Swell time at Currumbin

The Swell Sculpture Festival will celebrate a decade of artistic accomplishment when the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey officially opens the event tonight.

“This festival transforms Currumbin’s picturesque foreshore into an outdoor gallery,” said Ms Stuckey.

“It is a visual feast where our natural beauty is complemented by man-made treasures.”

“As the local member for Currumbin I have watched the Swell Sculpture Festival grow from a weekend display to a ten day extravaganza, last year attracting 178,000 visitors.

“The Gold Coast is proud to host this free exhibition which has become a highly anticipated cultural event on the spring calendar,” said Ms Stuckey.

The Swell Sculpture Festival shows off the beauty of the Currumbin coastline as the backdrop for 50 inspiring and innovative works of art from national and international artists.

“This year will also see the addition of a number of new elements including the Swell Sounds live music program and Dark Neon, a series of major nightly projections.”

The Newman Government supports the Swell Sculpture Festival through the Events Queensland Regional Development Program and Arts Queensland.

“We are proud to continue investing in the Gold Coast region through local events such as the Swell Sculpture Festival,” said Ms Stuckey.

“They play a vital role in contributing to Queensland’s tourism industry and provide significant economic and social benefits to local communities.

“Getting behind events which attract visitors to Queensland, reflects our determination to establish this state as Australia’s number one tourism destination and boost overnight visitor spending to $30 billion by 2020.”

The Swell Sculpture Festival runs from September 14 – 23.

[ENDS] 13 September 2012

Media Contact: Lynette Keep 0419 620 299