Cygnet Folk Festival supports refugees

BY
ALEX BAINBRIDGE

CYGNET — The Cygnet Folk Festival — held in Tasmania on January 10-12
— has become “one of the most progressive festivals in Australia today”
according to one of the festival organisers, Geoff Francis. Notable progressive
acts at this year’s festival included Peter Hicks, Akasa and Barking Mad
— the Musical among others.

A well-attended final concert on the Sunday night had a jam-packed line-up
of performers donating their time for free to raise money for Tasmanians
for Refugees. Around $1500 was raised through donations, an auction of
children’s artwork and the sale of festival t-shirts.

A “Rise up singing” workshop, sponsored by Unions Tasmania, featured
left-wing sing-along songs by Peter Hicks, Brendan Fuller, Alex Bainbridge
and Grassroots union choir.

The success of the festival is notable, says Francis, since the organising
committee had to get by with severely restricted funding.

“Arts Tasmania refused our initial funding application and left us with
the impression that they believed we weren’t capable of doing the job”,
Francis told Green Left Weekly. “They eventually contributed $5000
which is a lot less than they have given in the past.”

“Undeterred, we went on to organise a fantastically successful festival,
with a full program of quality acts and around 3000 people attending.”

“There is a tendency in Australia for folk festivals to become more
commercial, seek funding and employ big-name artists and paid administrators.
We’ve gone the other way and organised a more grass-roots festival, entirely
by volunteers, and with a much more prominent social justice and political
flavour.”

“We’ve been very pleased with the feedback and look forward to another
successful festival next year.”

From Green Left Weekly, January 22, 2003.

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From GLW issue 522