So this is Shepparton

3 March, 2017

Image 1

The quaint courtyard where the Opening Ceremony was held was not what I expected. The live music quickly became background to the chattering new comers trying to find their way and see what was happening. Looking around, I wasn’t sure what was going on or if there was much more to come. Luckily my question was answered when our amusing festival runners, who even from a distance seemed to be lively and fun, walked up to the stage.

The 2017 Shepp Fest has taken on mapping as a theme, but it goes beyond the geographically physical definition and expands to explore behaviour and ideas. The artists of this festival have engaged with the local industries in order to create these hopefully innovative outcomes, which I will be able to investigate over the next few days.

The Mayor of the Shepparton City Council welcomed us to the 21^st birthday of the festival, which impressively is the longest running arts festival in Victoria. I will have a drink to that and I suggest you do the same. The 44 events over the next 17 days are organized to create a community conversation using the arts to bring us creative and curious minds together.

Being not well versed in the history of the festival, the award ceremony slightly lost me with the constant name-dropping. A little chuckle did, however, come over the crowd when the history of the John Head award was revealed. Apparently after the trophy of a harmonica was made for the first receiver, who is the namesake of the award, he pointed out the harmonica was in fact up side down. A fact Head did not let the Fest organizers forget on the night of his reception as he comically held it upside down to mime playing.

As the day grew later, the locals came out for a Friday night drink after work. It was a minor but noticeable disruption as they began their banter over the already quiet speakers despite their microphone. These locals did not look prepared to give up their Friday night spot for the arts, but as a fellow member of the aspiring arts community I understand the struggle of outsider’s dismissal. Our next obstacle on this hot sunny day was the spontaneous rain cloud that made its way over our heads. Of course this didn’t deter our community from trudging on because if rain is the worst you can throw at these art enthusiasts, I say bring it!

(Image 1. SheppFest Opening Night)