One of the city’s biggest weekends of events is set to get under way on Friday, with a schedule packed full of culture, fun and frivolity.
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The River Festival, Clearwater Sculpture Prize and the Art Trail are set to bring hordes to Queanbeyan to enjoy what the city has to offer.
From Friday to Sunday, the sculptures for the Clearwater prize will be installed on the banks of the river. The public has the chance to vote for their favourites in the People’s Choice and Children’s Choice awards.
The River Festival is back again on Saturday, with boat races, Enviro Expo, safe archery, water balls, stand up paddle boarding and fly fishing demonstrations. Or make an insect hotel in a free workshop. Musical entertainment will provided by buskers on the river’s edge.
The Art Trail will kick off on Sunday, with an extended line-up including artist studios in Queanbeyan and across the local government area. Bus tours are available, with tickets from The Q box office.
Artist Peter McLean has recently opened a studio and shopfront in Cassidy’s Arcade. He’s looking forward to being part of the Art Trail, allowing people to peer into his otherwise private studio.
“I’ll have something set up to do, some demonstration of some print making,” Mr McLean said.
”I’ve got a small etching press that I’ll have set up doing some demonstrations.”
Mr McLean said he loved living in Queanbeyan, where he has been for the past two years. He said in his new space, the Press Gallery, he will be concentrating on print making.
“That’s something that sets it aside as a little bit different to other smaller galleries. I do a range of things, but my practice has always been focused on print making.”
Mr McLean said the Art Trail was a great opportunity to see spaces that are not normally open to the public.
“They’re working studio spaces so it gives an opportunity for people to see how things are made, not just the final product.”
“Seeing somebody’s studio, its not just the work, it’s the equipment, the way things are set up,” Mr McLean said.
“The space set up by a creative person is often quite interesting to poke around in, and that’s the unique experience for things like the open studio art trail.”