2021 Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts cancelled.

The Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Committee held an Extra Ordinary meeting on Wednesday 6 January 2021 and resolved to recommend to Council that the 2021 Festival be cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, that a full strategic review of the Festival be undertaken and that the Festival website be reviewed/upgraded.

Council considered the recommendations at its February 2021 meeting whereby it resolved to endorse the recommendations of the Committee. While it has been wonderful to see some restrictions being lifted across the state and nation, at this time we cannot hold events with thousands of people and ensure we can comply with Public Health Orders and restrictions on gatherings and movement.

Council then subsequently considered the submissions received in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP): Henry Lawson Festival Review whereby it was resolved as follows: -
“ that Council accept the proposal from the Tilma Group to undertake the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts strategic review.”

The Tilma Group Pty Ltd were then advised accordingly and forwarded the Instrument of Agreement for signing whereby it is anticipated that the review process will commence 1 April 2021 and be completed by 30 June 2021.

The strategic review will provide a three-year blueprint on how to:

• grow the event’s success
• efficiently resource and manage the event
• build a positive community and visitor profile
• appeal to high value visitor markets
• increase revenue and revenue streams.

The Committee will be inviting the community to take part in the strategic review and will have more information over the coming weeks. Watch the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts Facebook page, the Grenfell Record and Council’s website and Facebook pages for updates.

The consultant will also develop a strategic plan as well as conduct a SWOT analysis investigating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of and to the Festival.

The strategic plan needs to confirm the objectives of the Festival and articulate a vision for the future of the Festival including an action plan to:

• suggest actions to ensure the sustainability of the Festival not only financially but also from a resourcing perspective (including Volunteer/Community and Council resources);
• ensure the Festival is meeting current event management requirements;
• refresh the Festival to ensure its relevance in the current competitive marketplace

While it is very disappointing for the community, the 2022 Festival will be better than ever! It will be a significant milestone in the history of Henry Lawson as it will be the 100th anniversary of his passing and we intend to pay homage to this milestone and Grenfell’s favourite son.