Shepparton Arts Festival (Day 17)

Welcome to the 2017 Shepparton Arts Festival.

This blog will cover insights and access to the 2017 Shepparton Arts Festival. 

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• Day 17 - Create, Create, Create.

The last and final day of the '2017 Shepparton Festival'. This was not a time to grieve, but celebrate.  For the festival's last hoorah, I participated in the "Slam in Shep Workshop'. It was essentially a basic poetry workshop located at the Aussie Hotel on Fryers Street. The workshop was situated upstairs in a posh indoor setting. The participants varied in age, experience and culture. But, this poetry workshop was no ordinary poetry workshop...  

It was hosted by Joel McKerrow, a writer, community arts worker and one of Australia's renowned poets. His insightful words and passion for poetry inspired not only myself but others as well. The intensity and atmosphere of the room throughout the session was indeed spine tingling.

"Create, because this is who you are!"

"Creativity = Risk ... you must push the boundaries to evoke a response"

"Create, Create, Create!"

McKerrow highlighted the importance of creativity and imagination. When writing participants were asked not to write in attempt to please others. But to think outside the box and free the mind into a creative state. It was an interesting task to be apart of. 

However, despite the brilliance of the workshop, there were negatives during the session. The acoustics of the room at times were difficult to manage. The room's air-conditioning seemed to be the main catalyst, causing vibrations which produced a loud rattling that echoed through the room. This inconvenience made it difficult at times to understand McKerrow's  words.

But to McKerrow's credit he continued with the workshop without being distracted nor frustrated.

McKerrow acknowledged the importance of connecting with people when writing and that the theme of 'Mapping Shep' spoke to him as a positive embracement.

Overall, the Festival has succeeded in attempting to connect community groups with each other. By bridging a link between different cultures and ethnic groups, the Shepparton Festival has demonstrated the importance of connecting via 'Mapping'   

From Left -  Joel McKerrow, Poet Workshop