Hard work behind fest

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Winter Wonderfest organisers and supporters are (from left) Kirsty Melville, Sarah Williams, Nicola Patrick, Carla Donson, Tanya Hayton, Terry Sarten and Christina Emery. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

Winter Wonderfest, which began in Whanganui on Sunday with a performance by bluegrass group Hot Diggity, is a programme brought about by hard work, commitment and belief in the event by just a few people, and two in particular.

The partnership of The Women's Network's Carla Donson and Space Studio and Gallery's Sarah Williams has built Wonderfest from modest beginnings to a festival programme with an exciting future.

Around Carla and Sarah is a network of support.
Kirsty Melville from the Royal Wanganui Opera House says those parts of the programme held in the Opera House encourage mums to bring their babies inside the building.
"We don't always get mums and little ones into the Opera House and it seems like a good opportunity to open up and get a different sector inside," she says.
"The Royal Wanganui Opera House also does our ticketing," says Carla. "They've been hugely supportive, supplying ticketing for other events the Women's Network has run. Without that service we simply couldn't do the fundraising we do to the extent we can.
"It also means we get to support a local service."

Terry Sarten, the only male in the photograph, plays guitar, they borrow his PA system and he's also on the committee.
"Terry is also one of the performers in the Winter Wonderfest finale, which is the Songbirds and Storytellers event." says Carla. "Terry has been a huge supporter over many years of lots of events.
"It's important for us to show the community that men are an important part of our conversations about women."

Christina Emery, More FM Whanganui manager, wears two hats in the Wonderfest.
"I'm wearing the board member hat [of Women's Network] and also More FM supports the Winter Wonderfest and everything the Women's Network does. And, of course, More FM is very female focused.
"As broadcasters we have been roped into doing a performance in Songbirds and Storytellers."

Winter Wonderfest runs until Thursday, August 31, with a total of 28 events.
"This is the second time that Sarah and I have done the Winter Wonderfest together," says Carla, "And we've decided we do want to make this an annual collaboration. We've already committed to 2018."

"Space is hosting three events at the gallery," says Sarah, "And between Carla and I and our design partners, Liquid Edge Creative, we've been working to produce the catalogue and design stuff, and we've been promoting Women's Network and Winter Wonderfest through our networks. We're doing our One Hit Wonder exhibition here, where 20 local artists are putting in one work each.
"We're also doing a Night Market upstairs, and Tanya [Hayton] has become quite a supporter of Space, as well as having her own creative business. She's going to be a stallholder."

Tanya moved here from a Christchurch red zone after the earthquakes.
"Tanya is an example of what happens with many of the events," says Carla. "She's been a huge supporter of Women's Network activities, she's been a La Fiesta sponsor this year, and what we find is that people that might start off as participants, supporters or sponsors, end up becoming presenters of activities."

"If I didn't have the relationship I have with Sarah and Carla, I don't think I'd do the market stall ... but these two women are so supportive of people within the community," says Tanya.

The Night Market on August 26, from 5.30 to 8.30pm is a free event with 13 stalls.
"Six of the 13 are new people," says Sarah. "It just shows how many creatives are out. I find the Night Market opens to door to a wider audience, getting people engaging in art, when they don't think they could or would or should."

Nicola Patrick, committee member and long-time supporter, was pivotal in bringing Emily Writes, author of blog Rants in the Dark, to the Winter Wonderfest.
Emily Writes performs at Lucky Bar on Wednesday, August 30.

Programmes are available around town or at Women's Network and Space Gallery.