Hope for the tenth Gap Arts Festival is not lost

ORGANISERS remain optimistic that the tenth annual Gap Arts Festival will take place this year in some shape of form.

On the hunt for creative ideas about how this could be done keeping in line with government restrictions and social distancing guidelines, the committee are looking for people to reach out in this time of need.

‘Never more than now has there been such a need for the uplift and celebration that art can provide. But the dilemma is that most people, including the Gap committee, are caught up in dealing with the huge changes that have occurred in our lives,’ said festival director Garrett Keogh

‘The Gap Festival is considering novel ways of reaching our audience without bringing a crowd together in the traditional theatre, music, and movie sense. A range of events could build on the success of previous festivals, such as artist-led online do-it-at-home sessions, in which individuals and families can join in making works of art. The Gap Music Mentoring Programme could be similarly facilitated. And we’re looking at developing some of the skills attained in the Mobile Device Film Making workshops of 2016’.

At the moment an idea is being played around with to erect a wish tree, to form a collective statement about how we are all feeling during the pandemic.

The committee ask that if people want to write, paint, record, or express in some way what they miss most or wish they could have, they will look into assembling these wishes on a real or virtual tree out at the Gap.

‘Sometime then, down the line from now, people can come, and share, and see what others thought of these strange days,’ said Garrett.

If anyone has any ideas they’d like the festival to explore, or if they have anything they miss or would wish for, please send your thoughts in an email gapartsfest@gmail.com.