Commonwealth Games organisers to unveil ‘PC program’ for GC’s free multi-arts festival

THE politically correct Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be accompanied by a PC program of events for the multi-arts celebration Festival 2018. Here’s a look inside.

THE politically correct Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be accompanied by a PC multi-arts festival.

The massive program of events to be rolled out from Coomera to Coolangatta from April 4-15 for Festival 2018 Gold Coast will be unveiled by the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) on Wednesday.

The Gold Coast Bulletin can exclusively reveal the program includes several PC-friendly family events with an Australian twist designed to encourage discussion around gender equality, reconciliation and youth empowerment.

Children's Republic, in Broadbeach, will call on kids aged 6 to 12 to draft a manifesto for a micro-state as part of Festival 18.

Children’s Republic, in Broadbeach, will call on kids to draft a manifesto for a micro-state; community gathering Weaving Water Stories will see local indigenous weavers create an art installation inspired by their relationship to water; and personal trainers aged 6 to 10 will tell adults what to do at fitness boot camp Fitter Faster Better.

GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie said Games delivery partners including CGF had been briefed on Festival 2018’s overall concept and many of its featured artists and were delighted with its program of events celebrating the Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO David Grevemberg said the festival’s “exciting plans” would showcase the Commonwealth’s “diversity and creativity”.

Festival 18 event Weaving Water Stories will see local indigenous weavers create an art installation inspired by their relationship to water.

“I’m particularly pleased to see the festival provide opportunities for courageous

conversations around reconciliation, youth empowerment and gender equality,” he said.

“Festival 2018 will be more than an inspiring and unmissable part of the Games atmosphere – it should be a place to discuss and respond to the issues facing Commonwealth citizens in Australia and across the world today.”

The announcement comes after Commonwealth Games organisers were forced to defend a controversial handbook given to 15,000 volunteers and official staff and contractors that advises them to use gender-neutral language because “not everyone identifies as heterosexual or cisgender”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk apologised for an ad featuring a tradie riding a pink children's bicycle to work to avoid traffic congestion during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The guidebook advised against calling people “ladies and genlemen” or “boys and girls” for fear of causing offence.

Games organisers GOLDOC were also criticised after a human resources executive invited staff to an “Invasion Day” event at the Games Village last Thursday.

While some events on the Festival 2018 program are likely to attract similar criticism, organisers aren’t concerned.

Festival 2018 creative director Yaron Lifschitz says the event program reflects and supports the Coast and the values of the Commonwealth Games Federation – humanity, equality and destiny. Picture: John Gass

Festival 2018 creative director Yaron Lifschitz said the program reflected and supported the Coast and the values of the Commonwealth Games Federation – humanity, equality and destiny.

“The program represents the kind of inclusive, diverse and open society that I believe we are and that I hope we will remain,” he said.

“It celebrates what brings us together, who we are and what we dream of becoming.

“In a pluralistic society like Australia, that means there will be a wide variety of perspectives and opinions and festivals offer us a safe way to engage with this wonderful diversity.”

Audiences will see members of diverse cultures and communities, religions and sexualities, ages and abilities in events designed to challenge and provoke on the Gold Coast during Festival 18.

Mr Lifschitz said audiences would see members of diverse cultures and communities, religions and sexualities, ages and abilities in events designed to challenge and provoke.

“They will hear songs in English and in a variety of languages. They will encounter artists from the Gold Coast and from Ghana, Pakistan and Canada,” he said.

“I love that Festival 2018 is free and you can see everything in your togs if you choose.

“It is unpretentious, entertaining and accessible. It also proudly has works that will challenge and provoke.”

GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters said while the Games were all about sport, the arts and cultural program would share the intricacies of the Commonwealth’s culture through entertainment, visual art, music, dance and food experiences.

Borobi, the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games mascot. Picture: Glenn Hampson

FESTIVAL 2018 GOLD COAST EVENTS INCLUDE:

Children’s Republic of the Gold Coast

‘Challenges’ children aged 6 to 12 to imagine what their ideal country would look like and dream up its rules and values. The children will be able to design a micro state, national flag, constitution and coat of arms in a workshop with artist Ben Landau. The event culminates in a parade where the children, accompanied by a band, present their manifesto to ‘a notable person’.

Fitter Faster Better

A boot camp for adults who will be told what to do by local personal trainers aged 6 to 10 years — guided by Melbourne company St Martins Youth Arts. Designed to ‘empower’ kids to tell adults what to do and challenge the contemporary model of fitness.

Weaving Water Stories

A collaborative fibre artwork that brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders together to create an inspiring, large-scale installation. Curated by Freya Carmichael, designed by local Lisa Sorbie-Martin and created by six artists from south east Queensland and Northern NSW, the work will speak of the artists’ relationship to water. The cultural gathering will invite audiences to experience the work, meet the artists and join workshops, conversations and demonstrations.