Visions of ShockWave 2010

Last week young people from Longreach, Blackall and Barcaldine participated in the first Way Out West workshops for 2010. This first series of workshops focused on visioning and planning for the second annual Shockwave Festival and designing posters to spread the word about the upcoming event.

The Shockwave Youth Arts Festival is set to explode on 22 and 23 May this year, with a vast range of arts workshops and activities.

“The planning workshops for the festival were such a great success,” enthused Program Coordinator Steph Vajda. “Going from year one to year two for an event like Shockwave can be tricky, but with the enthusiasm shown by all who participated in the workshops, I know we’re in for an innovative and entertaining couple of days.”

With activities and workshops such as stencilling, temporary tattoos, skate deck art, lantern making, tie dying, costumed video blogging, clay animations, dance and skate skills being scoped for the festival, organisers are also looking to find local and headline performers.

“Myself and David Goodman in Blackall are working with Steph to produce the festival,” stated Longreach dancer Claire Rawlins, “and to organise heaps of creative activities for people to be involved in. We’re really keen for people to let us know about local performers of any type and to give us ideas about headline bands we can bring out.”

The CPCW Australia Facebook page is a great way to keep in touch with how the festival is coming together. Young people from around the region can suggest local performances through this page and also vote on headline bands.

Coordination of the Shockwave Youth Arts Festival is supported by Event Production Crew’s in both Blackall and Longreach with planning workshops scheduled during the next stage of the Way Out West program from 7 to 15 April.

The April workshops will take place in both Longreach and Blackall and provide skills and support in graphic design, visual art, drama, film, multimedia and event production.

“We’re also continuing our work to identify and support young people who have business, project or event ideas, providing resources and guidance to turn these ideas into reality,” noted Steph.

For both the April Youth Week events in Blackall and Longreach and the 2010 Shockwave Youth Arts Festival, transport, accommodation and meals are available for young people who are keen to participate.

To get involved in workshops, events and Shockwave, contact Claire Rawlins on 0400 754 865, email cpcw@human.org.au or go to our Facebook page CPCW Australia.

The Way Out West creative arts and enterprise workshops and showcase series is currently supported by: Australia Council for the Arts, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, The Stockwell Webber Foundation, Longreach Youth Development Office, Longreach Arts Council, RAPAD, CICADAS and Human Ventures.

For more information about the Way Out West program, contact Human Ventures on 07 3229 8055 or email cpcw@human.org.au.

Human acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.