For the residents of South-East Queensland, the very popular Arts in the Olives Festival has become synonymous with Mothers' Day
For the residents of South-East Queensland, the very popular Arts in the Olives Festival has become synonymous with Mothers' Day.
As thousands of mothers can attest, what better way to be treated on such a special day than to be transported to another world (The Lost World in fact) either to participate in a fascinating workshop, to enjoy looking at the many artisan stalls or just to stroll through the olive grove. This year's event falls on 12 May.
BADCAP (Beaudesert and District Community Arts Project) was formed in 2005 by a dedicated group of like-minded people and an international sculpture symposium was their first courageous project. Sculptors from Japan, Germany, France, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Maleny and Cedar Creek headed for Jubilee Park in Beaudesert with their tools and started carving their way into Beaudesert history.
Even though the project attracted funding from various bodies, extra funds were needed to make the artists' stay more enjoyable, and so Arts in the Olives Festival at Worendo Olive Grove was born.
Over the last six years, it has grown from strength to strength and is now considered one of the Queensland's great festivals.
The festival is organised by BADCAP in conjunction with the Lost World Valley community and proceeds from the festival continue to help fund BADCAP organised community arts projects.
Arts market, arts demonstrations and a full music programme will run alongside many gourmet food outlets under the cover of the beautifully shady olive trees. A big feature of every Arts in the Olives festival, is the number of arts workshops included in the program.
Arts in the Olives 2013 has as a special "Textile and Textures" theme with workshops in basketry, felting, batik, rug making, monotyping and working creatively with cloth and clay.
Other workshops that have been very popular in other years are back - book binding, blacksmithing, stained glass mirror making, bead making, wood carving, mosiacs, photography and landscape painting. A workshop in Ikebana - the art of flower sculpture - has been included for the first time.
There are half day and full day workshops available and prices start at $25 per half day (plus material costs).
Workshop bookings are now open for this year's event and from past years they fill quickly.
As with every other year, many free workshops are available for children - circus, kite making, environmental sculpture, recycled fashion, a collage message wall and the ever popular junk orchestra. Face painting will also be available.
Bookings for the workshops are essential and, as numbers are limited, it is recommended not to delay. Details of all the workshops and booking details can be found on www.artsintheolives.com or by picking up a brochure from Kalico Country, the Centre Beaudesert or Visitor Information Centres.