Australian Heritage Festival in Freo

And if the City of Fremantle International Street Arts Festival wasn’t enough festival activity for you then there is also the month-long Australian Heritage Festival 2019 also kicking off tomorrow in Fremantle.

The City of Fremantle has hosted its own Heritage Festival for a number of years, and is thrilled to be part of the Australian Heritage Festival’s program this year.

The Australian Heritage Festival has 159 events registered in WA, and we are proud that 40 of them will be hosted in Fremantle.

In this year’s Fremantle program, you’ll find inspiring guided tours at WA’s only World Heritage-listed building Fremantle Prison, and plenty more across the city’s important heritage sites.

Collectors Weekend on 18-19 May is shaping up to be a fantastic addition, and of course, I’m pleased to be involved in the bike tour again where I’ll present stories of the unbuilt and historical saves across our city.”

Australian Heritage Festival 2019 runs from 18 April – 19 May. The theme this year is Connecting People, Places and the Past.

For more information about the festival’s events, visit the Australian Heritage Festival website.

 

Highlights include:

 

Collectors Weekend: Claudia Chan Shaw

Claudia Chan Shaw presents on the Art of Collecting. Claudia is widely known around Australia as co-host and present on ABC TV’s popular program Collectors and is a presenter on Eastside Radio 89.7FM.

Free (bookings required reception@museum.wa.gov.au)

WA Maritime Museum

Saturday 18 May, 11am

 

Fish Guts and All – The Return

The successful and colourful tour returns. Let’s dive deeper and explore the undercurrents that created the fishing industry in Freo. Where the fishermen and women mended and made their nets, processed their fish and refitted their boats. Street the streets and ride in style to places that used to be.

Wednesday 1 May – Friday 3 May, 2-4.30pm

fishguts.eventbrite.com.au/

 

Demolished and Unbuilt: The Mayor’s Alternative Fremantle History Cycle Tour

Returns after being sold out the last two years!

Fremantle is a city of layers with thousands of individual planning choices shaping the unique place that it is today. Join Mayor Brad Pettitt on a bike tour exploring what could’ve been – the stories of the unbuilt and the historical saves.

Free (bookings required: Fremantlehistorycycle.eventbrite.com.au)

Saturday 11 May, 2pm

Rainbow, 1 Canning Hway

 

Waalyalup Waarkiny

Art, craft workshops, storytelling and music performance. Wadjuk Nyoongar Richard Walley and family will deliver creative cultural workshops for children e.g. toolmaking and clay modelling. Children will get the opportunity to make a small tool using clay.

Free

Fremantle Town Hall

Saturday 4 May

10.30 – 3pm

 

Fake News and False History: Peter Greste

Join us for the annual keynote address of the Fremantle Heritage Festival, delivered by the internationally renowned journalist Pete Greste. In this fascinating keynote address, Greste will explore the complex issues of truth and lies as it relates to our past, present and future.

Free (bookings required)

Tannock Hall, University of Notre Dame

 

Street Arts Festival back this Weekend in Freo

As you might have seen from the article in the West today, Fremantle’s International Street Arts Festival is back this Easter long weekend, bringing a tonne of free laughs and awe-inspiring entertainment to festival-goers.

Over four days, from Good Friday to Easter Monday, some of the best buskers from around the world will perform more than 100 shows across various Fremantle locations.

The festival is in its 21^st year and is set to deliver the best program yet, comprising buskers, street theatre, roving performers, bands and pop-up bars and eateries.

Street Arts is a hugely popular event on the state’s cultural calendar, attracting big audiences year after year.

We are extremely proud to host such a unique and well-loved festival, which shines a light on our beautiful city. In a few days, Fremantle’s streets and parks will come alive with the most wonderful, weird and wacky performances guaranteed to stop people in their tracks.

This year’s program features world-class local and international acts from Australia, Switzerland, France, Japan, Germany, China, Spain, Portugal, South Korea and the US.

“From big pitches to roving performers popping up in surprising places all across the city, there are shows to make you laugh and shows that will blow you away.”

Some of the world-class entertainers joining this year’s festival include:

• Cho Kairin: The King of the Chinese Acrobats performs death-defying, extremely dangerous stunts including his truly amazing balancing act on top of a tower of chairs.
• Stranger Than Fiction: The Space Cowboy and The Lizardman test a string of experiments that push the mind, body and science to the limit.
• Bug N’ Buzz: The talented duo transforms the Carriage Café at Esplanade Reserve into their very own playground.
• Coiffures Barroques: French hair wizard Christophe Pavia uses ribbons, flowers, birds, butterflies and a whole lot of whimsical skill to transform lucky audience members into countesses.
• Tandem: Natural Wings take to the skies at Bathers Beach with their beautiful and intricate circus choreography.

 

For more information about the festival including performance times and locations, visit the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival website.

Freo welcomes Music Hub election commitment

The City of Fremantle has welcomed Labor’s commitment to establish a $1 million Music Hub at Fremantle Arts Centre should they win the coming federal election.

 

Shadow Minister for the Arts Tony Burke announced the commitment at an event at the centre last night.  

 

The proposed Music Hub would provide a state-of-the-art practice and recording space for young and emerging artists, along with ongoing funding for tuition that will connect new talent with some of Australia’s best songwriters and producers.

 

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said establishing a Music Hub at the centre would enhance the city’s reputation as an incubator for contemporary Australian music.

 

“Fremantle is known around the world as a great place for enjoying and supporting live music,” Mayor Pettitt said.

 

“Not only do we have legendary venues like Mojos, Clancy’s and now Freo.Social in the Old Drill Hall, we’re also famous for nurturing great talent, from rock legend Bon Scott to John Butler, Eskimo Joe, San Cisco and Tame Impala.

 

“Fremantle Arts Centre already has a live music program that runs alongside its exhibition and visual art residency program.

 

“The addition of a Music Hub would allow us to actively nurture the talent that drives the live music industry – a sector that annually contributes almost $6 billion to the Australian economy.” 

 

Fremantle Arts Centre has established itself as one of Perth’s most popular live music venues.

 

In addition to the hugely popular free Sunday Courtyard Music series over summer the centre has also hosted some of the biggest names in Australian music on the south lawn, including Midnight Oil, Nick Cave, Paul Kelly, Angus and Julia Stone and Vance Joy.

 

Coming up next month the centre will host two shows from the reigning queen of Australian music Amy Shark on May 3 and 4, followed by global pop phenomenon Billie Eilish on May 10.

 

For more information visit the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

It is not everyday you get to turn a sod…

Anzac Day in Fremantle

The City of Fremantle is planning a range of events and services to ensure local residents have opportunities to pay their respects this Anzac Day.

In a welcomed move from tradition, this year marks an important change to Fremantle War Memorial’s Dawn Service order of proceedings when the Ode of Remembrance will be recited in Noongar language for the first time ever.

The Ode of Remembrance was written in 1914 and recounted at every Anzac Day service around the country.

Last year Professor Len Collard from the Australian Research Council and The University of Western Australia’s School of Indigenous Studies translated the Ode into Noongar language.

We are very honoured to have Professor Collard attend our Dawn Service at Fremantle War Memorial and read the Ode of Remembrance in Noongar language.

It will be a significant occasion for Fremantle, and furthers our commitment for cultural inclusivity and respecting Aboriginal history and people.

The Dawn Service at Fremantle War Memorial commences at 5.50am, with a second service at North Fremantle’s Fallen Soldiers Memorial Park at 9am.

To assist people attending the Dawn Service, the City has organised designated free parking at Beach Street carparks (CP12A and CP12B) and John Curtin College of the Arts’ carpark (90 Ellen Street) until 12pm. There will be a free shuttle bus service running from Beach Street and John Curtin College of the Arts to Monument Hill between 5-6am and 6.30-7.30am. Additional parking options are available on the City’s website, with free parking available until 8am.

Free public transport is available for anyone wearing military uniform or medals travelling to Fremantle’s Anzac Day services. Connecting shuttle buses to Monument Hill will depart Fremantle Station Stand 3 at 4.35am and 5.05am, and return after the Dawn Service.

The Anzac Day commemorations will conclude with the traditional March through the main streets of Fremantle before returning to Esplanade Reserve for the Closing Ceremony.

Road closures will be in place from 9.30 to 11.30am and affects Nairn Street, Collie Street, Bannister Street, Essex Street, Norfolk Lane, Essex Lane, Marine Terrace, Cliff Street, Mouat Street, Henry Street, High Street, Market Street, South Terrace and Pakenham Street.

For more information about services, transport and wreath laying opportunities, visit the Anzac Day page on the City of Fremantle’s website.

Fremantle’s Anzac Day program – Thursday 25 April 2019

• 5.50 – 6.30am: Dawn Service, Fremantle War Memorial, Monument Hill, Knutsford Street
• 9 – 9.30am: North Fremantle Service, Fallen Soldier Memorial, corner Queen Victoria Street and Harvest Road
• 10.15 – 10.45am: Anzac Day March, Esplanade Reserve, Marine Terrace and surrounds
• 10.45 – 11.30am: Closing Ceremony, Esplanade Reserve, Marine Terrace

 

 

EYP Festival 5.0

Five years goes fast when you are having fun! Esplanade Youth Plaza is having a birthday party this Sunday.

• Skateboarding WA Park Sharks competition

• Perth Parkour workshops

• Hip Hop demo & workshops

• Scitech TECH Zone

• slacklining

• Live interactive street art

• Markets

• Food Trucks • amusements and more

Fremantle Arts Centre celebrates WA Aboriginal artists

Angilyiya Mitchell with her artwork Kungkarrangkalpa (Seven Sisters). Photo copyright and courtesy of Papulankutja Artists.

More than 120 new and emerging Western Australian Aboriginal artists are participating in Fremantle Arts Centre’s Revealed Exhibition opening this weekend.  

 

Identified as the biggest annual event on the state’s calendar for sharing and supporting emerging Aboriginal artists, Revealed showcases the diverse and vibrant state of contemporary Aboriginal art through a program of public talks, a seven-week long exhibition and the hugely popular art market.

 

Fremantle Arts Centre Director Jim Cathcart said this year was the largest Revealed to date with even more artists taking part.

 

“The exhibition runs from 13 April to 1 June, and all of Fremantle Arts Centre’s galleries will come alive with paintings, prints, carvings, photography, textiles, video, weaving and more,” Mr Cathcart said.

 

“Plus, all works in the exhibition are for sale, which is a fantastic way to celebrate and support our next generation of Aboriginal artists.”

 

Art enthusiasts can also buy original, affordable works from Aboriginal artists at the one-day-only Revealed WA Aboriginal Art Market on Saturday 13 April.

 

The market attracts Aboriginal artists from all over the state, with many travelling vast distances to take part, and all profits from sales are returned to the artists and art centres.

 

“Last year’s Revealed market was attended by more than 3000 people and generated over $420,000 for the art centres and artists who took part,” Mr Cathcart said.

 

“This is a really significant event for the WA arts and I hope people will continue to support the great work of these artists at this year’s market.”

 

Works start from as little as $50, and include paintings, textiles, woven items, artefacts, clothing, ceramics and jewellery.

 

Revealed is an initiative of the WA State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Australian Government through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.

 

For more information about the 2019 Revealed program, visit the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

Also on this weekend in Fremantle is Choralfest where some of the world’s finest choirs and choral specialists come together to perform in various locations around the city. The five-day festival (12-16 April) will see about 2500 singers from more than 40 choirs perform in over 10 venues, as well as free pop-up concerts and a procession. 

 

The Fremantle International Street Arts Festival is also around the corner. Over four days, from Good Friday to Easter Monday, the best buskers from around the world will descend on the streets of Fremantle and perform over 100 shows.

 

For more information on events happening in April, visit the What’s On page on the City of Fremantle website.

ENDS