Sharing stories and voices from the edge in Queenscliff

The Sacrededge Festival will return for another weekend of diversity and inclusion next month, and at least one presenter is very keen to be presenting again.

To be held in Queenscliff, the 2023 festival of stories, poetry, music, local art, workshops and discussions on Indigenous, refugee, LGBTQIA+, mental health and environmental issues will feature 30 presenters, including poet and conflict transformation practitioner Padraig O’Tuama.

“What an amazing thing you all do in this festival – the inclusion, the welcome, the education about politics, and art and power and ideas. Wonderful,” O’Tuama said after his event at the 2019 festival.

The broad range of subjects gives Sacrededge a unique flavour, providing people of all ages with opportunities to learn and connect, rather than simply be entertained, and to listen to voices from the edge and celebrate their diverse culture, gender and unique contribution to our communities.

This will be the eighth year of hearing the stories and passions that collectively make Sacrededge feel “like a big hug”, according to one 2022 festivalgoer.

Highlights in 2023 include:

First Nations words, music and art from singer/songwriter, festival curator, theatre/film producer and freelance writer Lydia Fairhall, who will share her 20 years of experience across remote and urban communities through song and discussion

An exhibition of Indigenous art will fill the chapel space, courtesy of Narana Creations.

Fleassy Malay, an evocative and powerful spoken word artist, speaker and coach is a global advocate for women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ visibility, and reached a new audience when her poem “Witches” went viral on International Women’s Day in 2018

Jonathan Butler, author of The Boy in a Dress will be interviewed by Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen

Daniel Witthaus, educational consultant and writer, and magician and actor Em Chandler, along with other trans and gender diverse families will share their transition stories

The return of Awale Ahmed, multilingual writer and storyteller from Somalia who advocates for social justice and refugee rights

Local Tamil refugees will serve a delicious meal on the Saturday night (included in a full weekend ticket)

The annual visual art exhibition will launch on the Saturday of the festival, to which artists both local and beyond are invited to contribute pieces that reflect the diversity theme, and

A beautiful Ocean Labyrinth will again be installed in nearby Citizen Park, with scheduled walks throughout the weekend.

The all-ages event is hosted by Uniting Queenscliff and supported by the Borough of Queenscliffe, Queenscliff Music Festival, and the Kirk Robson Memorial Arts Fund.

The 2023 Sacrededge Festival will be held at the Queenscliff Uniting Church, corner Hesse and Stokes streets, Queenscliff and will run from May 5-7.

For more information about the program, art exhibition and festival tickets, head to unitingqueenscliff.org.au