CULTURE VULTURES: Oxford Arts Festival goes burlesque

Oxford Street’s eternal buzz has become brighter and louder with the opening of the second annual Oxford Arts Festival.

The festival, which opened on Tuesday night, and runs until October 29, is focused on fun and inclusion and will host a series of artistic events including burlesque and cabaret.

The festival’s organisers, Tap Gallery and the 2010 Business Partnership, said they hoped the event would advertise the cultural value of the neglected lower end of Oxford Street and the area around Taylor Square.

Festival manager Lesley Dimmick is urging local residents to attend the iconic Sydney Street and experience the depth of the local art scene.

“I guess I am the instigator of the Festival as I am passionate about the area, having lived here for 40 years as a practising artist and gallery manager for 22 years,” she said.

Ms Dimmick is the director of TAP Gallery and has seen her share of talented local artists drift in and out of the scene but now many of them will be on show at the festival.

“I know thousands of artist not only visual artists but also performing artists through our great little theatre and performance venue we also run.”

Mia Mortal performed at the famed Paradiso club in Amsterdam at the turn of the Millenium to a crowd of Europe’s elite, this year she will be running Burlesque at the festival.

Ms Mortal said the festival had collected such a wild element of Darlinghurst under culture.

“The event celebrates the true diverse Diaspora of Darlinghurst; the gay, transgender, the straight, and the hobohemians, of which I’m so proud to be a part of.”

Stephen Carrington, who will be performing in the cabaret, said although cabaret has been on the fringe of the entertainment scene

“Audiences enjoy the cabaret shows as there’s a bit of something for everyone – song, dance, burlesque, glamorous drag and a dash of striptease.”

The festival will also feature an art fair on Saturday, which will showcase over 200 local and international artworks, street theatre and special guest speakers.

As part of the art fair there will be a prize for landscape and portraiture with the theme Postcode 2010 Precinct. Winners of the $3000 worth of prizes will be decided by a vote cast by locals and festival attendees.

The festival’s organisers said the aim of the competition is to highlight the history of the area and unveil local talent.

Anyone is welcome to join, any medium is acceptable and canvases are available from the TAP Gallery.

Oxford Arts Festival runs from October 18 to 29, more information is available at http://www.oxfordartsfestival.com.au/