14 November 2008
	Cultural Capers Entertainment, Arts and Culture from Across the North East Region For further information regarding this newsletter contact; Maz McGann Cultural Development Officer Wangaratta Rural City Council T : 03 5722 0762 E : m.mcgann@wangaratta.vic.gov.au		In This Issue Cultural Capers Overview Music, Theatre, Film & Literature Awards and Opportunities Festivals & Events Visual Arts & Exhibitions Workshops & Activities

Cultural Capers Overview La Dolce Vita Festivao - 15 - 16 Nov Tree Climbing Championships - 14 - 16 Nov St Bernard's Primary School Annual Spring Fair - 16 Nov Do You Wanna Sing? - Community Singing - 13 Oct - 8 Dec Anita Laurence Exhibition - 25 Oct - 24 Nov Dwell and Exhibition About Where We Live - 20 Sept - Feb 09 Mixed Bag (Art Exhibition) 11 - 28 Nov Well Within Me Workshops (Wellbeing Program) - 14 - 16 Nov Michael Ashby & Connie Lichti (Art Exhibition) - 15 - 24 Nov Janet Holmes A Court - NAVA Grants - 15 Nov Gloriana - A Thanksgiving for Life - 16 Nov Piano Recitals on the Steinway Grand - 19 Nov Emerge: Combined Wangaratta VCE Art Exhibition - 20 - 30 Nov Bric-a-Brac - Cafe Concert Series Performance - 21 Nov The Christmas Party (Dinner Theatre) 21 - 29 Nov A River's Tale - Sculpture Walk & Performance - 22 Nov On The Beat - Cancer Fundraiser - 23 Nov The Changing Nature of Rural Neighbourhoods Forum - 26 Nov Glenrowan Primary School Twilight Fair - 28 Nov Life in Our Valley (Exhibition) 2 - 9 Dec Wangaratta Choristers Christmas Concerts - 3 - 10 Dec NEMA Multicultural Buffet & Show - 6 Dec Community Singing Leadership Training with Fay White - 6 Dec KITE: MIke Brown and the Sydney Twelve (Exhibition) 6 Dec - 25 Jan Ostinato Christmas Concert - 7 Dec Wangaratta Carols By Candlelight TxtArt - Youth Textile Group - 15 Dec The Churchie - Art Prize - Entries Close 31 March 2009 The Met Opera Live in HD - Oct - May 09 Italian Heritage Exhibition - Calling for Contributions Ostinato - Meets Every Tuesday ArtPost - Artists Media Opportunity Music, Theatre, Film & Literature Gloriana – A Thanksgiving for Life Sunday, 16 November @ 2pm Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta Murray Chamber Choir presents a concert of scintillating works for voices and harp. The choir will be conducted by Michael Halsey and Margaret Phillips. The harpist is Jacinta Dennett. You will hear the Australian premiere of Sir Philip Ledger’s Requiem – a Thanksgiving for Life, Britten’s  Choral Dances from Gloriana and other works celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth I, and Gustav Holst’s Hymns from Rig Veda. Steinway Grand Piano Wangaratta Library Wednesday, 19 November, 6.30 – 7.30pm Sebastian Pammer and Wayne Robinson The final concert for 2008 features a young man from Vienna currently an exchange student at Wangaratta High School and his teacher at (and also the director of) Northern Rivers Academy of Music, Wayne Robinson. Sebastian has learnt piano from an early age and has become a very accomplished musician. Sebastian and Wayne have planned a program to cover three centuries of music, with works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Grieg, Schumann, Schubert and some 20th century composers. Wangaratta Arts Council has initiated this series of concerts while Wangaratta’s magnificent Steinway Grand is located at the library while the Performing Arts Centre is being constructed. The concerts will continue in 2009. Entry is only $5. Bric-a-Brac Friday 21 November at 8pm The Vine Hotel, North Wangaratta The final concert for the year in the Cafe Concert Series presented by Wangaratta Arts Council provides a vibrant and colourful tribute to French music from around the world: Parisian folklore and music from Louisiana, Quebec, Brittany and North Africa.  There are also some cleverly camouflaged rendition of great music from some unlikely sources - The Rolling Stones, Mozart, Rollicking Sea Shanties.  The players are Ced Le Meledo (guitar and vocals) Michael Oakley (double bass), Andrew Jennings (drums) Dave Evans (accordion) and Atila Kuit (violin).  A feast of dance, nostalgia and romance: c'est magnifique!  Book at Dislocation, phone 5721 4594.  Tickets $22, $20 concession (or $25 at the door, unless sold out). The Christmas Party - Live Theatre and Dinner Show Tread Riverside Restaurant and Bar, Faithful Street Wangaratta 21 - 29 November 2008 This is a great way for you to enjoy and end of year Christmas function with a twist!  Produced locally, the Christmas Party is a brand new Australian comedy which you can enjoy in the relaxed environs of Tread - get a table of friends together and enjoy a great night out with entertainment and food.  The play is set in a small country town and has something for everyone to relate to.  Tickets are $55 which includes a 2 course meal, a glass of bubly and the entertainment.  For further information telephone 5721 4635.  The shows are scheduled for 21, 22, 28 and 29 November. Wangaratta Choristers Christmas Concert  Wednesday 3rd December, 8pm, Oxley Town Hall, Oxley - Charity Concert  Monday 8th December, 8pm, St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Corowa.  Wednesday 10th December, 8pm, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta. All concerts will be a presentation of beautiful, mostly well known Traditional Christmas Carols with a few delicious surprisesrunning for for about 90 minutes and followed by a Festive supper for choir and audience.  Our Smenge Pipe organ will accompany certain pieces at Oxley, Corowa and Wangaratta Cathedral and the audience participation carols will be supported by the grand Willis Organ in the Cathedral.  Tickets at Corowa and Wangaratta are $15 for all guests, children under 16 are free. Ostinato Christmas Concert The Auditorium, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Docker Street Wangaratta Sunday 7 December Come along and enjoy lots of Christmas spirit with this fantastic community choir.  Tickets are $10 Adults and children are free including afternoon tea. The Met Opera - Live in HD Wangaratta Cinema Centre Oct 08 - May 09 The New York Metropolitan Opera's groundbreaking series of live, high-definition performance transmissions to movie theaters around the world expands in its third season and it is coming to Wangaratta. To meet increasing demand, The Met: Captured Live in HD will present 10 transmissions in 2008–09, up from eight. Don't miss the chance to experience the Met live at the Wangaratta Cinema Centre!  With the extraordinary success of the last season of The Metropolitan Opera productions, cinema audiences have cried out for more. People who previously thought Nessun Dorma was a type of car are now becoming true opera converts after seeing the New York Met's Operas captured in HD on the cinema screen.  BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL. ALL TICKETS $21.00. Limited tickets available.  All Opera screenings are subtitled in English. 2008 MET SEASON in HD Salome – Richard Strauss Sat Oct 25 at 11.30am, Sun 26 Nov at 1.00pm Karita Mattila reprises her stunning interpretation of the part, including her unforgettable Dance of the Seven Veils. Doctor Atomic – John Adams Sat Nov 22 at 11.30am, Sun 23 Nov at 1.00pm John Adam's contemporary masterpiece explores the building of the atomic bomb. La Damnation de Faust – Hector Berlioz - Brand new production Sat Dec 6 at 11.30am, Sun 7 Dec at 1.00pm Imaginative director Robert Lepage applies his artistry to Berlioz’s contemplation of good and evil. Awards and Opportunities Janet Holmes A Court Artists Grants Applications close 15 November A grants program managed by the National Association for the Visual Arts to provide assistance towards the costs of public presentation of visual arts, craft and design - which can include, but is not limited to framing, media releases, media, photographs, advertising, spacerental, installation costs, promotional printing, mailouts, documentation, freight, travel, equipment, rental, insurance, technical assistance and opening costs.  Amounts available are $500 for individuals and $1,000 for groups.  For further information go to www.visualarts.com.au ArtPost Artist Media Opportunity ArtPost, an interactive website and short video series for TV broadcast, which showcases artists working in regional and remote parts of the country, has been officially launched by the Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garett.   The site provides the tools for students, teachers, art lovers and artists to create short videos about who they are and their work, for inclusion on the digital map.  In five easy steps, a video can be created and uploaded directly to what will become a living art gallery of all corners of Australia. These videos will also be broadcast on ABC1 and ABC2.  For further information contact: Lesna Thomas, Head of ABC TV Publicity P: 02 8333 3845 / M: 0407 287 320 or E: thomas.lesna@abc.net.au . The Churchie Entries Close 31 March 2009 Exhibition 28 - 31 May 2009 The Churchie National Emerging Art Exhibition offers an inspiring glimpse into the future of the Australian Art Scene.  It provides a forum for artists to compete for a prize across five categories; moving images, paintings, works on paper, photography and sculpture.  Approximately 100 finalists from all Australian states and territories will be pre-selected with the overall winner rewarded with a $10000 cash prize sponsored by Brand and Slater Architects.  For further information go to www.churchieemergingart.com Festivals & Events La Dolce Vita Festival King Valley 15 - 16 November Celebrate the arrival of spring at La Dolce Vita - the King Valley's springtime festival of the sweet wonderful weekend of Mediterranean al fresco indulgence, new release wines and warm King Valley Hospitality.  The range of new release wines on tasting will highlight the extraordinary and wonderful viticulural family winemakers of the region. There will be wines from Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, French varieties on show, all made ready for the spring celebration.  The food will be equally tantalising as the wineries go all out to create delicious meals to match the wines.  For further information contact Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre Freecall 1800 801 065 tourism@wangaratta.vic.gov.au . Tree Climbing Championships King George V Gardens, Ovens Street Wangaratta 14 - 16 November Everyone welcome for an enjoyable time in the park!  Watch some of Victoria's most skillful climbers put to the challenge - high in the tree tops whilst having the opportunity to learn, try or buy the latest and greatest equipment available from trade displays.  There will be fun activities for the kids, including climbing. At the end of the day there will be an opportunity to have a meal, meet some new people and trade old climbing stories.  For further information contact Geoff Riddick 0409 235 976. St Bernard's Primary School Annual Spring Fair St Bernard's PS - Phillipson Street Wangaratta Sunday 16 November Enjoy all the fun of the fair - great food, crafts, produce and fun activities for the kids.  Have a fun day in the sun and support a local primary school. On The Beat - Cancer Walk Fundraiser Apex Park, Wangaratta Sunday 23 November 2008, 12pm - 3pm On The Beat - Against Cancer involves three teams of four Victorian Police Members participating in a seven day Walk/Ride from Wodonga to Melbourne to raise money for My Room - Children's Cancer Centre.  They will be in Wangaratta on Sunday 23 November and members of the community are invited to come along and meet the police participants and local Police force members - there will be fun and games presented by Silver's Circus and the Victorian Police Display truck will be there.  Food, drinks and entertainment by the One Eyed Jacks will also feature on the day.  Further information can be obtained from Rural City of Wangaratta Events Coordinator, Tanya McAlpin on 03 5722 0737. Glenrowan Primary School Twilight Fair Glenrowan Friday 28 November 2008 $10 entry for a family, regardless of number of children.  The Parents Club will sell sausages, hamburgers and drinks.   There will be a lucky door prize, spinning wheel and music.  Free children's entertainment includes a jumping castle, pony rides, face painting, footy handball, races, gumboot throwing and tug of war. NEMA Multicultural Buffet & Show Myrtleford Savoy Club, Myrtle Street Myrtleford Saturday 6 December at 6.30pm Enjoy a fun night with a multicultural twist.  Grab some friends and enjoy the great food and entertainment - provided by Rick Brun and the Rhythms of Zambia South African Women Dancers.  Tickets are $25 per person or $15 for 12 years and under.  Telephone 5722 0726 or nema@wangaratta.vic.gov.au to book or for further information. Wangaratta Carols By Candlelight Merriwa Park Soundshell Sunday 14 December 2008, BBQ from 6pm - Music from 7pm A great way for the family to enjoy some Christmas Cheer together.  Grab a rug and pack your picnic basket and enjoy a night of festive singing and laughter.  The big man in the red suit will be stopping by to say hello.  Candles available to purchase or you can bring your own.  Anyone interested in performing contact Wayne Robinson on 5722 4899 for other enquiries telephone 03 5721 6470. Italian Heritage Exhibition Call for Contributions The Viva Italia Festival Committee in conjunction with the Wangaratta Rural City Council is developing an Italian Heritage Exhibition to be presented in March 2009.  Celebrating and acknowledging the rich cultural heritage of our local Italian community, we would like to invite residents in the Rural City of Wangaratta to contribute items for exhibition.  The display will be presented as part of the inaugural Wangaratta Viva Italia Festival in 2009.  So if you have significant documents, photographs, slides, physical objects or stories.  For further information contact Maz McGann on 5722 0762 or Maria Bevacqua on 5721 3298. Visual Arts & Exhibitions Dwell : An Exhibition About Where We Live Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery with Regional Tour to Follow 20 September - February 09 Beechworth Exhibition On Now! - 17 - 26 October 2008 at the Treasury Building An exhibition featuring North East Artists’ responses to the theme “Dwell: An Exhibition About Where We Live” will open at the Workshop Gallery Space (behind the Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery) on Saturday 20th September.  Selected works will then go on to tour the North East, showing at Beechworth, Bright, King Valley and the Benalla Regional Art Gallery, concluding in February 2009. For further information contact the WangarattaExhibitions Gallery on 5722 0865 or visit www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au Dwell in the King Valley - 1 - 4 November at the King Valley Cucina Dwell in Bright - 28 November - 7 December at the Bright Art Gallery and Cultural Centre Dwell in Benalla - 8 January - 22 February at the Benalla Art Gallery Mixed Bag - Art Exhibition presented by Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE The Bainz Gallery, Wangaratta Library Foyer, Docker Street Wangaratta 11 - 28 November Enjoy this exhibition of work by 1st year Visual Arts and Jewellery Design students from GOTAFE.  The exhibition features a stimulating and eclectic combination of paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, jewellery and sculptural works. Michael Ashby & Connie Lichti Art Exhibition and Sale King Valley Cucina, 4515 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, King Valley 14 - 17 & 21 - 24 November 2008, 11am - 6pm Returning again to the King Valley Cucina for their annual exhibition, these two accomplished artists will have paintings, drawings and ceramics featured in the show.  For further information telephone 03 9370 7546. Emerge: Combined Wangaratta VCE Art Exhibition The Workshop Space, behind the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, 56 Ovens Street Wangaratta 20 - 30 November 2008 Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to see our up and coming artists presenting their VCE work for 2008.  Featuring work from Galen Catholic College, the Wangaratta High School and Cathedral College.  For further information contact Sally Huguenin on 03 5722 0865. A River's Tale - Sculpture Walk & Performance Shepparton / Maroopna Walking Track Saturday 22 November at 6.30pm Join the sculpture walk along the path between the two towns.  Starting simultaneously from Shepparton (near Aquamoves) and Mooroopna (Chinaman's Gardens) the walk will finish at Kid's Town in time for A River's Talke Performance in the Amphitheatre.  A Courtesy bus will leave Kid's Town at 9pm to return participants to their cars.  For further information contact the Mooroopna Education Centre on 03 5825 1774. KITE: Mike Brown and the Sydney twelve Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, 56 Ovens Street Wangaratta 6 December - 25 January What the hell are you people doing in an art gallery anyway?  If you are looking for art, you won't find it here.  Mike Brown 1972.  In 1964 Mike Brown produced a work - known since as The Kite - which challenged and criticised twelve Sydney artists for their blatant embracing of the commercial art-world and its perceived pitfalls.  KITE: Mike Brown and the Sydney twelve returns to this monumental episod in Australian art history juxtaposing Brown's work wtih those whom he criticised.  For further information contact the Wangaratta exhbitions Gallery on 03 5722 0865. ‘Life In Our Valley’ by Beryl Gay Anna Bienvenu Photographic Gallery adjoining Milawa Mustards 2 - 9 December 2008 Beryl was the recent winner of the Viewers Choice Award at Milawa Gourmet Regions “A Feast Of Art” show. The prize being one weeks exhibition at the Anna Bienvenu Photographic Gallery.  Beryl describes herself as a responsive traditional realist artist. She has used the mediums of oil painting, pencil and pastels, in this special exhibition of historic buildings, still Life's and landscapes, all of which have been inspired by our beautiful valley. Beryl has won many awards and held several solo exhibitions in the past but this is the first time she has held an exhibition in our area since moving to myrtleford in 2002.  For further information contact Anna Bienvenu on 57273202 or email milmustd@iinet.net.au .

Friday 14 November 2008 Edition 127 Yes it is almost the crazy time of year but before things get too hectic, try and relax and enjoy yourself with some great local cultural events that are on around the region.  The annual La Dolce Vita Festival  is on this weekend with the usual Italian Hospitality on offer in the King Valley.  The end of year exhibitions are also coming up with Goulburn Ovens TAFE presenting both their first and second year students  at the Wangaratta Library and Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery respectively. For some musical delights you can enjoy the serenity of the Steinway Grand at the Wangaratta Library next Wednesday 19 November or head out to the Vine Hotel on Friday for the french themed ensemble, Bric a Brac.  Always plenty to see and do so enjoy it now before it gets too busy and too hot!!  Maz  McGann Cultural Development Officer Wangaratta Rural City Council Bric A Brac - Playing at the Vine Hotel Friday 21 November 2008 Book Now at Disclocation. Workshops & Activities Do You Wanna Sing? - Community Singing Gatherings 13 & 27 October, 10 & 24 November and 8 December 7pm - 9pm Moyhu Primary School If there is a song in your heart then come and join in a few hours of songs and fun and laughter and sing in the round.  Everyone is welcome, confident and bathroom singers alike.  Be uplifted and energised with the power of song.  No auditions - just sing your heart out.  Sessions are free of charge with all ages welcome.  Contact Carol on 03 5729 7647 or 0417 565 493 for further information. txtART: textile art for young people The Workshop Space, behind the Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, 56 Ovens Street Wangaratta Monday 15 December 2008 The Gallery has formed a textile art (txtART) group for funky young people aged 12 - 16. Since the first workshop in July 2007 participants have made "quilted" artworks on canvas, learnt basic knitting, crochet and embroidery techniques, felting, beading and textile jewellery techniques, lino printing on fabric, machine embroidery and have made soft textile sculptures.  The txtART group meets monthly for after-school workshops where members will be able to see demonstrations of traditional & experimental textile skills from textile artists and members of our regional textile groups, before incorporating their new skill into a fun project.  So if you are aged 12 - 16 and would like to learn some new tricks to show off your creative flair and individuality, you need to join txtART!  Cost: Free! Bookings are essential. For more information on the txtART group & workshop, please call the Gallery on 03 5722 0865 or email s.huguenin@wangaratta.vic.gov.au Well Within Me - Wellbeing Workshops 14 - 16 November 2008 Tread Conference Room, Faithful Street Wangaratta & Park View Motor In Function Room, Ryley Street Wangaratta. Do you want more energy?  Do you want to learn how to truly relax?  Do you want to know more about how your values and beliefs drive you?  Then this weekend of learning, relaxing and pampering is for you.  Cost is $290 per person or $500 for two.  Bookings are essential with the first ten to book receiving a pamper pack valued at $30.  In order to ensure quality, numbers have been strictly limited so book now to avoid disappointment.  Contact Heather on 0407 090 769 or heather@wellwithinme.com for further information. Community Singing Leader Training with Fay White Galen College Auditorium, Phillipson Street Wangaratta Saturday 6 December 2008 - 10am - 6.30pm Fay White is a talented singer and songwriter who is also renowned for pioneering a from of Community Singing (with food) called Vocal Nosh and in connection with Community Music Victoria, trains singing leaders and encourages community music making in Victoria.  This workshop is a fantastic opportunity for individuals or groups of people who are interested in starting a singing group or leading singing at existing community singing sessions.  Cost is only $33 or $22 concession which includes lunch and light refreshments.  For further information or to book, contact Karen Roben on 0458 454 050 or karenroben@bigpond.com Regulars Who Meet Everton Open Mic Session Everton Hotel Beer Garden 2nd Sunday of each month @ 1pm If you can sing, play an instrument, recite poetry or tell a good yarn come along to the Everton Hotel for fun family friendly activity.  Contact Cheryl and Allan on 5725 1998 for further information. Wangaratta Ukulele Showband Beginners Classes and Rehearsals Thursdays from 5.30pm For experienced ukulele musicians the Ukulele Showband meets on Thursday eventings at Pangerang Community House, Ovens Street Wangaratta.  All welcome!  cost $5.  For further information contact Maz McGann 5722 0762 or m.mcgann@wangaratta.vic.gov.au Ostinato Choir St John's Village Williams Road, Wangaratta Ostinato is a community based choir which welcomes members of all ages.  For further information telephone 5721 3639. Community Singing for fun Galen College Auditorium Thursdays 7 - 8.30pm (9pm at the latest) All stages, ages welcome, it is not a pre-requisite to read music, justto enjoy singing.  For further information please contact Leonie Brien on 5727 0348 or mobile 0403 172 385. Wayne Robinson and Sebastian Pammer will be performing at the Wangaratta Library on Wednesday 19 November on the Steinway Grand.  Tickets are only $5.