Castlemaine Fringe - a cry for help!

The Castlemaine Fringe Festival is approaching its 21st birthday next year but there is a real chance there will be no-one to blow out the candles unless a new festival director and committee steps forward in the next month.
The future of the festival is on a knife edge, following an announcement this week that Scott Sanders, who has directed the festival for the past few years, has to stand down because of work and family commitments in 2013.
Scott said he would love to lend a hand in the next festival - currently scheduled for March 15, next year - but it would only be in a minor role.
"The fringe festival is looking for a director and a team (committee) to take it forward," Scott said.
"The director's role can oversee all of the fringe events or be shared by several people on the committee if needs be.
"Overall, we are looking for people with an interest in visual arts, digital art, music and performance plus we are looking for people who can specialise in areas like public relations, youth, graphics, website and administration."
The committee and/or director are all voluntary roles. Scott says the fringe festival is totally inclusive.
"It's a way for people to try things out - and their ideas can be quite alternative to mainstream festival ideas."
The wonderful thing about the Castlemaine Fringe Festival is that it is almost completely local, he says.
"It represents all of the styles and genres that already exist in our community and it is representative of our demographics.
"Castlemaine has a rich and varied artistic culture, which is largely submerged - a lot of artists work from home and don't publicise their work."
Scott says the fringe festival is extremely important and he really hopes it continues.
"It's important for local artists to know there is an outlet for them and that it is unconditionally accepting."
An information session will be held for people interested in keeping the Castlemaine Fringe Festival alive at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on Sunday, September 30, at 2pm. All welcome.
For further details call Scott on 0401 411 881.