Winterwords clocks up success

ORGANISERS have rated this month’s annual Winterwords another fabulous success in celebrating words in every shape and form. Winterwords Autonomous Collective creative director and president Janet Tweedie said the event running for four years kicked goals in what had been envisaged for Winterwords designed for the local community. Winterwords opened with a well-attended art exhibition held in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday night, and an official opening on Friday night, followed by Stephen Hall’s performance. A variety of community-engaged sessions held from Wednesday until Sunday finished with a story slam at Tanswells Hotel. Janet said people in Beechworth and surrounds are often unable to trip to the Melbourne Comedy Festival or other city-based events. “Part of our reason for being is to bring people to the community who they might not otherwise get an opportunity go and see,” she said. “The buzz around town was that people really loved it. “We had had a great mix of events among them with artists, presenters and authors being warm and lovely people and there was a happy atmosphere with lots of laughs and sharing.” With an estimate of around 300 people attending sessions across five days, Janet said actor Stephen Hall’s comedy performance of ‘Letters from my Heroes’ last Friday night drew close to 100 people. Ender Baskan attracted 40 poetry lovers, while around the same number joined in the sing along workshop with local musician Leanne Murphy strumming her ukulele. Janet said the Winterwords team wanted to keep Winterwords accessible, easy to get to, not too expensive and make enough dollars to bring it back every year, “If there comes a time without grants, then we can still put on,” she said. “It was also great supporting fresh authors such as Kirsty Jagger as a debut author, giving them a chance to connect with an audience and build their following too." Janet thanked people in the community contributing to, and attending the event, as well as all writers, artists and creatives celebrated. “We love what writers, artists and creatives do and our lives would be less rich without them,” she said. Janet also thanked a dedicated voluntary committee, and all involved in the event as well as sponsors, including Indigo Shire Council.

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