Chris Finlayson Minister for the Arts Culture and Heritage will officiate at a joint opening for both the Wanganui Festival of Glass and the Literary Festival on September 18.
Chris Finlayson Minister for the Arts Culture and Heritage will officiate at a joint opening for both the Wanganui Festival of Glass and the Literary Festival on September 18.
This event will be held at Wanganui UCOL Atrium proceeding to Chronicle Glass Studio, a commercial studio in the centre of town for a glass blowing demonstration by internationally acclaimed visiting glass artist Josh Simpson.
An independent glassblower since 1971 his work is in the permanent collection of The Corning Museum of Glass and the White House Collection of Crafts. Mr. Simpson, who is a past president of the Glass Art Society of America GAS, lives and works in Western Massachusetts and will demonstrate his style at the opening and will hold a workshop and hold a public lecture.
The festival’s success in attracting visitors to the region has seen a number of cultural events align their dates with the Festival of Glass allowing marketing synergies and increasing visitor experience.
The Literary Festival will be hosting featured writers Kate de Goldi, Kevin Ireland, Hamish McDouall and Joan Rosier-Jones amongst others at various venues around Wanganui www.writersfest.co.nz.
The Sarjeant Gallery is hosting an exhibition from September 12 - November 22 that will showcase the work of a number of artists working in glass who are currently living in Wanganui or who are alumni of the Wanganui School of Glass The Wanganui Glass School will be displaying work and demonstrating glass blowing over the Festival allowing potential students to view the opportunities available at the only glass facility of its kind in NZ.
The Museum will stage an exhibition of glass from the collection featuring ‘decorative glass and will run a children’s program featuring glass in conjunction with the Museum.
Other groups as diverse as the Jazz Club and the Camera Club are providing a wider range of entertainment to enhance the visitor experience this year. 6 jazz groups and individual musicians have confirmed for Jazz Café and The Brunch Cruise on the steamboat Waimarie on Saturday 26 September. Also on this day the Floral Arts Society will be filling St Paul’s with flowers with their annual display providing a focal point for the Inspiring Windows Self guided tour of Stained Glass and Leadlight windows in Wanganui which also includes Council Chambers and Collegiate Chapel.
WANGANUI FESTIVAL OF GLASS 2009
19th September-5th October 2009
Please contact Raewyn Roberts Glass Development Project Manager for more information Raewyn@wanganuiinc.com or 0272334807
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