Old trades are brought to life at the Heritage Makers Fair, now joined with the prestigious Quilt & Craft Spectacular as one huge event.
In a progressive move to present an outstanding and signifcant event in our region, the Rotary Club of Gympie has combined the prestigious Quilt & Craft Spectacular with its Ancient Crafts Rare Trades Expo. United, and now rebranded as the Gympie Rotary Heritage Makers Fair, the event is tipped to be one of the largest showcases of quilting, craft and heritage trades in South East Qld. It will be held in and around Gympie’s Pavilion from 1-2 July 2023.
“It’s a tribute to the heritage trades of our past as well as a celebration of contemporary quilting and artisanal exhibits” says Club President Andrew Brook.
“We’ve pulled out all the stops to present an event that will be, I believe, one of South East Queensland’s most outstanding presentations of heritage trades, craft, domestic arts, superb quilting and artisan exhibits.”
The expanded event will include the works of renowned national guest artisans, traditional and contemporary quilts and art quilts showcased inside Gympie’s Pavilion, while wrapped around the exterior will be an incredible array of over 65 masters, artisans and makers of diverse heritage trades and crafts. These makers, who will be demonstrating throughout the event, will shed light on the skills which were once part of the everyday life of yesteryear. They are passionate about keeping their almost-forgotten trades alive and inspiring a new generation of craftspeople.
In five themed venues, demonstrating artisans include: forgers and smiths of iron, tin, silver, copper and glass; makers of paper, mosaics, leadlight, signs; a wheelwright; a saddler, a whipmaker, a cordwainer; woodcarvers, turners, spoon smiths, luthiers, whittlers; weavers of cane, wheat, wire, wools, fibres, reeds and weeds; quilting, embroidery, lacemaking and much more – including mead tasting, a program for kids, an opportunity to meet’n’greet a Clydesdale and there’s a traditional wheelwright at work.
“We encourage families to come” says co-ordinator Kathy Kane.
“Lots of kids activities include trying their hand at copperwork, leatherwork, papermaking, mosaics, leadlighting, fossicking, knitting, weaving, signwriting – and adults can have-a-go too.”
The Rotary Club of Gympie is proud to host this event, which will be one of the most significant in its history. Early indications are that the merger was a good move. Enquiries and bookings are coming from areas throughout the state and northern NSW, attracting people to our region and shining a cultural spotlight on Gympie.
The event is also a platform for many local community groups to network and connect with the public, all in an atmosphere of great camaraderie.
Tickets are only $15 per person per day and can be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/CFJYT or at the gate.
Proceeds benefit charities and community groups.