The 38th Victorian Seniors Festival is being celebrated a little differently, with the program moving to an entirely online format – ‘Festival Reimagined 2020’.
The Seniors Festival is a special time of celebration for Southern Grampians seniors and is an important opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing valued contribution those over 60 make to our community.
This year’s theme - In the groove - gives seniors the chance to relax and enjoy a range of performances from the comfort of their own home and provides an opportunity for older Victorians to enjoy specially curated content - tailored for their entertainment.
The Festival reimagined is delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s mental health enhancement initiative to help seniors experiencing loneliness and isolation and in particular to help senior Victorians reach out for help with stress and isolation caused by coronavirus.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Chris Sharples said while the pandemic has been challenging socially for everyone, this year’s format for the Seniors Festival offers older residents a great opportunity to access the arts and enjoy entertainment via an alternate format.
“This year’s Seniors Festival offers our senior citizens cultural arts content such as radio plays, poetry and a host of other exciting performances, specifically tailored to those over 60,” said Cr Sharples.
“It’s more important than ever now for seniors to connect socially and enjoy entertainment in a safe way, particularly for maintaining positive mental health.
“The Seniors Festival online offers our seniors something new and is a way for us to continue to celebrate their value and importance within our community during the pandemic,” said Cr Sharples.
The program includes music and entertainment features from nostalgia to contemporary artists; radio plays including new recordings of long-established works by Alan Hopgood and Agatha Christie; and new plays commissioned by the Victorian Seniors Festival. There is also a fantastic mix of spoken word, poetry and prose from Australian writers and a variety of videos and performances.
The Festival Reimagined is available to seniors now, with new content available weekly until 31 October 2020.
For more information about the Festival, visit www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au/seniorsfestival