FREE PROGRAM PROUDLY MADE POSSIBLE BY
KAREN THERESE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL PRESENTS
FUNPARK KAREN THERESE AND THE COMMUNITY OF BIDWILL AUSTRALIA
KAREN THERESE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SYDNEY FESTIVAL PRESENTS
FUNPARK BIDWILL SHOPPING PLAZA CARLISLE AVENUE, BIDWILL (OPPOSITE LINDLEY SQUARE) 18 & 19 JANUARY FROM 6PM
KEY STAFF
PRODUCTION STAFF
STEERING COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CURATOR Karen Therese
PRODUCTION MANAGER Billy Cheeseman
UNITING CHURCH MINISTER John Dacey
ARTS RADAR Sam Hawker
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/AV DESIGN Boris Bagattini
MARKETING MANAGER Kate Armstrong-Smith
LIGHTING DESIGNER Clytie Smith
UNITING CHURCH Josh Bleyerveen Melinda West Nalissa Maberly
ASSISTANT PRODUCER Cat Dibley
SOUND DESIGNER Nick Hogan
SITE LIAISON MANAGER Sam Chester
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kevin NG
ADMINISTRATION Linda Luke
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION FOR BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Production House
PRODUCER – BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Jenny Bisset CULTURAL CURATOR – BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Paschal Daantos Berry COMMUNITY ADVISOR – BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Monir Rowshan INDIGENOUS CURATOR – BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Miah Wright PROJECT OFFICER – BLACKTOWN ARTS CENTRE Annette Tesoriero NAVA LIAISON Brianna Munting
URBAN NEIGHBOURS OF HOPE Jon Owen Lisa Owen Adam Booth COMMUNITY LEADERS Lee Healy Therese Wilson LEARNING GROUND Debbie Higgison-Bradley SALVATION ARMY Philip Farthing
DIRECTOR’S NOTES My art practice is grounded in performance, and political and social activism. As an artist I’m looking for opportunities to present works at sites that invite audiences on radical adventures outside of their geographic comfort zones. I am a Hungarian women, I grew up in Bidwill and moved away in 1988 when I was 15. I came back to visit Bidwill in 2006 and I became intrigued by the shopping centre site, its history and the social and physical transformation of this space over the last 20 years. In the 80s it was a thriving shopping centre and meeting place for the community, there were sports on Saturdays and a petrol station … The seed idea to create FUNPARK came after working with some students at Chifley College Bidwill as an Artist In Residence in 2010. The students stated that they wanted some more things to do in Bidwill, “Like someone should build a fun park right in the heart of Bidwill.” I thought maybe I could try and create this – but do it with them. So more than 20 artists have spent time in the community of Bidwill to make work that is reflective of this community. The stories and artwork in FUNPARK are Mt Druitt stories; therefore, they are stories of: human rights and riots, young people, media stigmatisation of communities, revolution, Indigenous histories, migrants and refugees. These are the same stories that are regularly discussed and debated by our politicians and in the media, but no-one ever comes here to
experience and meet this community first hand. Due to this community’s potent cultural and social make-up, I believe Mt Druitt is one of the most significant places in contemporary Australia. So FUNPARK gives you an opportunity to come to Bidwill, perhaps for the first time, to experience and meet this incredible community. I would like to thank all the individuals and organisations that wholeheartedly got behind this kinda crazy and ambitious initiative: Jon and Lisa Owen at Urban Neighbours of Hope and John Dacey and all at Bidwill Uniting for their faith and support; Arts Radar and the Samurai, Sam Chester and Rhys Morris for coming along on a very big ride; Jenny, Paschal, Miah and all at Blacktown Arts Centre; Nathan and Johanna and PYT; Fiona Winning and Sydney Festival, especially the amazing marketing and programming teams; Australia Council of the Arts and Arts NSW for totally believing in this; my family: Carey and Jet; and a final BIG thank you to all the community participants and artists who have put their incredible time and energy behind this idea – to create a cultural FUNPARK in and about Mt Druitt. So thanks for coming and now you are here, go meet someone new, go on an adventure and get totally FUNPARK-ed. Karen Therese Creative Producer
FUNPARK EVENTS THE CEREMONY Welcome to Country with a smoking ceremony. Community Members: Stella Cunnigham, Bangarra’s Rekindling Project, Darren Compton and Jacqui Cornforth, Mount Druitt Children’s Choir, Chris Tobin and Uncle Wes.
GIRLS LIGHT UP: THE ROCK OPERA Two girls fight over a boy. A helicopter lands. The media create hysteria. A true story from 1981 that changed Bidwill forever … Artists: POST (Natalie Rose, Zoe Coombs Marr & Mish Grigor), White Drummer & Lyn Smith Directed by: Natalie Rose Dramaturgy: Chris Ryan & Chris Dunstan
MT DRUITT PRESS CONFERENCE Seven teenagers from Mt Druitt talk media stigmas, love and the need for revolution in Mt Druitt. The Social Revolutionaries: Daisy Montalvo, Scott Johnathon Cianter, Rvee Dela Cruz, Jithin Matthew, Reanne Shephard, Andrew Llamas & BJ Barnes Co-Directors: Karen Therese & Katia Molino
SITE DESIGN: I LOVE MT DRUITT Design team Province have created a site-responsive installation working in collaboration with the women Mt Druitt Community Corrections and Parole Board – get pink, get orange … get FUNPARK-ed.
Sound Design: Lachie Vercoe
Province: Anne-Louise Dadak & Laura Pike
Production/Stage Manager: Kevin Ng
HOOPAHOLICS
Community Artists: Women’s Drumming Circle, Simply Voices, Stella Cunningham, Tinoz Mauu, Salvation Army Hip-Hop Crew & Sean Millwood.
TEAM9LIVES Parkour: A choreographic portrait of the streets of Western Sydney. Artists: Team9Lives & members of the community
AZONTO WITH LUCKY & AFRO CONTEMPORARY Dance with attitude and create moves from the everyday! Artists: Lucky, Afro Contemporary in partnership with STARTTS
NIGHTTIME INSTALLATION It is nighttime: Lights! Projections! Action! FUNPARK transforms … Artists: Boris Bagattini, Clytie Smith & Nick Hogan
UNDERPASS A film installation telling the history of the underpass and transitory migration in Mt Druitt.
Get your hoopathon on and don’t stop! Artists: Darrin Baker, Vic McEwan, Philip Jopson & community Artist: Bunny Hoopstar with participants. members of the community & the Hoopaholics.
SEXY NEW URBAN DESIGN
OZ FUNLAND PRESENTS ETHIOPIAN PICNIC DOROTHY OVERTON Relax and enjoy an Ethiopian-style
Applespeil with up to 30 young people seek to transform the architectural and urban planning of Bidwill – come and help create Bidwill’s sexy new future.
Bidwill Uniting’s Den is transported to OZ. Come and meet one of the biggest collectors of Wizard of Oz memorabilia.
Artists: Applespiel in collaboration with Learning Ground.
SIGN OF THE TIMES A site intervention. The work sees the artist covering already existing signs at the FUNPARK location with handmade signs that draw inspiration and materials from the everyday, such as decorations, FUNPARK toys, fabric and paint. Artist: Jodie Whalen
TEENA AT FUNPARK Teena at FUNPARK is infused by memories of Australia’s Wonderland. Come and meet Teena, David’s twoyear-old sausage dog – as she has never been seen before. Artists: David Capra & Teena
Presented by: David Capra, OzFUNLAND & Dorothy Overton
WILD TRIKES Cruise around Bidwill on a Harley Trike. Get a free tour and learn about the history of Bidwill with local guys, Wild Trikes. Riders: Sylvio Mizzi, Rat & his daughter Teneesha
CUPPA TEA WITH THERESE Drop in and have a cuppa and chat with Therese, a Mt Druitt local for over 40 years. Hosted by: Therese Wilson
BIDWILL WALKING TOUR The Occult of Bidwill – with Minister John Dacey Cement City – with Ivanka Pelikan The Oval for No Sport – with Michelle Stone
picnic hosted by Assefa Bekele and family.
THE BIDWILL TENT – FUNPARK Local stories with Darug Elders, food, critical debate and music. Limited space available. Featuring: Mt Druitt Children’s Choir, Stella Cunningham, Robyn Caughlan, Annemaree Dalziel, Jai Pittman, Kalico Catering & Bidwill Uniting’s Dinner at the Den group. Public Programs: includes conversation with the Urban Neighbours of Hope and the Artists and creators of FUNPARK.
BEYOND BIDWELL Beyond Bidwill is a documentary film by Josh Wyatt & Lucy Jean, about four boys from Bidwill, Mt Druitt, who undertake an epic 11-day trek in Tassie wilderness. Their lives are never the same again. Collaborators: Josh Bleyerveen from Bidwill Uniting and Co-Director Lucy Jean.
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FESTIVAL VILLAGE AT HYDE PARK
THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE IS AN OASIS OF EATS, BEATS AND OTHER TREATS. IT’S THE PERFECT PLACE TO KICK BACK IN THE AFTERNOON SUN OR KICK ON INTO THE BALMY SUMMER NIGHTS. SYDNEYFESTIVAL.ORG.AU/VILLAGE