Creative Fiesta back at Smythesdale

THE postponed Smythesdale Arts and Music Fiesta will come alive in the Shire’s north next month.

Coordinator, Barry Wemyss said the free, inclusive festival, based at the town green and The Well, is “an event all about community engagement; that’s the bottom line.”

“We want to offer exposure opportunities for our fantastic established and emerging local artists, inviting them to take part, and show the general public what’s happening in their own backyard art-wise,” he said.

“You could have an artist next door to you, or down the road, and not know. Haddon’s Vida Pearson, for example, has a national and international following.”

The Fiesta will include a visual arts exhibition inside The Well showcasing diverse local artists of “outstanding quality,” who produce functional and sculptural ceramics, are printmakers, acrylic painters and more.

Creatives like Marita Reynolds and Sketch Club will run workshops, Megan J Riedl will present poetry readings, attendees can enjoy outdoor sculptures, artisans’ stalls, and hear live music from solo performing artists and ensembles like Celtic-country group The Barnacoyle Band.

“Art is art. It doesn’t need to be glossy like a new car, it just needs to be saying something,” Mr Wemyss said

Although not yet confirmed, he is keen on hosting a car club, and screening a historically significant film showcase.

Mr Wemyss grew up in Smythesdale and is the vice-president of Golden Plains Arts Incorporated; a collective with an 80-strong membership.

The Fiesta was his idea, and he has passionately driven the project with support from GP Arts Inc.

“Two or three years ago, I tabled the idea of batting for artists in the north-end of the Golden Plains. My pitch was that it’s a grass is greener scenario; we always miss out up here.

“Smythesdale has the perfect spot for events, opposite the Court House Hotel on the green. GP Arts Inc said, ‘go for it,’ and nominated me to coordinator under their umbrella,” Mr Wemyss said.

Aiming to build on the success of 2019’s Fiesta, and not wanting to miss an opportunity to present what was organised for last year’s postponed event, the Smythesdale Arts and Music Fiesta will run on Sunday, 7 February.