The Federal Government’s cultural grant program, Festivals Australia, has provided Bland Shire Council with $20,000 in funding. It will be used to bring Adelaide based group kneeHIGH Puppeteers to West Wyalong.
Located in the Central West of New South Wales, Bland Shire covers 8,500 square kilometres and has a population of 6,439.
The international touring company of multi skilled artists and performers specialise in giant puppets, custom made images and visual spectacles for major events.
kneeHIGH Puppeteers will conduct workshops with local youth prior to West Wyalong’s Christmas Carnival in December. The aim of the project is to provide unique cultural entertainment for residents and visitors to Bland Shire.
“The workshops will be used to teach adult supervisors and young participants the skills of creating puppets, banners, lanterns and other carnival visual spectacle projects,” said Bland Shire Council’s Community Development Officer, Sharon D’Elboux. “The artworks developed at the workshops will be displayed at the Christmas Carnival contributing to the carnival atmosphere.”
The giant performing puppets will also appear at the carnival, walking among and interacting with the crowd. kneeHIGH Puppeteers conducted workshops and attended the West Wyalong Christmas Carnival in 2004.
“We are really excited to have kneeHIGH puppeteers on board again this year,” Sharon D’Elboux said. “They were incredibly popular with the local community with over 400 young people participating last year.”
For further information contact Sharon D’Elboux on (02) 6972 3645 or email council@blandshire.nsw.gov.au
