Apollo Bay Music Festival wins Contemporary Cultural Development Award

On Saturday 3 October at the Geelong Performing Arts Centre it was announced that the Apollo Bay Music Festival was awarded Regional Arts Victoria’s Contemporary Cultural Development Award.

Lindy Allen, Director, Regional Arts Victoria said the award was in recognition of “the Apollo Bay Music Festival’s 17 years of success in maintaining a not-for-profit, community run event” and she commended the festival “for engaging a broad range of diverse community groups” and for nurturing many local artists “while presenting established and emerging talent from across Victoria and Australia and most recently international artists.”

Caroline Moore, Festival Director accepted the award on behalf of the Committee, and she said “it is wonderful for a community event committed to the presentation and development of artistic endeavours to be acknowledged in such a way. The Festival is committed to excellence, fostering creative development in the region and presenting an outstanding festival across a range of genres and art forms.”

Peter Fillmore, ABMF President said “it is absolutely wonderful to receive this award, for the Festival and indeed our community to be recognised in such a manner for the work of the past 17 years. I dedicate this award to all who have volunteered on our wonderful event over the years, and it is a great note for us to commence the18th Festival on in 2010.”

Gayle Tierney MP, Member for Western Victoria was also delighted by the accolade, saying, ‘On behalf of the Brumby Labor government, I would like to congratulate the Apollo Bay Music Festival team on this outstanding achievement.

“This award is due recognition and acknowledgement for the tireless work and commitment that the volunteer team puts in throughout the year to contribute to Victoria’s thriving arts scene through the Apollo Bay Music Festival.

“The continued success of the Festival must be attributed to the dedication of the management team, and their commitment to showcasing some of this region’s finest artistic talent. “

The 2010 Apollo Bay Music Festival takes place on 26 – 28 March, and will feature some outstanding national and international talent including Kasey Chambers with Shane Nicholson, Bill Chambers and guests, MBE recipient Eddi Reader (UK), blues guitar maestro Bob Brozman (USA), plus more than 70 artists in genres ranging from Jazz, World, Rock, Blues Folk and everything in between. Early bird tickets are on sale now until 31 November.

The program will be launched on 15 November 2010.

For further information please contact Sabina Reynolds on 0409 701 697 or sabinareynolds@bigpond.com or www.apollobaymusicfestival.com