The Gladstone Eisteddfod is back for its 54th year with a fresh new look and a new volunteer committee keen to make the 2024 event the biggest and best yet.
Gladstone Eisteddfod Association Secretary Leanne Christensen said the eisteddfod, which offers 250 sections across the four disciplines of Dance, Instrumental Music, Vocal, and Speech & Drama, was an integral event in the Gladstone Region’s cultural landscape.
“The Gladstone Eisteddfod provides an opportunity for our region’s creatives to showcase their talents and tread the boards at our region’s premier performing arts venue, the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre, in front of their families, friends and peers,” she said.
“It is also an opportunity for them to grow as performers with constructive feedback provided by professional adjudicators to educate and inspire our creatives to keep challenging themselves.”
A not-for-profit established in 1970, Ms Christensen said the eisteddfod would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers.
“We really must thank our sponsors, whose financial support covers everything from venue hire and adjudicator fees to prize money and trophies,” she said.
“We would especially like to recognise Santos GLNG, our major sponsor since 2011 who have this year increased their support to help with promotional and branding resources, including a new logo, ensuring the eisteddfod remains current and appealing to younger generations and up and coming performers.”
Santos GLNG CEO Stephen Harty said the LNG organisation’s Community Investment Program had a strong focus on supporting our region’s youth.
“One of our key focus areas is building a more resilient Gladstone Region, and we see the Gladstone Eisteddfod as playing an integral role in terms of social inclusion and increasing community connection and participation across all ages,” he said.
“It is something we’re proud to continue our support of in 2024, alongside new early-intervention capability building programs including the delivery of The Resilience Project’s School Wellbeing Program at Gladstone Central State School, the Coordinated Community Response to Domestic & Family Violence’s Love Bites Program, and PCYC Queensland’s Deep Blue Line Program, which is focused on high school students at risk of disengaging from the school system.”
With a new Executive Committee voted in at their February AGM, the Gladstone Eisteddfod Association are now putting the call out for volunteers to assist in the lead up to, and during, this year’s eisteddfod.
“The years since COVID have been challenging for the Gladstone Eisteddfod with the passing or retirement of many of our older, long-term volunteers within a shrinking volunteer market, and we are looking to rejuvenate and grow our eisteddfod community,” Ms Christensen said.
The 2024 Gladstone Eisteddfod kicks off on August 6 with Instrumental, Vocal from August 21 to 23, Speech & Drama from August 23 to 25, and closes with Dance from September 14 to 21.