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Splash! 2004 - following the footprints of the frog
Footprints; where we go, what we leave behind. The frog; an environmental indicator. Follow; learn, look watch, follow the lead, connect people, land and water, what message do we receive?Since inception in 1999, Splash! has become a powerful tool to empower and educate the wider community about our regional waterways, and celebrate local environmental achievements. In engaging the passions of the community, utilising the arts to reconnect people to the environment, this project inspires people to create their own solutions. Splash! works directly at the crossroads of Environmental awareness, Community /Education and the Arts in this local area. Splash! is a unique educational resource connecting people to the waterways environments and thus towards the solutions for our environment; culminating in a biennial community based cultural celebration of the Sunshine Coast waterways and people from the range to the sea - a big Splash! Produced by the Splash! artistic team in association with Maroochy Waterwatch, it is a far reaching project , built from many chapters and culminates in an awesome Splash! during National Water Week. It employs a team of local artists to work with partner communities (school groups, higher education, TAFE, community arts organisations, environmental groups, local council, employment & training agencies, local businesses, etc.) over several months.
Splash! includes educational workshop series, community participation workshop series, the creation of artistic installations; and a professional quality performance with dance, music, drama, and visual arts. Splash! has established a poignant feature in the Pouring of the Waters Ceremony which honours the water sources and the volunteers of our waterways - the heroes. This ceremony has emerged as the Splash! heart.
Splash! has become an eagerly anticipated project and event on the local calendar, and in 2004 will be further developed with an acting local, thinking global focus. Making connections beyond Australian waters, this year Splash! will involve 10 International Volunteers for Peace. They will work full time over 2 weeks, with Splash! artists alongside members of the local community on Waterscape, and in doing so will share their visions, hopes and experiences across cultures. Waterscape …….
is the finale of Splash! 2004 including music triggered by beating the water created in community workshops with internationally renowned Linsey Pollak and huge floating sculptures, created by international volunteers with Australian artists Leisa Riggs and Tamara Kirby to create a visual spectacular connecting people, land and water.
The Watertales…
created by Splash! artists in association with partner communities are the people's stories of connection to local natural water features. They are the results of activities in many different places across the geographically diverse Sunshine Coast. From Noosa to Mooloolah, Maleny to Maroochydore, the area encompasses the catchments of four major water systems - the Obi-Obi Creek, the Noosa, Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers. The Watertales are creative expressions of a local community in their own water place. They are discreet projects in themselves yet chapters of a broader narrative and set of themes - the story of the Sunshine Coast waterways, culminating in an awesome combined Splash! on Chambers Island, Maroochy River on October 16th 2004.
Who make Splash! happen?
The obvious answer is we all do, but with help from local artists. The Splash! Artistic Team
Kari artistic director/music
Leisa Riggs visual arts co-ordinator Majella Jacobsen / community co-ordinator
Tiina Ali Haapala dance co-ordinator
Linsey Pollak music co-ordinator Other artists for partnered projects:
Lyndon Davis indigenous artist/consultant
Tamara Kirby visual artist
Linley Boyle dance artis Splash! community of interest/partner communities include: - The environmental movement (i.e. Waterwatch groups, Landcare groups, Sunshine Coast Environment Council, Conondale Range Committee, Catchment Care Groups, Maroochy Shire Council, Noosa Integrated Catchment Assoc.)
- People with different abilities (i.e. SPIRAL, Noosaville State School special needs students group)
- Learning environments (i.e. Community Solutions training programs, Primary & Secondary Schools, Vacation & Afterschool care, TAFE, University)
- Creative cultural groups (i.e. Sunshine Coast Clay Workers Network, Eudlo Creative Dance, SC Community Dance Network, SC local musicians)
The Budget
Funding has been sought from Arts Queensland, Festivals Australia, Myer Foundation, The Ian Potter Foundation and Healthy Waterways. So far we have received confirmation of support from Arts Queensland and await others. The funding will be utilised to ensure professional running of the project and employment for local artists. Splash! 2004 seeks to……….follow the footprints of the frog ................ encourage us to tread gently
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