Image Credit: Craig Gaston
Created by Black Hole Theatre, Someone in the Dark is an immersive adventure for children and families - a gently spooky, wonder-filled performance about facing fears and finding courage. Set in the wild and designed to be experienced as a small group journey, the work combines puppetry, soundscape, and visual storytelling. Children step into a […]
A mesmerising kaleidoscope of multi-lingual poetry, folk songs, movement, and ritual. The Resonant Heart - where diverse worlds and traditions meet in harmony – is a multi-disciplinary ensemble who have united to share and create from their collective cultural and artistic knowledge. Comprising Sudanese poet Nyaluelit ‘Lizzy’ Kuoth, Indian sitarist Sarita McHarg, Iranian artists Vahideh […]
'The Chewton Small' will be Chewton's, and possibly the world's, newest and smallest art gallery. Designed to exhibit one artwork at a time, it simplifies the viewing experience, diminishing the dilemma of where to look, and liberating the exhibited artwork from the perils of comparison. It will facilitate an intimate dialogue between viewer and artwork, […]
All At Once… is a large-scale cane and bamboo installation that unfolds like a living system: a tall central dome surrounded by a constellation of smaller interconnected structures. Covered in translucent paper and textile membranes, the work appears almost organic - something part-built, part-grown, and open for people to gently move through. Each space has […]
Experience a full day of dance, connection and creativity at the Regional Dance Summit, as part of the Castlemaine State Festival! Bringing Victoria’s regional dance community together to move, learn and celebrate, the Summit welcomes dancers of all ages and stages of their journey. From a young dancer dreaming big, to an adult ready to […]
We are born with an innate drive to play. Ask someone to remember how they played as a child and it’s like unlocking a cupboard full of treasures and surprises. Play is necessary to lead a balanced life, yet as the pace of daily life accelerates, we are playing less – both as children and […]
Created by Black Hole Theatre, Someone in the Dark is an immersive adventure for children and families - a gently spooky, wonder-filled performance about facing fears and finding courage. Set in the wild and designed to be experienced as a small group journey, the work combines puppetry, soundscape, and visual storytelling. Children step into a […]
Painter Printmaker Jeff Gardner lives and works in his studio in historic Maldon in central Victoria. Jeff uses traditional etching, drypoint and letterpress techniques to illustrate his compositions and creative verse. His current exhibition - Daylight in the Daydream and the Insect Moons – explores Jeff’s interest in insects, their decorative influence on our lives […]
Castlemaine Press is a community access printmaking studio with a membership of over 70 artists including both renowned and emerging printmakers, working across all mediums. Set within the stimulating surrounds of Lot 19, this two hour event will showcase the diverse range of printmaking techniques – woodblock, linocut, collagraph, etching, monotypes and more. Meet and […]
The tables are set. The audience is seated. The lights are on. But where are the stars of the show? The maître d’ and waiters of The Glitter Bug Club must save the day as the booked stars of the show have gone to the completely wrong venue…! The show will go on and it’s […]
Jeff Gardner’s Printmaking Studio is situated in a converted Sunday School adjacent to Cascade Art Gallery. Inside - an extraordinary collection of printing presses and technologies Jeff has gathered over many years. On both Saturdays of the Festival Jeff will demonstrate a variety of printmaking techniques on his beloved presses. Jeff’s printmaking practice includes works […]
Pause, ponder… and get making at Buda this State Festival. In the Company of Small Things is a series of exhibitions and installations that invite audiences to slow down and look closer. This series of four workshops are led by key members of the Buda team – Sarah Frazer, House Curator and Ryan Garratt, Garden […]
An immersive celebration of the birds and woodland ecosystems of central Victoria curated by Geoff Park. Life with Birds brings together a distinguished range of collaborators - writers, artists, photographers, sound recordists, field naturalists, scientists. The various events enable participants to enjoy and learn whilst on the path to a deeper appreciation of the richness […]
Just like the Castlemaine State Festival, Harcourt Valley Vineyards flagship wine - Barbara's Shiraz - is celebrating its 50th anniversary! Surrounded by gum trees Harcourt Valley is the oldest vineyard in the Mount Alexander Shire and has a 5 star James Halliday rating. This special event celebrates longevity and innovation with fine wine, local tastes […]
Orchestra of Extinction is a long term project in which Forest Keegel and her collaborator sound artist Amanda King explore the habitat of threatened species. During immersive field trips they gather audio visual material that encapsulates each habitat as well as environmental traces such as plant saps, beeswax, soil and leaves. What they discover is […]
An invitation to experience exquisite music and unique art forms with Laura Vaughan, Joel Sorensen, Hilary Finch + Zoe Amor Portal Gallery House presents an intimate Salon with solo recitals by world renowned musician Laura Vaughan playing Baroque viola da gamba and its rare and beautiful cousin, the baryton. Continuum moves fluidly through centuries of […]
This collaborative work explores how memory leaves its imprint — in the body, the air, and the spaces we inhabit. Unfolding as a sequence of fragments — gestures, melodies and moments that dissolve and reappear - like echoes of a story retold. Dargaville’s music brings a haunting acoustic to the space, creating a shifting landscape […]
The Castlemaine Fringe Festival brings its signature creativity to the State Festival with It’s A Kind of Wonder - a wearable art exhibition that transforms fashion into fantasy. Curated by Jody Galvin, Azzy Jay, Kya Moore, Ellen Doyle, Madeleine Somers, Martin John Lee, Andi Herman, Melissa Clark, Michelle Newton, and Kaz McMullan, the exhibition showcases […]
Daydreaming subverts the world - Raoul Vaneigem, The Revolution of Everyday Life. The Situationist Travel Agency (STAA) continues the tradition of subverting and repurposing city maps, adopted by the Situationist International in 1957. At STAA, we play with the conventions and banality of international travel. The familiar and yet strange spaces in between here and […]
In order to effect change, you need a groundswell, a groundswell of opinion, a surge of emotion, a desire for new thinking. This exhibition celebrates artists who want to build a groundswell for change whether that be environmental, cultural, personal or political. The exhibition pairs historical objects including embroidery, ceramics and metalwork from the Castlemaine […]
Pause, ponder… and go rummaging at Buda this State Festival. In the Company of Small Things is a series of exhibitions and installations that invite audiences to slow down and look closer. Discover new artworks by local artists Dianne Longley (Trentham) and Clayton Tremlett (Castlemaine), interpreting Buda’s House and Garden in new and exciting ways. […]
The installation concept, developed by two local Castlemaine artists, Alvin Darcy (Yorta Yorta and Taungurung, Ngarigo and Walbunja) and Brodie Ellis, has both artists working in in parallel. They created two independent installations - exhibited in dialogue - while researching the Leanganook/Mt Alexander mountain site on Djaara Country in Central Victoria. This parallel practice approach […]
Carson Country Band, La de Das, Spectrum, Wendy Saddington, Chain On his eighteenth birthday Harley Parker was given a camera by his grandfather, and went to a music club, the Thumpin' Tum, for the first time. His love of photography and music took him on a journey of discovery and delight. Just One in the […]
A celebration of the timeless power of opera. Experience soaring arias, dramatic duets and stirring ensembles up close in this intimate opera recital. Presented by Victorian Opera for the Festival’s 50th anniversary, The Heart of Opera features principal artist Kathryn Radcliffe alongside prize-winning emerging artists Bailey Montgomerie (baritone), Rachael Joyce (soprano) and Alessia Pintabona (soprano), […]
Internationally acclaimed vocal quartet Windborne bring their extraordinary harmonies and social conscience to Castlemaine. Hailed by The Guardian as “the most exciting vocal group in a generation,” Windborne’s singing is rooted in folk traditions from around the world — layered, resonant and alive with purpose. Their repertoire moves seamlessly from Appalachian ballads to songs of […]
An afternoon of poetry with High Tea held in the historic Chewton Hall
Babooshka is a joyous, theatrical homage to one of pop’s most singular voices — Kate Bush. Performed by The KB Band, the show brings Bush’s world of drama, poetry and play to life with fearless energy and lush musicianship. Expect the classics — “Running Up That Hill”, “Wuthering Heights”, “Cloudbusting” — alongside deep cuts and […]
Virtuosity meets intimacy in this concert featuring world-renowned violinist Sergej Krylov playing a 1710 Stradivari ‘Camposelice' and pianist Konstantin Shamray. Greatly influenced by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, with whom he regularly shared a stage as a young violinist, Krylov’s nuanced artistry has seen him perform internationally as well as hold the role of Music Director of […]
For eight nights only, the Castlemaine Goods Shed transforms into the Festival Club — the Festival’s after-dark heartbeat and a nightly home for dancing, discovery and connection. From Saturday 21 to Saturday 28 March, the space becomes an ever-shifting sonic playground. One night you’re sinking into deep house, the next you’re swept up in Afrobeat, […]
Candid and insightful, Dame Quentin Bryce has held the respect of Australians as one of their most impactful changemakers. With a trailblazing career dedicated to reform and serving community, we’re delighted that biographer Juliet Rieden and Dame Quentin will join us at The Goods Shed to chat about her extraordinary story with Suzy Wilson AM […]
The Castlemaine State Festival has a proud history of creating exceptional and memorable arts experiences for the region’s young people - and this 50th Anniversary event will be no exception. The 2026 Festival once again invites all primary and secondary school students from across Mount Alexander Shire to participate in an inspiring cultural, visual arts […]
Researching and documenting some of the most significant historical events comes with a burden of responsibility. Setting the story straight and ensuring it is accessible to us and to future generations is important work - a springboard for discussion, knowledge and learning. Clare Wright and Don Watson sit down with academic and historian, Tom Griffiths […]
How can we connect with art through movement and forming shapes with our bodies? Join Heidi on a playful adventure through the gallery. Playful Forms is an interactive dance workshop for 4-5 year olds and their parent/carers. A fun opportunity to bond with your child through art and dance! This workshop is designed for carer-child […]
Learn the songs and calls of some of our rarer bird species! This immersive one-hour presentation introduces the importance of sound for species identification, monitoring and assessing the state of our local habitat. Andrew Skeoch is a professional wildlife sound recordist, acoustic ecologist and author of ‘Deep Listening to Nature’ – and has given presentations […]
Melissa and Jake escape from the big smoke looking for country life with cold pressed coffee and hot yoga. There's stars in the skies and stars in their eyes - but what will they discover about just what it takes to be a local? An original all singing, all dancing musical about the town we […]
DEEP HEART is a collaboration in poetry and song exploring love in all its strange, enduring forms. Poet Ross Donlon joins with Rebecca Morton and Ken White to trace the fault lines between tenderness and truth, drawing from a lifetime of writing about connection, loss and renewal. This performance feels like being invited into a […]
Skip to content