In 2012 the Kandos Cement works closed, leaving the town with an uncertain future. Who could have predicted that this future would include a contemporary art festival? And yet, 6 years later, Cementa is on the verge of launching its fourth festival and expanding into a year-round program.
The fate of this rural post-industrial town and the community of contemporary artists who have gathered around it are intertwined. The relationship between these two communities defines the festival as one that attempts to speak to and benefit both.
CEMENTA IS GROWING
Cementa has helped to raise the profile of Kandos and the brilliant rural landscape it occupies, contributing to an improved visitor economy and attracting new home owners. At the same time, we have honed our vision as an arts organisation, focusing on the challenges of cultivating contemporary art culture in the regions, and developing the unique collaboration with the culture and community of Kandos as a cornerstone of our activity.
THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN
“I grew up here and left as soon as I could.
I thought I’d never come back. But I happened to visit
during one of the festivals and this is a very different
Kandos than the one I grew up in. So here I am.”
– Kandos Local (2016)
Cementa is undergoing a growth spurt. We have signed the lease on “Angus Hall” the original community hall. We are fixing it up to house our artist residency, offices, exhibition and community space, giving us a permanent, central presence. We already host up to 25 artists in residency a year, most of which goes unseen. Our expanded program will take advantage of this considerable resource to make Kandos into a vibrant hub of regional contemporary culture year-round.
To accomplish this, we need your help. The expanded program brings with it expanded demands. And so, for the first time since 2013, we are putting our hands out to ask for grassroots support!
HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN
We’ve created the following Donor Categories based on the ingredients to make high quality, long lasting cement. Any donation above $2 is tax deductible.
WATER (Friend of the Festival): $30-$100
– every drop counts
AGGREGATE (Artist Supporter): $200-$1,000
– $300 supports an artist to participate in the festival; $700 supports a residency in Kandos; $1,000 does both as a Cementa artist’s personal patron
FORMWORK (Event & ARI Supporter); $1,500-$4,000
– supports the cost of personnel and equipment for the Cementa Festival, or helps create our new ARI space
CEMENT (Building Supporter): $5,000+
– $5,000 helps us buy Angus Hall! Yes, we want to buy the hall and have been given 5 years to raise the funds by the current owner. Help us establish a building fund
For more details or to discuss other options for support, please contact us directly at info@cementa.com.au
