The Sunshine Coast’s premier arts event, Horizon Festival makes its return this August with an eclectic and celebratory programme of cabaret, music, theatre, comedy, and much more.
At the heart of this year’s event is a salute to the vibrancy of the Sunshine Coast, with artist and community stories packing Horizon’s itinerary.
First Nations-led programming is once again at the centre of Horizon Festival, celebrating Kabi Kabi and Jinibara artists and their incredible culture.
Horizon Festival director Hannah Clissold says this year’s programme was designed to offer Sunny Coast residents and visitors a taste of the abundant opportunities to engage with local artists as well as local and international acts.
“The atmosphere at the Festival Hub will be exhilarating and uplifting,” Hannah says, “and this year we’ve programmed more food, free live music, art experiences and family entertainment to complement the world-class programme of shows.”
The central stage and opening weekend will once again be the Wonderland Spiegeltent at the Festival Park at Cotton Tree Park, where the Opening Ceremony will take place followed by a performance of ‘NOISE’ by Dancenorth, Horizon’s newly formed drumming band. As well as this, attendees can participate in Horizon’s free live music programme, Live and Local.
A decadent array of international shows is also billed this year, among them the exciting all-ages circus production ‘Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure’, the fun and fabulous cabaret ‘Dirty Laundry’ from the Briefs crew, and the ‘Sunshine Coast Comedy Gala’ among much more.
Heaps more events will be featured across the region at a range of impeccably beautiful locations. Among them is a unique live music sunset performance by Lior at Glass House Mountains, as well as ‘From Rations To Wages To Treaty’ at Coolum, and Blak Social Party taking place in Maroochydore.
Visual art lovers’ appetites are catered for with a host of six exhibitions, led by the Sunshine Coast Art Prize, collaborative photo exhibition ‘Your Local Photo Club’, a moving Jinibara exhibition ‘Njumga Djum Yo:ran Ba Djuwan’, and more.
Closing out the festival weekend is a plethora of exciting events, beginning with the world premiere of ‘Tallo-Billa’ (humpback whale in Kabi Kabi language), an on-water experience on Sunreef’s Whale One.
Additionally, internationally acclaimed theatre production ‘Yes Yes Yes, Living Waters: A Short Film Event’ takes place, while Eumundi plays host to Horizon’s signature multi-arts celebration of remembrance, ‘Dreaming’, and ritual, ‘Dawn Awakening’.
Describing Horizon Festival as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most anticipated events, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson says: “We are proud to present an accessible, inclusive, and diverse programme this year, with exhibits, performances, and events from coast to hinterland.
“Across ten days and nights, the multi-arts festival supports the growing and sustainable arts and cultural ecology of our region.”
Check out the complete 2023 programme.
Festival runs at various Sunshine Coast locations from 25 August to 3 September.
Horizon Festival 2023 Programme
TRADITIONAL OWNER-LED WORKS
Dawn Awakening – 3 Sep
Kabi Kabi Connections – 25-27 Aug, 29 Aug to 2 Sep
Njumga Drum Yo: ran Ba Djuwan – 26 Aug to 3 Sep
Tallo-Billa – 1 Sep
Tallo-Billa: Ocean Fieldtrip Masterclass – 27 Aug
THE FESTIVAL HUB & SURROUNDS
Opening Ceremony – 25 Aug
NOISE – 25-26 Aug
Briefs – Dirty Laundry – 25-26, 28 Aug
Common People’s Dance Eisteddfod – 26 Aug
ROUGE – 30 Aug, 2-3 Sep
Live & Local In The Garden – 25-27, 29-31 Aug, 1-3 Sep
Sunshine Coast Comedy Gala – 2 Sep
Let’s Organise Your Leisure – 2-3 Sep
Conversations With Men – 29 Aug
PERFORMANCE
From Rations To Wages To Treaty – 26 Aug
Blak Social Party – 26 Aug
Lior – 2 Sep
Yes, Yes, Yes – 1 Sep
Sunshine Sounds Festival – 2-3 Sep
HOMEGROWN
Labyrinth – 31 Aug to 2 Sep
The Blak Laundry – 27 Aug, 31 Aug, 1 Sep, 2 Sep
Where To From Here? – 26 Aug to 3 Sep
VISUAL ART
You Are Neither Here Nor There – 26 Aug to 28 Oct
WARP – 26-27 Aug, 29 Aug to 1 Sep
Concrete Collage – 25 Aug to 3 Sep
Glambour – 26 Aug
Nonsensual – 26 Aug to 3 Sep
Unapologetically Dressed – 26 Aug to 3 Sep
Your Local Photo Club – 2 Sep
Sunshine Coast Art Prize
WORDS AND IDEAS
Living Waters: A Short Film Event – 1 Sep
Dear Reader: A Celebration Of Readers, Writers & Libraries – 2 Sep
WORKSHOPS
A Weekend With Graham Abbot – 26-27 Aug
HOTMESS – 26 Aug
Skateboard Art Workshop – 31 Aug