Fantasy Show

12

Cultural Diversity Week

13-14

Multicultural Film Night

15

Spiegel Zeit

16

Sunday on the ‘Nard

17

enLIGHTenment Shines Throughout Festival

18

Cairns Festival a Family Affair

19-20

Spotlight Showcase Festival

21

Visual Arts Program

22

Festival Workshops

23

Festival Celebrates Youth Street Culture

24

Contacts 25

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FESTIVAL COUNTDOWN KICKS OFF WITH PROGRAM LAUNCH

Thursday, 16 July 2015. The countdown to Cairns Festival is on, with a packed program of

exciting events and activities celebrating the region’s vibrant tropical culture in all its

diversity to be released this week.

Cairns Regional Councillor Max O’Halloran will launch the hotly anticipated program for this

year’s Festival at an official event for sponsors and event partners, to be held on Thursday

16 July at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.

Spanning 10 days from Friday 28 August to Sunday 6 September, Cairns Festival features 50

plus performances, exhibitions, workshops and other events and activities showcasing the

community’s collective creative energy.

In delivering this year’s program, Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said, “In

keeping with the family-friendly program, the majority of Festival events are free, making it

a truly accessible celebration for everyone in the Cairns region and our visitors.”

“We are lucky to live in Paradise. So let’s celebrate life in the tropics, our past, our present

and our future.”

As always, the focus will be on celebrating all that is great about Cairns life, from music,

dance and arts to circus, theatre and family entertainment. Yet beyond the delight it brings

for all, Cairns Festival has cemented itself as an important community event, recognising the

diverse people who have built this region’s unique identity.

Fittingly, Festival 2015 coincides with Cultural Diversity Week, a state government initiative

promoting awareness of multiculturalism and the benefits of living in a culturally diverse

society.

Organisers have flagged this year’s Festival as one not to be missed, with the return of

popular community events as well as exciting new additions to the program.

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Among top picks, the Grand Parade and Fireworks on 29 August is set to be the biggest yet,

with one float alone gathering more than 250 people under the banner of Pacific

Communities Council to join the procession of colour and energy along the waterfront.

Firm favourites, Sunday on the ‘Nard (30 August) and Carnival on Collins (6 September) also

return, with the former culminating in the Festival’s Family Concert, headlining Troy Cassar

Daly and the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir. Carnival on Collins, now entrenched as

a local Father’s Day tradition, attracts more than 25,000 people to the Botanic Gardens and

Tanks Arts Centre to enjoy free entertainment, market stalls and fun for the kids.

Other highlights include Belgium’s famous, 96-year-old theatrical tent, Spiegel Zelt, which

will be transplanted to the Lagoon to provide an eclectic live venue (28 August to 6

September). Digital artist Craig Walsh presents his innovative large scale projections as part

of EnLIGHTenment (29 August to 6 September), while Brisbane-based group, Circa presents

BEYOND (3 to 4 September) an enchanting circus show, and youth event Block Party (5

September) is a free, all ages hip-hop extravaganza at the Esplanade Skate Park.

Cairns Festival program, a full-colour listing of what’s on each day of the celebration, will be

widely distributed from next week and available free of charge from Festival venues, tour

desks and shopping centres across the region.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL 2015 is a 10-day celebration of our tropical lifestyle with performances,

exhibitions, music and film – proudly brought to the community by CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL.

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SEVEN OF THE BEST: CAIRNS FESTIVAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

July, 2015. From first light to after dark, this year’s

Cairns Festival brings entertainment and

inspiration to all, with a program featuring more

than 50+ events and activities showcasing the

region’s cultural diversity and vibrant lifestyle.

Festival 2015 highlights range from the perennially

popular Sunday on the ‘Nard – a family fun day

kicking off with morning dance and theatre workshops for the kids – to exciting new additions such as

Spiegel Zelt by the Lagoon, Belgium’s famous, 96-year-old tent that will host shows including an

adults-only evening of cabaret and circus.

Festival organisers’ pick of seven top events for this year’s flagship cultural celebration include the

return of popular, free community events, as well as exciting new ventures of art and entertainment

never before seen in Cairns.

First on the list is the Grand Parade and Fireworks, the annual procession along the waterfront on 29

August showcasing the colour and energy of the people who form our diverse community. This year’s

Parade is set to be the biggest yet, with one float alone gathering more than 250 people under the

banner of the Pacific Communities Council. The evening’s spectacular gets underway from 3:30pm,

with Circa performing 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes, then local musicians Will Kepa and Danny Bani

warming up the crowd before the Parade starts from Minnie St at 5:30pm, led by drumming ensemble

Djansa. Fireworks from 7:30pm.

Following the Parade, experience the first instalment of Craig Walsh’s enLIGHTenment, another top

six Festival event. Known for creating large scale, colourful projections reflecting the communities and

environments in which they are shown, Walsh’s digital artwork willtransform the historic Cairns City

Library into a visual feast of light and shadow. Walsh’s projection, designed especially for Cairns, will

then be displayed at the library after dark until 11pm for the duration of Festival, in addition Craig will

work with students from James Cook University to develop a projection art work for the free, youth

event Block Party on 5 September. This will be an all ages event, celebrating the four elements of hip

1.Spiegel Zelt by the Lagoon from 28 August

2. Grand Parade & Fireworks on 29 August

3. EnLIGHTenment from 29 August

4. Sunday on the ‘Nard on 30 August

5. BEYOND, by Circa, 3 to 5 September

6. Block Party on 5 September

7. Carnival on Collins 6 September

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hop – emceeing, turn tabling, dance and graffiti, set on the Esplanade Skate Plaza from late afternoon

into the evening.

Also new to the local mix, but loved by theatregoers worldwide, is Spiegel Zelt by the Lagoon (28

August to 6 September). An intimate and beautifully decorated venue for live shows, the unique tent

began life in Brussels and travelled between fairs until World War II. It was later restored to its former

glory and became a cabaret theatre, finally making its way to Melbourne and now Cairns. Spiegel Zelt

hosts two live shows during Festival, including Jason Coleman’s family friendly Animalastic, an

imaginative musical exploration of the animal kingdom, and Jason Coleman’s Spiegelicious – a comedic

hybrid of cabaret, circus, song and dance for mature audiences. Tickets available through TicketLiNK.

Another family favourite, Sunday on the ‘Nard on 30 August brings the excitement of Festival to the

kiddie mecca that is Muddy’s Playground on the Esplanade, with a full day’s program of children’s

activities including Bollywood dance workshops, the children’s Roundabout Theatre presentation of

‘Colours’, drumming sessions and craft activities. Kids can even enjoy a quiet moment with book

readings by a Cairns Taipan at the Cairns Libraries’ Pop-Up Library. Head down near the Lagoon from

3pm to take in the Festival’s

Family Concert, headlining Australian country music star Troy Cassar-Daley and the Cairns Gondwana

Indigenous Children’s Choir.

BEYOND, by Circa, (3 to 5 September) also makes the list of top picks, with a surreal circus show

exploring the divisions between logic and dreams, madness and sanity, human and animal. Held at

Cairns Civic Theatre, this latest offering from the acclaimed troupe brings dynamic acts including

trapeze and Chinese pole with unexpected elements, set to a soundtrack of show tunes, ballads and

electronica. Tickets available through TicketLiNK. Circa will also hold circus workshops for children and

adults at Tanks Arts Centre throughout the week.

Rounding out the program, and the final event of Festival’s top six, Carnival on Collins (6 September)

has become a Father’s Day tradition attracting more than 25,000 people to Cairns Botanic Gardens

and Tanks Arts Centre to soak in the atmosphere of a grand family fun fair. Local and national

musicians perform across several stages, while the kids enjoy a carnival of their own with face painting,

arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall and much more. Add more than 200+ market stalls and it is little

wonder families flock to this event.

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88 FLOATS, 3000 PEOPLE: RECORD NUMBERS TO JOIN THIS YEAR’S GRAND PARADE

5.30pm Saturday 29 August, 2015

Wednesday, 5 August, 2015. When registration for the Grand Parade closed last week, a record tally of 88 parade entries was reached along with the participation of 3000 people making up the largest cohort in recent years. One float alone has gathered more than 200 people for the procession of joy along the waterfront that will take place from 5.30pm on Saturday 29 August and celebrate the opening of this year’s Festival program.

Crowds of more than 20,000 people are expected to line the city’s streets to cheer on vibrant floats including a traditional hut or fale; a fairy princess-themed ute carrying a little girl with cerebral palsy; a 100-year-old restored dragon boat; and an array of marvellous creations from the region’s schools and youth groups. Cairns Festival’s Grand Parade, one of the region’s most anticipated annual events, winds along the Esplanade and culminates in fireworks from 7.30pm. Themed, “Celebrating our Cultural Diversity”, this year’s Grand Parade promises to be a spectacle of colour and energy, featuring imaginative floats designed by a broad range of groups and organisations. The full program begins at 3.30pm with Circa Performs 46 Circus Acts in 45 minutes followed by music by local musicians, Wil Kepa and Danny Bani at 4.30pm, the Grand Parade at 5.30pm, Fireworks from 7.30pm, EnLIGHTenment screen light projections on the Cairns City Library from 8pm and an after-party at Salt House from 9pm featuring music from local favourites, The Dialers.

More than 200 people will join a float under the banner of Pacific Communities Council FNQ (PCCFNQ) – the largest single entry in the history of the Grand Parade.

PCCFNQ officer Saga Selsby said the advocacy body planned to, “take Cairns on a tour of six Pacific Nations and their cultural dancing”. Ms Selsby said it was the first year PCCFNQ had entered the Parade, representing each of its six member nations of Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand Maori, Samoa and Tonga, with participants flying in from Auckland, New Zealand to join the fun PCCFNQ’s float will feature a traditional hut or fale, travelling through the parade aboard a large truck and surrounded by young people and elders from each nation, wearing traditional dress and accompanied by drumming. Following the truck, members of the six nations will march in traditional dress with flags, stopping six times to showcase cultural dancing.

With Grand Parade entries closing on July 31, more than 50 local schools, community groups and businesses will bring floats to this year’s extravaganza.

Highlighting the community spirit at the heart of the event, Pulling Together for Emma is a float for a brave five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who is in need of treatment. Four people in wheelchairs will tow a fairy princess-themed ‘ute’ carrying young Emma Deede in the hope of raising awareness and funds for her therapy.

Another float set to be a crowd favourite will see a 100-year-old dragon boat restored and decorated to take pride of place in the Parade, under the proud banner of the Cairns Dragon Boat Club.

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Cairns Festival Grand Parade is an important event on the schedule of many of the region’s schools and youth groups, with staff, students and parents pooling efforts to create spectacular floats. This year, they include Yorkeys Knob State School – entering the Parade for the first time in 20 years at the request of a parent who noticed the strong school presence in last year’s procession, as well as Trinity Bay State High School, whose 80-plus school band members will march playing instruments, flanked by dancers.

Look out also for the circus-themed float from Yak Yak Yak (Youth Arts Kuranda and FNQ Home Schoolers), comprising stilt walkers and characters in original costumes and masks, playing instruments created from recycled materials. Together, they form an insect-like creature, moving as a whole but breaking up to perform short choreographed pieces.

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BIDDIGAL SHARE STORIES OF CENTURIES PAST

Indigenous youth bring the stories of the world’s oldest culture to the stage in Biddigal Dreaming, showing at the Centre of Contemporary Arts for Cairns Festival 2015.

Through song, dance and drama, Biddigal Dreaming creates a rich tapestry of Indigenous heritage in a stunning theatre production based on stories shared by elders from around the country.

The show is presented by Biddigal Performing Arts, a group of young Aboriginal dancers aged 11 to 25 who celebrate their heritage and cultural identity through theatre productions featuring storytelling, dance, song and drama.

Based in Cairns, the troupe was created to provide opportunities for Indigenous youth to create and perform original choreography based on true stories capturing Australian Indigenous history, as shared by their elders and passed on from generations before.

From its official formation in March 2013, Biddigal Performing Arts has evolved into an elite company of Indigenous caretakers who have been entrusted by elders to share their centuries-old stories with the world via the stage.

In preparation for Biddigal Dreaming, the group sat with elders from the nations of Yindinji, Wiradjuri, Bundjalung, Warlawarra, and Giddamay, and descendants from the Tafea Province (Tanna Island, Vanuatu) who are now Australian South Sea descendants.

Under the artistic direction of Pauline Lampton, Biddigal performers learn to choreograph and perform with passion to a professional standard. With more than 20 years’ experience in contemporary Indigenous dance, Pauline Lampton has elevated Biddigal to a sought-after performance group that has performed at many regional cultural events and festivals.

Biddigal Dreaming debuted on stage for last year’s Cairns Festival, presenting a work inspired by the stories of elders from the Giddamay people. This year’s production will also feature a guest performance from Nicole Lampton, from Sounds of AustraNesia.

Biddigal Dreaming shows from Friday, 28 August to Saturday, 5 September. Tickets $12 to $24, available from www.artscairns.com.au.

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HIP HOP CREWS COME OUT FOR THE BLOCK PARTY

The Block Party is back – bringing the biggest public dance battles to a celebration of hip hop culture billed as the hottest youth event of this year’s Cairns Festival. Cairns Esplanade Skate Plaza becomes the stage for spectacular dance battles as thousands of youth gather to watch talented hip hop dancers take on rival crews to be crowned Block Party champions. Now in its ninth year, The Block Party makes its highly anticipated return from 4 to 9pm on Saturday, 5 September. Marking The Block Party’s first collaboration with Cairns Festival, it is one of the Top 7 Festival Events for 2015. The Block Party is a celebration of the four elements of hip hop, including emceeing, turn tabling, dance and graffiti. Add skateboarding to the mix and The Block Party earns its status as one of the region’s most exciting, youth-focused events. Event organiser Spencer Browne said The Block Party had grown into an event of wider significance for the community. “The event is no longer about spreading the hip hop culture within the parameters of the Cairns Esplanade, The Block Party is a platform for the whole of community to showcase their talent in dance, music and art,” said Mr Browne. The party kicks off with a skate showcase and jam featuring the team from top Brisbane skate crew, Project Distribution. Dance battles start from 6pm, with live performances from New Era Crew, Soul Predatorz, Royal Bodies Crew, FNQ Crew, Lil Bodiez Crew and Motion Sickness Crew. An independent free community event, The Block Party owes its success to the passion of the young dancers who first took their hip hop skills to the streets in public dance offs held along the Esplanade. The Block Party is an all ages event, expected to attract around 3,000 spectators. Visiting projection artist Craig Walsh brings another element to this year’s Block Party. The mastermind behind Festival’s nightly enLIGHTenment exhibition at the Cairns City Library, Walsh has also worked with students from James Cook University to create the Youth Projection Project, an interactive projection installation that will be shown on the evening of Block Party.

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FATHER’S DAY FUN AT CARNIVAL ON COLLINS

Carnival on Collins is the Father’s Day tradition that attracts more than 25,000 people to the city’s arts precinct each year to soak up the atmosphere of a family fun fair, with free concerts and hundreds of market stalls. In 2015 Carnival on Collins will celebrate its 25 year anniversary and once again, will be the closing highlight of Cairns Festival. Cairns Botanic Gardens and the Tanks Arts Centre become the lush surrounds for a fiesta of entertainment, with three stages hosting local musicians from 9am to 3pm on 6 September. The Main Stage at Flecker Gardens kicks off with Cairns Taiko Drummers and finishes in rocking style with Good Oak. Enjoy multicultural sounds at the Ethno Roadshow Stage on Collins Avenue, with a group finale to round out the show, while the Spotlight Stage at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre provides a platform for talented emerging musicians. Of course, kid-specific fun is firmly on the agenda, with a dedicated Kids’ Carnival featuring performances from Circa and Dream State Circus. Children can join in crazy golf or make tree jewellery with the Saltwater Basketry Group, plant a seedling or climb a rock wall. There is also face painting and arts and crafts, and even book readings with Cairns Taipans players at the Cairns Libraries’ pop-up library. Roving performers will delight crowds throughout the day, including the popular Synchronised Swimmers, Flip Ripley, Uptown Brown and more. Celebrate Cultural Diversity Week with the unveiling of 14,600 Floating Dedications at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, with an art installation that is a tribute to the end of the second Indochina War and the beginning of the Hmong exodus and resettlement. Plus enjoy the flavours of the multi-cultural food stalls at the Feast of Cultures. Make sure to set aside enough time to browse the 200-plus market stalls, offering local arts and crafts, produce, plants and all sorts of fare. Then, wander through each of the Tanks to learn more about the region, including an Energy Exhibition in Tank 4 presented by local school students, and the Sustainability Tank (Tank 5), which will showcase the unique natural environment, tropical lifestyle and green economy. In Tank 3, TAFE Queensland North will host live demonstrations and provide information on available vocational courses.

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CIRCA BRINGS FANTASY SHOW TO TOWN

Circa presents BEYOND will challenge and delight audiences with its surreal exploration of the lines between human and animal, logic and dreams. A top pick of this year’s Festival program, the acclaimed acrobatic ensemble brings its show to Cairns Civic Theatre from 3 to 5 September.

BEYOND combines incredible feats of strength, balance and flexibility with elements of comedy and fantasy in the style of Alice in Wonderland. Set on multiple stages within stages, performers emerge from red-curtained booths – at times donning oversized rabbit heads.

The atmosphere could be one of a cabaret, a zoo, an asylum or the circus, as the skilled performers present dynamic acts including trapeze, silks and Chinese pole, set to an enchanting soundtrack of show tunes, ballads and electronica.

Circus fans will also find Circa at the Festival’s very popular Grand Parade and Fireworks event on Saturday 29 August, performing 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes for afternoon audiences. The troupe will grace the Festival stage on the Esplanade from 3:30pm, battling the clock to bend, fly, juggle and balance at lightning speed.

Then at the Carnival on Collins Father’s Day Spectacular (5 September), Circa is set to delight young audiences with a free performance for the Kid’s Carnival from 11:30am.

It’s enough to make anyone want to run away and join the circus – for those inspired, the Circa Theatre Company is hosting workshops for both children and adults at Tanks Arts Centre during Festival Week. For littlies, the Tiny Tumblers class is a fun introduction to circus for 3 to 4-year-olds and their parents, while the Taste of Circus workshop (5 years and over) covers cartwheels, flips, handstands and group balancing. The workshops are presented by cast members of Circa. Based in Brisbane, Circa has been at the frontier of new circus since 2004. Under the direction of Yaron Lifschitz, the multi-skilled ensemble presents works that push the boundaries of artistry and edginess within the circus genre, blending elements of dance, music and incredible human movement. Circa’s award-winning shows have toured 33 countries across six continents. Cairns Festival runs from Friday 28 August to Sunday 6 September, and comprises more than 100 events and activities showcasing the community’s collective creative energy.

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CAIRNS FESTIVAL GOES GLOBAL FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK

Cairns Festival draws inspiration from all corners of the globe to present a full schedule of events celebrating Cultural Diversity Week. Multicultural communities from across the region showcase their unique customs and lifestyles that together form Cairns’ colourful, tropical identity.

Festival begins with the Cultural Diversity Week Launch and Awards Presentation on Friday, 28 August, highlighting the significance of living in a multicultural society. Cairns Regional Council will present its Cairns Cultural Diversity Awards, created to recognise the achievements of those who strengthen the multicultural fabric of our community.

And then at Sunday on the ‘Nard, FNQ Hmong Youth Society hosts a range of fun games and

activities for children and parents for Festival for Kids, held at Muddy’s Playground on 30 August.

The Hmong community began to settle in the Cairns area from the late 1980s, and today represent

one of the region’s largest refugee communities. Hmong who settled in Cairns came originally from

Laos, Vietnam and Northern Thailand.

Festival’s popular Family Film Night takes on worldly flavour this year, with each screening preceded by a presentation from one of our multicultural communities.

Come along to learn the Papua New Guinean art of weaving baskets and mats from coconut leaves on 3 September, with entertainment provided by West Papuan musicians, Kurabesi Theatre Group. They are followed by a passionate performance of Latin American Folk Dance, showcasing traditional styles of Merengue, Cueca, Chilean and Cumbrian Colombian. The performance is presented by Ritmos de mi Tierra, a group of dancers originally from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile.

For the second Family Film Night on 4 September, the Bhutanese Community Showcase will celebrate their culture through song, traditional dance and storytelling. Several Bhutanese have relocated to Cairns from their small country situated between Tibet (China) and India, with the Bhutanese Community established in 2012 to preserve and celebrate their cultural values Experience a slice of Pacific Island life at the Pasifika Communities Festival on 5 September, featuring live bands, DJs and traditional Islander dancers, as well as cultural food stalls and other performances at this celebration of entertainment, presented by the Pasifika Communities Council FNQ at Fogarty Park.

Regarded as the region’s favourite family day out, Carnival on Collins on 6 September is also an opportunity to taste the flavours of the world with the Feast of Cultures, featuring market stalls serving up dishes representing a range of multicultural cuisines.

Finally, let the Japanese Cultural Festival take you on a journey to a Japanese summer to close your Festival experience. At the heart of this event, taking place on the Western Event Lawn on Cairns Esplanade, are displays of Bon Odori Dance, a folk art with a history spanning 500 years that is associated with Japanese summer days. Each dance is unique to the locality from which it originated. Stalls will also offer traditional Japanese food and arts and crafts.

FESTIVAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK HIGHLIGHTS:

- Cultural Diversity Week Launch and Awards Presentation; Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre,

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28 August, noon to 2pm - FNQ Hmong Youth Society; Sunday on the ‘Nard Festival for Kids, 30 August, 10am to noon - Cultural Weaving; Cairns Esplanade next to the Lagoon, 3 September, 3pm to 5pm - Latin American Folk Dance; Cairns Esplanade next to the Lagoon, 3 September, 5pm to 6pm - Bhutanese Community Showcase; Cairns Esplanade next to the Lagoon, 4 September, 4pm to

6pm - Pasifika Communities Festival; Fogarty Park, 5 September, 3pm to 10pm. - Feast of Cultures at Carnival on Collins; Cairns Botanic Gardens, 6 September, 9am to 3pm - Japanese Cultural Festival; Western Event Lawn, Cairns Esplanade, 6 September, 2pm to 8pm

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MULTICULTURAL FLAIR FOR FESTIVAL FILM NIGHTS

Grab the family, pack a rug and settle back for an evening of watching the stars under the stars, with the return of Festival Family Film Nights on the Esplanade. And to mark this year’s Festival theme of Cultural Diversity, the free film nights will feature music, dance, and art presented by our multicultural communities. Always a popular night out for families of the region, the first of the Festival’s Film Nights will show Bran Nue Dae on Thursday, 3 September.

Bran Nue Dae (PG) is a charming Australian offering blending the genres of musical and romantic comedy, starring Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush. The critically acclaimed film is full of unbridled energy and fun, and has been described as, “a foot stomping tour-de-force centering on the romantic adventures of a young Aboriginal couple and set against the spectacularly beautiful outback Australia”.

Come early to be entertained West Papuan style, with music by the Kurabesi Theatre Co. And for those keen to learn a time-honoured manual skill, join the PNG weavers from East New Britain, who will show you how to weave coconut leaves into beautiful baskets and mats.

Next up, the Latin American dance group Ritmos de mi Tierra lead an explosion of colour and energy as they showcase Merengue, Cueca, Chilean and Cumbrian Colombian traditional dancing. Ritmos de mi Tierra was founded by Marcela Fischer and comprises dancers hailing from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile.

Kurabesi Theatre Co and cultural weaving takes place from 3 to 5pm, followed by Ritmos de mi Tierra till 6pm, with Bran Nue Dae screening from 6:30pm.

Festival’s second Family Film Night, on Friday, 4 September, features the children’s film Paper Planes (G), which tells the tale of a young Australian boy’s passion for flight and his challenge to compete in the World Paper Plane Championships in Japan. Prior to that will be the Bhutanese Community’s showcase from 4pm – 6pm.

Kids can get in the mood before the movie, with paper plane workshops and competitions to be held from 6pm. Paper Planes screens from 6:30pm.

All film nights to be held at the outdoor cinema next to the Lagoon on Cairns Esplanade. Both evenings also include a screening of the People’s Choice award winners from the Understory Film Festival – Travis Bain’s Little Nippers and Daniel “Bosko” Siddharta’s Another Day in Paradise.

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TINY SPIEGEL ZELT LENDS TOUCH OF WONDER TO THEATRE

Journey to a place of wonder from times past with the famous Spiegel Zelt, an opulent European tent that will host two explosive theatre shows for Cairns Festival 2015. Originally from Belgium, Spiegel Zelt – or “the little mirror tent” – has been restored to its former glory and will be transplanted to the Lagoon, on the Eastern Event Lawn, as the beautiful venue for two live shows presented by creative mastermind and renowned choreographer, Jason Coleman, former judge on TV show, “So You Think You Can”.

At just over 12.5m wide, the 96-year-old Spiegel Zelt features stunning stained glass windows, sparkling mirrors, luxurious velvet lined booths and smooth timber floors, finished with a hand-sewn red and yellow canopy. Audiences escape to a place of wonder from the moment they enter the intimate space, immersing themselves in the magic of theatre for the duration of the show. Jason Coleman’s ANIMALASTIC show is one for the whole family, with children certain to delight in this celebration of song, dance and circus and its colourful cast of animal characters. The 50-minute show begins in an Aussie backyard and follows three children who travel the world, discovering all kinds of amazing wildlife along the way. Come along and see fairy penguins dancing, rosellas flying and lions roaring in this fantastical, musical exploration of the animal kingdom with a distinctly human twist.

After-dark, Spiegel Zelt becomes the venue for adults-only fantasy, with Jason Coleman’s SPIEGELICIOUS. Billed as a “celebration of all things delicious”, this show blends cabaret, song, dance and circus in a humorous hybrid designed to tantalise, titillate and leave audiences spellbound by the sheer talent and aesthetic appeal of its all-star cast. SPIEGELICIOUS is presented in two 35-minute acts. Show seasons commence 26 August and run to 29 September, with tickets available through TicketLiNK.

Named De Zonnestral, or “The Sunbeam”, for the sun patterns gracing its entrance mirrors, the Spiegel Zelt coming to Cairns Festival’s Eastern Event Lawn was one of two built south of Brussels that spent their early years travelling between fairs. Outlawed during the cultural darkness of World War Two, the tent was stored in a warehouse for many years before its re-discovery. It was then sold to the Netherlands and served as a café until being restored to its heyday condition and brought to Berlin where it stayed for a decade showing cabaret theatre. Finally, the Spiegel Zelt made its way to Melbourne and now travels to Cairns.

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COUNTRY STAR TROY CASSAR-DALEY AT SUNDAY ON THE ‘NARD Sunday 30 August, 2015

It is the not-to-be-missed event on every kid’s schedule, and Sunday on the ‘Nard is back for Festival 2015, bigger and better than last year. Sunday 30 August sees the Esplanade come alive with free events, culminating in the Festival’s Family Concert by the Lagoon, featuring special guest, Troy Cassar-Daley. The multi-award winning Australian artist brings his Freedom Ride tour to Cairns, celebrating the release of his 9th solo album. Cassar-Daley will perform songs from his new album as well as his most popular tunes, and is joined on the Festival Stage by the best in local talent. The fun gets underway early with the Festival for Kids at Muddy’s Playground on Cairns Esplanade from 9am, with a Bollywood workshop and performance for children and parents led by Deepika. Then, at 10am, Roundabout Theatre Company presents ‘Colours’, a playful exploration of primary colours in which children are invited to create rainbows. In keeping with this year’s Festival theme of cultural diversity, FNQ Hmong Youth Society will host a range of games and activities from 10am to noon, while from midday Jeff Cotter will lead drumming workshops. At 11am Cairns Taipans fans can enjoy a story read by one of the players at the pop-up library, presented by Cairns Libraries and open all day from 9am. Then, join in the rowdy fun as Crazy Bron weaves her way through Muddy’s on a musical adventure, from 11am to 1pm. Craft workshops will also be held throughout the morning, guiding kids to create unique headdresses or musical instruments which they can then parade through the playground. From 3pm, find a patch on the lawn to wind down into the evening and enjoy a free concert, with one of Australia’s favourite musicians, Troy Cassar-Daley, headlining. Kicking off the afternoon of family entertainment is local talent Greta Stanley, followed by Ryo Montgomery and Tiffany Smith performing their eclectic country-folk fusion. The acclaimed Cairns Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir will also delight crowds, before Cassar-Daly takes to the stage from 5:30 to 7pm.

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ENLIGHTENMENT SHINES ON CAIRNS FOR FESTIVAL

Each night throughout Cairns Festival, Cairns City Library will come alive under the light of a massive projection reflecting the heart of our region in grand, digital scale.

Australian projection artist Craig Walsh presents enLIGHTenment especially for Festival 2015, a work that will amaze onlookers with its monumental size and impact, yet also connect with the community for which it was created.

Walsh is renowned for creating innovative, large-scale artworks that reflect the site for which they were commissioned. His works incorporate digital video, projection, sculpture, photography and sound to create striking 3D illusions, with each developed in collaboration with local communities to incorporate their unique histories and characteristics.

enLIGHTenment will launch in Cairns as an ethereal finale to Grand Parade night on 29 August, spilling colour and movement over the walls of the city’s historic library in Abbott Street. The work can then be viewed each night throughout Festival, from after dark to 11pm.

Walsh has also collaborated with students from James Cook University to create a separate projection work, to be featured at the Cairns Esplanade for the popular hip hop event, Block Party, on September 5.

enLIGHTenment is set to be a stunning feast for the senses, fuelling wonder in its cutting edge reflection of the region’s natural environment, and the various experiences of living in tropical Far North Queensland.

Based in Tweed Heads, NSW, Craig Walsh has transferred his interest in alternative contemporary art to site-specific projects around the world. He has created unique projections for theatre, architecture and public works, gallery exhibitions, natural environments and festivals.

Walsh’s works have been shown at international exhibitions, including Setouchi Triennale, Gwangju Bienelle, Jakarta Biennale XIII, Yokohama International Triennale of Contemporary Art, 01SJ Biennal San Jose, California; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Koganecho Bazaar, Japan; and DRIFT 08, London.

Walsh currently also holds a post as Adjunct Professor at Griffith University.

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CAIRNS FESTIVAL A FAMILY AFFAIR Bringing families together to celebrate their unique shared tropical lifestyle is one of the key aims of Cairns Festival. From the perennially popular Grand Parade and Fireworks and Carnival on Collins to the big kids’ day out at Sunday on the ‘Nard and so much more, this year’s Festival offers a wealth of events and activities that promise to provide lasting memories and important together time for families of the region.

The Grand Parade and Fireworks on 29 August needs little introduction, having established itself over the years as a favourite for all ages. Several of the vibrant floats making up the Parade have been entered by local school and youth groups, giving children the special experience of actively participating, either as part of the creative force that went into making the float, or joining the lively procession on the evening.

Families looking to start the fun of Parade Day early can get along to check out the adrenalin-charged action at AJ Hackett Bungy at Smithfield. Jump onboard – if you dare – to join the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people bungy jumping in one day.

For cat lovers, Sunday on August 30 is the Cairns All Breeds Cat Club Championship Show, featuring pretty kitties of all sorts strutting their stuff for the judges, including pedigree and domestic cats and kittens. The show will be held at Cairns State High School.

Kids will want to lock in August 30 for Sunday on the ‘Nard, with the Kids’ Festival from 9am bringing a host of craft and music workshops, fun performances and even book readings by the Cairns Taipans to Muddy’s Playground on the Esplanade. Then in the afternoon, the free Family Concert by the Lagoon headlines country music star Troy Cassar-Daley.

Families looking to explore the city’s cultural heart can join the Cairns Creative Crawl Festival Edition on 4 September. Climb onboard the open top, double decker bus and be guided through a tour of local arts venues showcasing the best of Cairns’ artistic community.

Cairns Birding Festival this year features a new event, Birding by Bus, that is expected to be popular with the young. Cairns Birding Group presents a schedule of daily active and informative bird-watching tours.

Cairns Regional Gallery presents its Festival Family Fun Day on September 5, where local artists will host kids’ art activities, including creating fun animal masks. Entry to the art gallery is free all day.

Providing a fun-packed finale to the Festival for families is Carnival on Collins on September 6, the Father’s Day tradition featuring live entertainment, market stalls and a dedicated Kids’ Carnival featuring face painting and arts and crafts activities, as well as performances from Circa and Dream State Circus.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS:

- AJ Hackett Bungy World Record Attempt; 29 August, 8am to midnight - Grand Parade and Fireworks; 29 August, 3:30pm to 9pm - Cairns All Breeds Cat Club Championship Show; 30 August, 10am to 3:30pm - Sunday on the ‘Nard Kids’ Festival; 30 August, 9am to 1pm

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- Sunday on the ‘Nard Family Concert; 30 August, 3pm to 7pm - Cairns Creative Crawl; 4 September, 5:15pm to 9pm - Festival Family Fun Day; 5 September, 10am to 1pm - Cairns Birding Festival; All Festival - Carnival on Collins; 5 September, 10am to 3pm

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FESTIVAL A ROCKING GOOD TIME FOR MUSIC BUFFS

Cairns Festival kicks off its roster of live music with the exciting Spotlight Showcase featuring emerging local artists. Each of the five featured musicians was selected from a competitive field to star in this multi-arts event of live music and music photography, taking place on the Festival Stage next to the Lagoon on Cairns Esplanade on Friday, 28 August. This year’s featured artists are Kanishk Chaudhary, Blck Bird, In The Element, Lana Welsh and Em Joy. Each performance will be enhanced with a digital display of images and videography by Nick De Gabriele and Craig Middleton. Supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Spotlight Showcase aims to link the best up-and-coming musicians to the professional music industry.

For jazz fans and others up for a good night out, Tanks Arts Centre presents The Catholics, regarded as one of the country’s top jazz acts, for the ninth annual Jazz Up North series on August 28. Performing especially for Festival, The Catholics is a seven-piece ensemble of consummate musicians who have forged a reputation since 1991 for beautifully crafted and instantly accessible jazz pieces.

Then on 29 August, continue the fun of the Grand Parade once the last fireworks have dimmed, with the Official Grand Parade After Party featuring local favourites The Dialers, at the Salt House. Comprised of musicians who have been playing and recording in the Cairns area for more than 10 years, The Dialers connect with audiences through their lively mix of ska, hip hop and electronic music – genres they say resonate with the laidback tropical vibe of FNQ music fans.

And signalling the last weekend of Festival with a night of banging tunes, The Preatures play Tank 5 on Friday, 4 September. Formed in 2010, The Preatures is a five-piece rock band from Sydney with two acclaimed EPs to their name. Their breakthrough single, Is This How You Feel?, landed them much success and global gigs at Glastonbury, Coachella, Bonnaroo and on the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show. The Preatures play an exhilarating combination of rock and roll, soul and brash, joyous pop.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL 2015 is a 10-day celebration of our tropical lifestyle with performances, exhibitions, music and film – proudly brought to the community by CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS:

- The Catholics; Tanks Arts Centre, 28 August, 6:30pm - Spotlight Showcase; Festival Stage, 28 August, 6pm to 9pm - Official Grand Parade After Party with The Dialers; Salt House, 29 August, 9pm till late - The Preatures; Tanks Arts Centre, 4 September, 6:30pm

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FESTIVAL’S VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM TO SATISFY ALL TASTES From sculptures assembled from recycled car parts to explorations of the latest in animation, Cairns Festival presents an impressive array of exhibitions to satisfy art enthusiasts of all persuasions.

Cairns Regional Gallery, KickArts Contemporary Arts and the Canopy Arts Centre join more intimate venues such as Flying Monkey Café and Crate 59 to host works by artists both traditional and modern throughout Festival. Together, the exhibitions form a rich tapestry showcasing the diverse talents of local and visiting artists.

Projection artist Craig Walsh’s EnLIGHTenment project is an exciting highlight of Festival’s Visual Arts Program. Walsh is known for creating large-scale digital works incorporating the identity of the city in which he is showcasing. His projections will light up the walls of the Cairns City Library each night throughout Festival.

Also taking visual arts to new places is the innovative animation exhibition ANtIMATION, showing at KickArts Contemporary Arts from 5 September. ANtIMATION reveals the many materials and techniques used by animation artists in this exploration of the fast-evolving medium and its use of experimentation and new technologies.

From cutting edge to salvaged treasures, Found in a Dusty Shed is a collection presented by assemblage artist Ian Tunbridge, who creates sculptures from recycled materials including vintage car parts, inviting viewers to ponder iconic relics from the past. The exhibition will be held at the Flying Monkey Café throughout festival.

Cairns Regional Gallery has curated a collection of diverse exhibitions for Festival, including Donald Friend’s Far North Queensland, Ray Crooke OAM’s Collection in Focus, and Lucy Carroll’s Women in Defence. Out of Queensland, also at the Gallery, showcases original artworks transformed by nine Indigenous artists into textiles, while Alick Tipoti’s Ancestor Spirits provides insights into the artist’s Torres Strait Islander culture through his three-dimensional masks and sculptures.

And at the Tanks Arts Centre, talented school students from around the region share their creative energy and insights for the Energy Exhibition, opening 4 September.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL VISUAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS:

- Indonesian Cultural Exhibition; Canopy Art Centre - Donald Friend; Cairns Regional Gallery - Alick Tipoti – Zugubal Exhibition; Cairns Regional Gallery - Out of Queensland – New Indigenous Textiles; Cairns Regional Gallery - Collection in Focus: Ray Crooke OAM; Cairns Regional Gallery - Lucy Carroll: Women in Defence; Cairns Regional Gallery - Found in a Dusty Shed; Flying Monkey Café - Lowgravity; Crate 59 - Declan Delargy: Beyond; KickArts Contemporary Arts - enLIGHTenment – projections by Craig Walsh; Cairns City Library - Pictures of Nothing; Canopy Arts Centre - Energy Exhibition; Tanks Arts Centre - ANtIMATION; KickArts Contemporary Arts

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HANDS-ON FUN AT FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS

Step out of your comfort zone and into the shoes of a salsa dancer, circus performer or Japanese drummer, with Cairns Festival’s fantastic range of workshops for 2015.

Facilitated by leaders in their respective fields, each workshop provides an opportunity for participants to channel the creative inspiration provided by Festival into learning a new skill in a fun, social environment.

Local salsa master Alejandro Torres leads two workshops during Festival to introduce people to the popular social dance style influenced by the rhythms of Latin America. Alejandro is determined to bring his passion for salsa to the people of Cairns, promising a fun way to keep fit and meet new friends.

Lyquid Nightclub will host two salsa workshops on 31 August and 1 September, one for beginners from 6:30pm and one for intermediate dancers from 7:30pm. One class costs $15, or both for $25.

Visiting acrobatic ensemble, the acclaimed Circa, presents a program of circus workshops run by company members of BEYOND, showing at Cairns Civic Theatre throughout Festival. Kids will love Circa’s Tiny Tumblers and Taste of Circus workshops, held at the Tanks Arts Centre on 1 September.

The Tiny Tumblers class is a fun introduction to circus for three and four-year-olds and their parents, using story telling, games and active play to teach little ones about movement, coordination, listening and creativity. Circa Tiny Tumblers runs from 10am to 11am, and costs $20.

For kids aged five and over, Circa’s Taste of Circus Workshop is set to pull out all the tricks. This high-energy class covers cartwheels, flips, rolls and somersaults, as well as teaching the art of duo, trio and group balances. Taste of Circus Workshop runs from 4pm to 5:30pm, cost $30.

The Cairns Taiko drummers invite young and old to feel the beat for their free workshop series at Festival. Taiko is the Japanese word for drums, as well as describing the art of ensemble drumming. Cairns Taiko aims to promote cross-cultural understanding and community spirit, while sharing the joy of music through performances, rehearsals and workshops.

They will host adults’ classes on 5 September at their Cairns Showgrounds dojo, with two free beginners sessions from 10am to 11:30am and 1pm to 2:30pm. Cairns Taiko will also perform and run free kids’ workshops at Carnival on Collins on 6 September.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL WORKSHOPS HIGHLIGHTS:

- Salsa Dance Classes with Alejandro Torres; Lyquid Nightclub, 31 August and 1 September, 6:30pm and 7:30pm

- Circa Theatre Company – Circa Workshops; Tanks Arts Centre, 1 September, 10am to 11am and 4pm to 5:30pm

- Cairns Taiko Workshops; Cairns Taiko Dojo, Cairns Showgrounds, 5 September, 10am to 11:30am and 1pm to 2:30pm.

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FESTIVAL CELEBRATES YOUTH STREET CULTURE

From a parade showcasing Japanese-inspired street fashion to Block Party’s energetic celebration of hip hop, Cairns Festival taps into the individuality and creativity of the region’s youth culture.

Bookending this year’s Festival, two big youth events include CairCoCo, a showcase of unique urban fashion landing at KickArts Contemporary Arts on 28 August, and Block Party, featuring spectacular dance battles between rival hip hop crews, coming to Cairns Esplanade Skate Plaza on 5 September.

The CairCoCo club was established as a base for young people keen to explore their identity through creative street fashion. Inspired by the quirky, colourful looks hailing from the Japanese city of Harajuku, CairCoCo encourages members to create their own styles, against the backdrop of Cairns’ beautiful, tropical surrounds.

CairCoCo was founded by Japanese artist Jun Tagami, who has lived in Cairns since April 2014 and wanted to provide a place for creative locals to meet and express their love of fashion. Over the past months, Tagami has organised photo shoots with members, resulting in a collection showcasing Kawaii, Lolita, Goth, tropical and street styles in Cairns, forming CairCoCo’s first exhibition debuting for Festival. CairCoCo will host a launch event on Saturday 29 August featuring a fashion parade.

Then on Saturday, 5 September, Cairns Esplanade Skate Plaza hosts a celebration of a different aspect of global youth culture, with the popular Block Party making its much anticipated return. Thousands of youth are expected to gather to watch talented hip hop dancers battle rival crews. The Block Party is a celebration of the four elements of hip hop, including emceeing, turn tabling, dance and graffiti. The party kicks off with a skate showcase and jam featuring the team from top Brisbane skate crew, Project Distribution.

Dance battles start from 6pm, with live performances from New Era Crew, Soul Predatorz, Royal Bodies Crew, FNQ Crew, Lil Bodiez Crew and Motion Sickness Crew.

CAIRNS FESTIVAL YOUTH HIGHLIGHTS:

- Cair Coco Exhibition and Launch; KickArts Contemporary Arts, from 28 August. Launch 29 August,

10am to 2pm. - Block Party; Cairns Esplanade Skate Plaza, 5 September, 4pm to 9pm.

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CONTACTS

Claire Heathcock

Cairns Festival Information

PH: 4044 3594

Media Enquiries:

Pip Miller PR

Mob: 0419 681 543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au