Midwinter Carnival 2017 Theme is Announced as Artistic Director Steps Down

The Midwinter Carnival will take place on 24th June (with a postponement date of Sunday 25th) at the Octagon, in central Dunedin. The event will start at 5.00pm, with the procession taking place at 6pm.

The Midwinter Carnival is a much loved community celebration of Winter, where art and performance create a unique and magical event. The highlight of the evening is the Carnival procession, which includes over 1,000 people and hundreds of hand crafted lanterns. Every year, a much anticipated spectacle is the giant lanterns, costumed stilt walkers, dancers and musicians, parading through the Octagon.

The event now attracts upwards of 15,000 people, and the numbers go up every year.

While Carnival organisers tried to extend the route this year, to accommodate the growing numbers, it proved logistically impossible, as the turning off of street lights around Moray place became an insurmountable issue.

The Carnival’s long-time artistic director; Juliet Novena Sorrel, is stepping down this year. Having created the event’s unique aesthetic, encompassing everything from costuming, lantern making and performance direction, Juliet’s vision has been integral to the Carnival’s striking imagery and carefully curated themes.

This year, Juliet will step aside in order for the Carnival Art Team to realise their collective vision of this year’s theme.

‘This year I am mentoring our Art team who have increased their responsibilities and will work as a collective to artistically direct the event.They have a wealth of skills between them so I'm totally confident that the Carnival is in good hands.’

Juliet plans to focus on her work as a visual artist and also on her teaching, and looks forward to seeing the Carnival grow and change, as new ideas and artists come on board.

‘I've given this event my best and really learned a lot and feel so proud of what we have achieved up to now. So I’m passing the vision on to new people and I’m sure it will continue to be an incredible community event for many years’

This year’s theme is NOCTURNAL NATURE, and it brings to life a lush native forest teaming with wildlife that is both ancient and a vision of the future, according to lead costumier Hannah Johnston.

'Imagine bats emerging from a cave, eels writhing in a creek with glow worms and Taniwha on its banks and owls circling overhead. That's just some of what is being developed by the Art Team this year.’

ENDS

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