Tweed Fusion – an inspirational celebration of art, music, food and culture across the Tweed Valley and Tweed Coast
On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October, Tweed Fusion will showcase the Tweed Valley’s striking scenery, the 
diversity of its creative community and abundance of gourmet cuisine.
Tweed Fusion, a two day celebration of art, music, food and culture across the Tweed Valley and Tweed Coast, is presented by Destination Tweed. From pop-up art galleries and artistic coastal walks, to an exquisite art gallery dinner celebrating the life of famous artist Margaret Olley, to a gourmet Sunday picnic in a secret location, this year’s Tweed Fusion program dishes up a rich and unique feast of inspiring events.
A highlight of the Tweed Fusion weekend will be the ‘Celebrating Margaret’ dinner at the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre on Saturday 4 October. Dinner, music, conversation and conviviality will be in the spirit of Margaret Olley’s table, with a menu that shares some of her favourite food created with fresh Tweed Valley produce.
Curator of the Margaret Olley Art Centre, Ingrid Hedgcock, will invite Christine France, art historian and Margaret’s close friend, biographer and co-executor of her estate, to share with guests an intimate discussion in the Margaret Olley Art Centre about the famous Lismore-born artist who passed away in 2011. The evening will include a personal tour of the Centre with the curator. Entertainment at the dinner will be Duo Piacere, two classical chamber musicians: flutist Carmelia MacWilliam and harpist Margaret Curtis. Tickets are $120pp and bookings are essential.On Saturday 4 October, the beachside walking track from Cabarita to Norries Headland will be awash with colour, arts, music and beach culture for the Coastal Creative Trail.
The 2km long temporary outdoor gallery will feature sculptures, performers, buskers, artists and a bazaar of local artisans and designers. The trail runs from Pandanus Parade to the Norries Headland whale watching platform, so a glimpse of humpback whales on the final leg of their journey south could also be on the agenda.
Art and sculpture masterclasses will be conducted during the Tweed Fusion weekend at Greenhills on Tweed, an historic homestead built in 1907 on the banks of the Tweed River at Murwillumbah.A pop-gallery and cafe will also be located at Greenhills on Tweed over the weekend, with a team of local artists and artisans on hand showcasing their work in the beautifully restored rooms of the homestead overlooking the Tweed River and Wollumbin Mt Warning. Commended visual artist Amelia Batchelor from the Escape Gallery in Murwillumbah is organising this year’s pop-up gallery.
Visitors to the pop-up gallery can also see artists at work at Sculpture Classes with accomplished Tweed sculptor Marie France- Rose, who will share new and innovative ways to work with clay.
Tweed artists Andy Reimanis and Barb Suttie will be onsite over the weekend to help budding artists explore new mediums and gain insight into Tweed’s geography at their Caldera Wildscapes Masterclass.
On Saturday 4 October, passionate teacher and chamber musician Carmelia MacWilliam will conduct a Flute Masterclass at Sathya Sai Hall in Murwillumbah.
Places for the artists, sculptors and flute workshops are limited and bookings are essential.
Last year’s inaugural Tweed Fusion Sunday Country Picnic was hailed by many as the best Tweed food event they had ever attended. The picnic makes a welcome return on Sunday 5 October when picnickers will be transported by coach to a ‘secret location’ somewhere within the ancient caldera.
Murwillumbah chef Jonathon Evans from Ju Ju’s Café will again create the sumptuous Tweed-inspired menu, laid out on white clothed tables with all the trimmings in a picture-perfect Tweed caldera landscape setting.
Tickets for the picnic are $80 and include transfers from Kingscliff and Murwillumbah, glass of bubbles on arrival and wine with lunch. Bookings are essential.
Destination Tweed CEO, Bill Tatchell says Tweed Fusion, now in its second year, is a boutique festival that combines the vibrant culture of the destination with the beauty and diversity of the Tweed.
“Tweed Fusion is a celebration of everything there is to love about the Tweed; the arts, culture and lifestyle, all wrapped up into one weekend,” said Mr Tatchell.
“We have added a new event this year, Coastal Creative Trail, which will expand the footprint of Tweed Fusion to take in the beachside location of Cabarita on the Tweed Coast. We hope to continue to incorporate more of the Tweed each year,” he said.
“The Margaret Olley dinner at the Art Gallery will be an exclusive opportunity for just 80 people to delve deeper into the life and work of this extraordinary artist.
“Moving the contents of Olley’s house to the Tweed Regional Gallery was a painstaking process which took more than two years. The results are a display unlike anything anywhere in the world and I have no doubt the dinner will attract artists and art lovers from around Australia.”
Accommodation options are available throughout the Tweed Valley and Tweed Coast, from cosy B&Bs to five star resorts and everything in between, all within an easy drive of Tweed Fusion events. For more information on Tweed accommodation go to www.destinationtweed.com.au
For bookings and information about Tweed Fusion, visit www.tweedfusion.com.au or phone 1800 674 414.
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