It’s been a long time since I neglected my blog for over a week, apologies! Last week was absolutely crazy with the Regional Arts Australia Summit being held in my home town. I was involved in a Young Reference Group for the Summit, known as Create Tank, as well as having to cover the conference for work. So busy doesn’t really begin to explain it…

But anyway. It was an absolutely amazing week. I saw so many incredible performances, met wonderful people and just generally soaked up the abundance of arts not often found in a mining town. As per usual I took about a million photos. Starting with the opening ceremony on Thursday night:

It began in the auditorium at Goldfields Arts Centre on Thursday night. Speeches were spoken and performers from the Gascoyne Circus and the Pundarra Dancers from Carnarvon wowed the audience. We then headed outdoors where there were more performances and, importantly, FOOD:

Dumplings

Crumbed barramundi

And drinks:

Care for a prospectors pick?

Or a Kalgoorlie sunset?

I met these guys;

The conversation was pretty stilted…

It went way over my head…

I got arty with the settings on my camera:

Then the Gascoyne Circus did some aerial silks and trapeze performances. Outside. Hoisted above concrete.

The lady on the silks (I think Jade is her name) did an incredible routine to a Florence & The Machine song. My heart almost stopped every time she unwound the silks from around herself and plummeted towards the ground, jerking suddenly to a halt just a metre or so from the bottom.

Theaker was on the trapeze and just as she got up there the rain and wind began.

But she went on undeterred. It was incredible. And scary.

No hands!

After that we headed to the Kalgoorlie Country Club, which had bands on every night and called itself ‘Krunchy Club’ for the duration of the Summit. I’ve been there maybe twice before and never have I seen it so fantastically decked out and full of people. Such an under utilised space.

It felt like we could have been in Melbourne. Or Perth.

Obsessed with these lights

Kellee and Owen, also from Create Tank

An excellent start to the Summit. More to come!