Get amongst the action at NAFA COVID Safe from this weekend
Date published: 17 September 2020
The North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) COVID Safe kicks off this Friday, starting five huge weeks of celebrating arts and culture across Townsville.
NAFA COVID Safe is delivered by Townsville City Council with support from Queensland Government, and has been designed to bring the best of Queensland’s arts and entertainment to the city for audiences to enjoy while remaining COVID-safe.
Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson Ann-Maree Greaney said she was pleased Council was able to host NAFA COVID Safe to give the community and visitors a revised version of the festival.
“The COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works at the start of the year, putting a hold on events right across the world. I’m really happy that Queensland has handled the pandemic so well, and that we were able to offer a version of NAFA that prioritises the health of all artists and attendees,” Cr Greaney said.
“This will be a huge boost for our hospitality and tourism industries, and hopefully it will also be a morale boost for everyone who attends.”
CQUniversity Townsville Campus Associate Vice-President, Professor Pierre Viljoen, said he was excited to again partner with Townsville City Council to sponsor the second annual North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA).
“As a progressive university in the city heart, CQUniversity is proud to be able to support this important local community event that solidifies Townsville as the ‘home of world-class arts’ in the North,” he said.
NAFA COVID Safe will offer a number of brand new events, including Art in the Park, Connect Create Skate, Wonderland Under the Stars and Beauty Rich and Rare.
Cr Greaney said it was great to have so much innovative art and entertainment here in Townsville.
“Hosting a festival in the midst of a pandemic requires unique solutions, and Council’s NAFA COVID Safe team and all artists involved have really gone above and beyond to create a very special event,” she said.
“It’s really important that everybody who attends NAFA COVID Safe sticks to the rules, socially distances from others, and practices good hygiene so that we can all enjoy the next five weeks while staying healthy.”
NAFA COVID Safe runs from 18 September until 25 October.
For more information, head to the NAFA website.
