News

The George Fairfax New Theatre Award

The Castlemaine State Festival is thrilled to announce the expansion of the
George Fairfax Play Competition. 2013 marks the 7th cycle for this Award, and
the Festival extends the invitation to Victorian-based Playwrights and Theatre
Makers, individuals, collectives and companies to apply. Click here to download submission details.

2013 Castlemaine State Festival Artistic Theme Announced

ELEMENTAL

Elemental, the theme for the 2013 Castlemaine State Festival can be
interpreted in a multitude of ways; it can be seen to mean the four elements
of earth, water, air and fire; the fundamental needs of mankind; the periodic
table of (chemical) elements or the ancient alchemic elemental as
conceived by Paracelsus. Elemental can also be dissected as a word and
interpreted semantically as pertaining 'to the mental (state)'. However the
interpretations of Elemental are not limited to these possibilities.
Elemental (as a theme) is being explored for all curated works for the 2013
Castlemaine State Festival; theatre, visual artworks, music, text, film and other
art disciplines.

INTEGRATED ART
For the first time, the Castlemaine State Festival will be exploring ways in which
to integrate sculptural/spatial installations with existing and improvised
performance spaces, thereby blurring the edges between the static and the
active, the audience and the performer, creating more immersive art
experiences for all festival goers.

The Festival encourages artists to explore new environments in which to
present their work and to consider working in a way that may be a departure
from their usual arts practice.

These integrated art installations should have an emphasis on recycling and
the creative and inspired use of locally available materials. Works may also
be interactive with their audience.

The Festival is a unique regional festival which provides distinctive possibilities
and ideal creative partnership opportunities between artists, audiences and
local businesses.

SUBMISSIONS TO THE FESTIVAL
Local (Mount Alexander Shire and vicinity) artists are encouraged to submit to
the Castlemaine State Festival proposals of no more than 250 words, outlining
their ideas for artworks for the 2013 Festival curated program exploring the
theme of Elemental. Up to three images of no more than 1MB each may also
be submitted, as appropriate. All artistic concepts submitted will be treated
confidentially with intellectual ownership resting with the author.

Submissions can be emailed by 31 January 2012 to
information@castlemainefestival.com.au

Additionally, beyond the curated program for the 2013 Festival, all local visual
artists are invited to explore the theme Elemental and have their work
promoted within the Festival program. Artists who do not wish to explore this
theme in their work may also promote their exhibitions/events in the Festival
program. Specifications and associated fees for all categories will be
available on-line early in 2012.