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Melbourne is just one of the cities that contain a vast creative industry platform for emerging talent in Australia, and this year Toowoomba artist, Chantel Schott has been given the opportunity to showcase her work.

EC et al a new arts initiative, are launching their gallery in May at Conduit Arts in Fitzroy and Chantel will be part of the contemporary group show, with another group show following at Beth Hulme Gallery & Studio in North Fitzroy in November.

Chantel’s work uses a number of mediums, with colour, collage and delicate line work. The themes I am exploring with my current work serve as a metaphor for the term vintage. My objective is to build pathways between past, present and a possible future of contemporary imagery using elements of myth-making and dream-states to reconstruct images which may potentially one day be considered, vintage” said Ms Schott.

Chantel is a self-taught artist who has been painting since 2005; she has shown her work regularly throughout Queensland and has recently become a finalist in the YEN Magazine Young Artist’s Awards, for her piece Basin Street Blues”.

I have always been determined to exhibit my work in Melbourne, and I am ecstatic that through hard work and dedication, I have been given the chance to break into the market there” said Ms Schott.

For more information about the artist her website can be found at www.chantelschott.daportfolio.com

Whether you’re keen to get along to the Toowoomba Royal Show or just looking to have a well-deserved break, residents are urged to make a note of the appropriate show holiday dates for this year.

The gazetted show holidays in the Toowoomba Regional Council area for 2013 are April 11 and August 12.

April 11 is the date for the majority of the Toowoomba region (excluding Yarraman, Upper Yarraman and Cooyar areas) to cater for the Toowoomba Royal Show.

The holiday set down for August 12 is for the remainder of the Toowoomba region (specifically the Yarraman, Upper Yarraman and Cooyar areas) to cater for the Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane Ekka).

If residents have any questions about the show dates they should contact council on 131 872.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council

Easterfest 2013(formerly Australian Gospel Music Festival) is held annually over Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Easterfest is a family-friendly event centred on Toowoomba’s Queen’s Park, but also extends out to venues in the Toowoomba CBD.

Easter Services

The festival attracted over 13,000 ticket holders in 2012, with further growth anticipated this year when numbers are finalised.  It is one of Australia’s largest festivals celebrating Easter. There are free and ticketed events featuring some of the top groups and entertainers in the worldwide gospel music scene.

There are many other activities to Easterfest – More Than Music

Some 200 artists from across the world will fill multiple stages in Queen’s Park, as well as cafes, restaurants, pubs, theatres, shopping centres and churches, with music of every kind. From jazz to heavy metal, from acoustic folk to to indie pop, from blues, funk and soul to good old fashioned rock and roll…and everything in between.

Headline acts at Easterfest 2013 include Relient K, Newworldson, Audio Adrenaline, Sanctus Real, recent Grammy Award Winner Lecrae, Demon Hunter, Evermore, Peter Furler, Paul Colman and many more.

See Feature Events Here

James Morrison, Australian jazz extraordinaire most known for his trumpet playing will be giving several performances this year (he performed at the first Easterfest 15 years ago).

James has been collaborating with jazz vocalist, Craig Burnett from SCAT to dream up Easterfest’s Saturday night’s Jazz Super Club show. With these two plus Emma Pask and Toowoomba’s own ABC recording artist, Sharney Russell anything could happen… of an international standard!

James Morrison will also headline The Gospel in the Chapel finale at the Empire Theatre on Sunday afternoon performing compositions from his gospel albums, and will be joined by jazz vocalist Emma Pask.

Follow what’s happening at Easterfest on Easterfest TV

The MG Car Club of Australia and Corvettes Down Under car groups will be holding separate events in Toowoomba and will be out and about exploring the region across the Easter long weekend.

Corvettes Down Under will hold a special Show ‘n’ Shine on Saturday (March 30) from 9am to 2pm at the Village Green (off Ruthven Street – behind City Hall) and the MG Car Club of Queensland will hold a Concours (a competition based on originality and presentation of the car) on Saturday as well. That event will be held at Heller Street Park from 9am to 3pm.

Representatives from both clubs will be welcomed by Mayor Paul Antonio at City Hall on Thursday 28th of March.

Highfields Pioneer Village is celebrating its 16th Annual Easter Vintage Festival Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday (30th of March to the 1st of April,  2013). The theme of the festival is ‘A time when life was much Simpler’. Come and experience rural life in the Australian Pioneer days! Milk a cow, learn how to crack a whip or be a blacksmith.

Enjoy billy tea and damper made on authentic camp ovens. Don’t miss the spectacular Grand Parade and all the baby animals in the nursery. There will be live music and great food. You might even encounter the infamous bush ranger Ned Kelly! Whether you love history, you’re a vintage machinery buff or you are just looking for great entertainment you will have a wonderful time at the Easter Vintage Festival. It is an affordable, entertaining weekend for all ages. Past visitors have come for a day and returned for all three!The Festival will feature displays and demonstrations from all aspects of Pioneering life- including arts, crafts, music, vintage machinery and age old crafts such as Silversmithing, Tinsmithing and Blacksmithing. The kids will love to see the old steam engines and stationary engines working and the heavy horses are always a favourite too.

There will also be an extensive range of wood products from the Toowoomba Woodworkers on display. Local spinners and weavers will talk about wool usage in textiles and spin wool directly off the sheep’s back.

Come and see how the Australian Pioneers survived in bygone years and learn their heritage skills. Get back to basics and away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the atmosphere of the Village set in Pioneering days. Visit the Fashion Shop or the Historic National Bank – be careful you might be held up by Ned Kelly !

There truly is something for everyone at the Easter Vintage Festival, so gather up your family and friends and keep the ‘Australian Pioneering Spirit Alive’- just 15 mins drive North of Toowoomba at Highfields Pioneer Village,Wirraglen Road Highfields, Queensland.

The Village is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm each day of the Festival.
Ph: 07 4696 6309
www.eastervintagefestival.com

Toowoomba’s Village Green became a cultural feast on March 21st as part of Harmony Day celebrations.

In addition to guest speakers, there were a number of performances from representatives of different cultures followed by a barbeque. Mayor Paul Antonio says the celebration was a chance for the community to come together and learn more about other cultures.[youtube width=”525″ height=”444″]http://youtu.be/Msv5SkkXPiY[/youtube]

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council