FEAST ON THIS
Cabaret Artist Trevor Ashley and Rowena Garcia at Feast Festival Launch 2017
Feast Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival 2017 | www.feast.org.au
Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival
11 November – 26 November 2017
There is no other festival quite like this year’s 2017 Feast Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival.
It is beautiful.
It is bold.
It dares to bare all about identity and gives a brazen voice to members of our LGBTIQ community. Rowena Garcia from MANABOUTADL was there on Thursday 7 September, 2017 for the launch of the 2017 Feast Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival program.
The room was buzzing with anticipation for the unveiling of the 2017 Feast program. This year is particular significant for Feast as it is celebrating its 21st birthday. Feast Festival Producer Margie Fischer explained that after twenty one years it is important to ‘reflect on the past, be present, and look to the future’.
We were reminded by several of the speakers how we cannot ignore the issues that exist in our Australian community. A community that have allowed discrimination, and hurtful words and actions against members of the LGBTIQ community. We were encouraged to stand together, and stand strong as our country embarks on a national debate on the right to formalise the union of same sex couples. A poignant moment followed during a speech from Executive Director of Arts SA Peter Louca who quoted from John F. Kennedy:
‘If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.’
Cabaret Artist Trevor Ashley Performing, Rowena Garcia, Guests at Feast Festival Launch 2017
Unique to this year’s Feast is the incredibly diverse program of performance and interactivity of each of the events. Some events encourage preserving our history by inviting the community to share memorabilia and exchange stories. Others invite interactivity through innovative multi-media installations (‘When I was 21 Photo Booth Confessions’). The program also features an array of open discussions, sporting events (including the ‘SameSex Dance Sport Competition’ and ‘Kick with A Crow’), theatre workshops, poetry readings, and festival staples like comedy, cabaret, film, visual arts, performance, and of course the illustrious ‘Pride March’ on Saturday 11 November 2017. It also features several events specific to our older generations (like ‘Creative Housing Conversations’ and ‘Sixty Five Plus Community and Creativity’ queer conversations).
What is apparent is that our LGBTIQ community is rich with acceptance, love, and revels in celebrating diversity. This year’s festival boasts over 100 events and is the third largest dedicated queer arts festival in Australia.
The 2017 Feast Adelaide Queer Arts & Cultural Festival will run from 11 November until 26 November 2017. Visit www.feast.org.au for more information or to purchase tickets.