THE Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival has joined the list of high-profile Limestone Coast events to be cancelled amid the worsening coronavirus outbreak.
Last month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced all non-essential gatherings should be restricted to 500 people, which was further reduced to 100, with the latest advice capping non-essential gatherings to just two people.
Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival committee chairperson Simon Weston said the cancellation of the 29th annual event was a difficult decision to make.
“We have put a lot of new measures in place this year with an almost new committee so we will continue to work through things,” he said.
“We have made a lot of new improvements to streamline the festival and despite having to cancel the festival it is great to move forward.”
“We had Tim Rogers coming over for the Sunday Down the Lane event and a number of other wonderful community events.”
Despite the cancellation, Mr Weston said the committee was dedicated to providing a diverse range of events next year, but was finding it difficult to organise meetings due to gathering restrictions and the widespread closure of facilities.
“We did meet at the Royal Oak Hotel and now that is closed. With the restrictions in place nationally we are not sure what will happen with our weekly meetings,” he said.
“If we are locked down completely then we are trying to figure out how we are going to meet to plan the following festival.”
In the meantime, Mr Weston urged artists to hone their skills at home in preparation for 2021.
“It is really uncharted waters for the whole country and we have never faced anything like this before,” he said.
“We are looking at the potential of hosting online competitions that artists can enter but it is early days for that.
“For now we are just telling the public to stay strong and positive and continue doing their art at home.”
