Celebrating Unconformity

WEST COAST GEARS UP FOR HUGE ARTS FESTIVAL

QUEENSTOWN will come alive with alluring art installations and a string of music events this weekend as The Unconformity festival kicks off.

The biennial event inspired by the rare geological unconformity and paradoxes of the West Coast will make its return on Friday for the first time in three years – a feat artistic director Travis Tiddy said was a massive effort for his team in the middle of a pandemic.

“It does feel like a different festival than previous years,” Mr Tiddy said.

“Since the Unconformity was last held the whole world has changed.”

Ticketed events featured in the three-day festival were snapped up in record time with more than half a million dollars expected to be injected into the local economy.

“The Unconformity has provided an amazing trigger for local businesses to finish off restorations and really target the weekend as a high-energy launch moment as we enter the summer tourism season,” Mr Tiddy said.

Regional tourism body West by North West expects thousands of Tasmanians and holiday-makers from afar to descend on the small mining town for the arts festival.

“Although interstate visitation is likely to be less than previous years for obvious reasons, some interstaters have still made the trip to Tassie for the festival,” chief executive Tom Wootton said.

“The festival is still sold out and local beds are full – which is testament to the level of support from Tasmanians for this now iconic regional event.”

The Empire Hotel is one of many venues booked out and prepping for the big weekend.

“Every time the event is hosted it’s pretty much shoulder to shoulder,” bar worker Paiten Pursell said.

“We’ve had to take measures with spacing around the hotel, to make sure we’re following Covid laws.”

The festival’s program is jampacked with inherently unique performances and exhibitions, with more than 70 per cent of the program free to access.

More than 150 diverse artists and musicians will showcase their work, including the premiere of a new performance called Collision – a dance collaboration that features a 3.6m tall sculpture created by Tasmanian blacksmith Pete Mattila as well as an industrial installation titled SEED made out of abandoned cars and machinery found on the West Coast.

The heart of Queenstown has also been transformed into a meeting hub called Crib Road, boasting food and entertainment, while the West Coast Wilderness’ empty railway carriages are now cosy reading hubs, giving festivalgoers the chance to connect with storytellers.

Although the forecast for the weekend is for rain, Mr Tiddy said the town was buzzing with positive energy.

“In a strange way I’m really excited that it’s going to be a wet West Coast weekend,” he said.

“I hope people embrace the elements, embrace the art, embrace the local community and have a cracking weekend.”

SEE FULL PROGRAM AT THEUNCONFORMITY.COM.AU