Since it began in 2016, Horizon Festival has cemented itself as the premiere arts and culture festival for the Sunshine Coast, and council today committed to supporting the festival for another three years.
The 10-day festival sees the region comes to life in a celebration of arts and culture, engaging locals and attracting visitors from across the country.
Council has committed $665,878 to the festival each year until 2022.
Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said Horizon Festival had provided significant benefits to the community, arts sector and economy on the Sunshine Coast.
"I'm extremely pleased at what the Horizon Festival has achieved and excited by the festival's future possibilities for our region," Cr Baberowski said.
"The first three years of the festival have proven the value of having an arts and cultural event on the Sunshine Coast, for both the arts sector and for audiences.
"Delivering the festival wouldn't have been possible without the commitment and passion shown by our local and visiting artists – they are the reason people choose to attend festivals.
"Winning a 2018 Australian Event Award, for the Best Achievement in Marketing, Communication or Sponsorship is also testament to the great team we have working on the festival behind the scenes.
"This is not only an event for our region but also for South East Queensland and it ticks the social, economic, community and cultural boxes, reflecting our vision to be healthy, smart and creative.
"We aim to put the Sunshine Coast on the map nationally and globally and we are well on the way to achieving that goal.
"Horizon Festival is a key deliverable of the Sunshine Coast Arts Plan and I look forward to seeing the festival continue to grow over the coming years."
Festival facts
- More than 128,000 people have attended the festival since it began, with 22.3% of those from outside the region.
- 2235 artists engaged, including 370 First Nations artists and 330 artists with a disability.
Supporting the future festival delivery, council has developed the Horizon Festival Development Plan 2019-2023.
The plan will aim to establish the festival as a premier arts event on the national calendar, provide pathways for local artists to develop content, skills and networks, provide locals and visitors with unique arts experiences that engage and inspire, showcase the Sunshine Coast as a sophisticated cultural destination alongside spectacular geography and deliver direct economic impact and tourism benefits.
Horizon Festival 2019 will be on from August 23 to September 1.
Visit www.horizonfestival.com.au
Image: Horizon Festival 2018, Patterns in the Landscape, Manning Daly Art. ben vos productions
