Bay of Fires Art Association Inc president Simon Holmes said the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival aimed to inject life into the East Coast community.

“We’re really trying to bring a really fantastic cultural experience to an isolated area in Tasmania,” he said.

Mr Holmes said there were a few key differences to this year’s festival.

“The arts market will be running across two days … so that’s going to be a real focus for the festival,” he said.

A twilight market will take place on June 9 from 2pm, and will reopen from 9am on June 10.

“Within that art markets we’ve got an event called Offbeat, which is a cool thing that’s new for the festival this year,” Mr Holmes said.

He said the music event will feature live performances from bands, such as Baba Bruka, Shannon Bourne Band with Pete Cornelius, Whalebone, and Boogieman.

Offbeat will begin at 5pm on May 9 at St Helens District School.

“We’ve also got some performing arts and interpretive dance happening this year at the festival, which is new as well,” he said.

Mr Holmes said Hobart’s The Nelipot Collective would do a performance based around the issues surrounding plastic in the ocean called Adrift.

The performance will take place at Portland Hall, St Helens.

“There’s also an open garden as well,” he said.

“There’s lots of people who have these amazing gardens, so they open them up to the public.

“We’ve got Jane Edmanson from Gardening Australia appearing at one of the open gardens this year, so that’s new for the festival.”

Patrons will also be given the opportunity to watch artists and craftsmen where they work through a studio tour.

“There’s heaps going on,” Mr Holmes said.

Other events taking place across the long weekend include workshops, live performances, and exhibitions of artwork and announcements of winners of the Bay of Fires Art Prize, Youth Art Prize, and Tas Quilt Art Prize.

Mr Holmes said the whole festival is run by volunteers.

“It’s ... a pretty cool thing,” he said.

“We’ve got some passionate supporters and advocates for the arts.”

For those interested in volunteering, contact the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival Facebook page.

For more information, visit the Bay of Fires Winter Arts Festival website.

Tickets are available online through Outix.

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