Cross Regional Festival to be launched across Central Queensland

The first of its kind' a new cross regional festival will be launched this week across Central Queensland.

This festival is presented by Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network (CQRASN) through CQUniversity' in partnership with 14 regional councils.

Throughout May and June' the creativity of Central Queensland communities will be celebrated through the Shine Bright Festival.

The festival will shine a spotlight on regional talent through a curated program of events and will be celebrated across 14 diverse regions' from as far north as The Whitsundays' down to the South Burnett and out west to the Central Highlands.

Communities will shine through a program of events including live performance' exhibitions' animated projected artworks' open studios' workshops and more.

CQRASN's Regional Arts Project Officer Trudie Leigo said the Shine Bright Festival will be encouraging audiences to get out and explore the incredible creativity that thrives across regional Queensland.

"This festival is aimed at creating opportunities for artists' as well as our communities' as we all recover from COVID 19'" said Ms Leigo.

"The pandemic has been devastating to our regional communities and our arts industry."

"This festival is a key recovery initiative that is dedicated to increasing the employment of regional artists' celebrating the incredible talent found in our regions and bringing our communities back together again."

The Shine Bright Festival kicks off this Saturday' 1 May in Mackay.

The MECC Courtyard and JCC Gallery Space will feature a program of live local stand-up comedy' music' exhibition and projected artwork.

The festival continues until the 11th of June' for the full program: https://cqregionalarts.net/events/category/shine-bright/

The Regional Arts Services Network is an initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. CQUniversity has been appointed as the Central Queensland provider.