Some of the artists taking part in Berry’s OpenField Festival (from left): Amethyst Downing, Amanda Jane Reynolds (First Nations curator), Tianli Zu, Justine Roche, Janet Laurence, Alison Clouston and Boyd. Photo: Ainslie McNamara.
Visitors to Berry during the upcoming OpenField Arts Festival can expect to encounter everything from cabaret in a community hall to a drag tea ceremony in the CWA Hall.
From Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June, the town will be transformed into a living, breathing canvas for the three-day festival of contemporary art, movement and storytelling.
Artists will present work throughout the weekend in showgrounds, halls, paddocks and on footpaths.
Festival co-director and Australian singer-songwriter Lenka Kripac said the festival was designed to feel “open” in every sense – open air, open access and open minds.
“It’s not about putting art on a pedestal. It’s about cabaret in a community hall, a performance art parade down Queen Street, or a drag tea ceremony in the CWA,” she said.
“We want people to encounter art where they least expect it and feel like they’re part of it.”
The free, not-for-profit festival has been two years in the making. Some events are ticketed; see the full program for information.
The opening and welcoming ceremony will be held at the Rural Youth Hall at 10 am on Friday 13 June, featuring a smoking ceremony by Aunty Delia Lowe.
During the festival the hall will be a dedicated First Nations Hub, curated by Amanda Jane Reynolds, featuring weaving circles, storytelling and art making exploring connection to Country and totem animals.
An Art Parade will kick off at 4 pm on Saturday 14 June starting from Queen Street. Led by New Orleans style marching band The Femme Fatales, it will make its way to the showgrounds where the festivities will continue with dance, music and large-scale video projections.
There’ll be after-dark events for those aged 18 and over, including The OpenField Cabaret: Afterglow Variety Club and a disco on Saturday night
Visual artist Jayanto Tan blends Eastern and Western mythologies with the reality of current events. He’ll host a drag tea ceremony at the CWA Hall, blending ritual, memory and migration.
Kenneth Lambert combines traditional sand drawing with robotics in meditative live performance Without a Trace and a life drawing session will be held at the Great Southern Hotel with Bella Louche.
Contemporary Art Festival, Berry, 13 to 15 June. Click here for more information, the program and a map.
