The Wingham Akoostik Festival 2020 will go ahead under a new format, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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This year Akoostik will present 'Down the Street', a festival on October 16, 17 and 18 on the streets and inside venues in Wingham. It is being presented with the assistance of a $50,000 Create NSW grant.
"We had firm plans for 2020, we were super organised and had all our amazing artists booked in March," festival director Donna Ballard said.
"Then of course, as we all know our plans had to be put on hold. In this time of creative hibernation we have adapted to a new shape for our 2020 year!
"We are still working on the final shape of the event but it will be live to a limited number of attendees and there will likely be some digital live streaming of Akoostik artist performances to share with you if you cannot attend."
The festival will return to the Wingham Showground in 2021 but given the staged lifting of COVID-19 restrictions organisers believe the street environment will be a safer area to manage.
"We are taking seriously our obligation to present a community event as a reason for celebrating emerging to a new normal, to reflect on the upcoming 12 month anniversary from the bushfires and the rebuilding of community spirit that rose from that time," Donna said.
"We also want to present the smaller festival on the streets of Wingham to support the lovely cafes, boutiques and businesses of the main street.
"We as a festival loving community have been stuck, we are keen to start bringing artists back to 'live in front of your eyes' performance and we want to do that safely and respectfully.
"We will ensure the venues we work with have secure guidelines in place for social distancing and sanitisation. Our event will be in the uncrowded open-air of our friendly rural town with wide streets and a big heart, ready to bring enjoyment!"
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