Lizz Lethlean hopes to bring something new to the Williamstown Festival 73610 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Vanessa Chircop
THE Williamstown Festival will be back next year, with new Creative Producer Lizz Lethlean promising more engagement from the community and a strong local angle.
Despite this being her first time on the festival’s committee, Lizz said she’s ready for the challenge.
“I’m a local Williamstown person and artist who has been living in Williamstown for about 18 years,” she said.
One of the key features of the new-look festival will be the much loved lantern parade.
“Six local primary schools are involved in making the lanterns,” she said.
“The theme for the lanterns is ‘birds of a feather’.
“I’m hoping to get a little flock of birds to be made.”
With the festival taking a break this year, Lizz said that she is going to refocus next year’s festival as an event for, by and with local residents, “igniting the true spirit of Williamstown and harnessing the wonderful atmosphere for everyone to enjoy”.
Lizz said this year’s break gave organisers a chance to reflect, repatch and rethink ideas for next year.
“To distinguish the festival, the main thing is all the talent and music and performers will be local,” she said.
“We’re asking people to come and make a day of it here in Williamstown.”
Lizz said she will be drawing on her networks as an artist and mother in the community to get as many people involved as possible.
“Just coming down together and having a day together, in our local park and catching up with friends is the simple feeling I’m aiming to create.”
The Williamstown Festival is set to be held on 29 April next year.
The new slogan is ‘3016 in 2012’, for more information call the festival office on 9397 1352 or email producer@williamstownfestival.com.au
