Cairns Festival: Conversations with...

Leading up to (and during) the 2010 Cairns Festival, we'll be connecting with both local and visiting creative people and asking about what makes them tick. We'll pose a few simple questions about inspiration, life in the Tropical North, the Festival environment, and just about anything else that comes to mind. To get this "Conversations with..." initiative started, Festival producer, Eric Holowacz, is spending a few minutes with the cultural figures working to deliver  our 2010 season, and finds out what they have to say. Click on any of the below creative people to peruse their quick question and answer sessions.

A Welcome from Mayor Val Schier, Cairns Regional Council

Ricky Philbin, Cairns Tropical Pride Festival

Carol Libke, Tropical Writer's Group of Far North Queensland

Steve and Tanya Rutherford, Colourful Icons of Cairns

Nola Craig of Taste Paradise

Shells of Kuranda Folk Night

Olive Davis of Tropical Wave Festival

Diane Finlay of Tropical Writers and Writers on the Waterfront

Tony Hillier of Opening Saturday Concert Headliners, Kamerunga

Caz Syndenham of Festival Hangout, 12 Bar Cafe

The Team at UMI Arts

Avril Duck, author of When the Wheels Fall off the World

Mark Evans of Paronella Park and The Impossible Dream

Dale Treanor of Mr Pinstripe Suit

Colyn Huber, official photographer of Cairns Festival

Dean Poynor, the first Cairns Festival Playwright in Residence and author of Homo apocalyptus

Bree James of Festival sponsor, Pak Mag

Xavier Beaubois, one half of the Amazing Drumming Monkeys

Prue Johnson of The Esplanade / Inner City Facilities Team

Festival Headliners and Local Cairns Band, Zennith

Rae O'Connell, Director of KickArts Contemporary Arts

Wally Donaldson, Telstra Area General Manager

Eric Holowacz, Cairns Festival Producer

Sam Tupou, proprietor of Mofo and the Mo-fest Underground Music Series 

Leslie Sparkes, Cultural Services & Facilities Manager, Cairns Regional Council