After three weeks of great events, the Verge Arts Festival comes to a close.
With faculty reviews, concerts, exhibitions, awards, radio broadcasting and a screening of Harry Potter in the main quad, Verge has become an unmissable event in the student calendar.
Due to my Honours study, I couldn't catch as many events as I would have liked to, but I'm told there were some real highlights this year:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Walking around the sandstone buildings on main campus, it is not hard to see why Harry Potter-esque evocations come to mind. Making the most of our beautiful surroundings, USU hosted the second annual Harry Potter screening in the main quad. With over 600 people - many of whom were dressed as muggles, witches and wizards - turning out to see the film, the event booked out!
Some of the highlights included prizes for best costume and the screening of the winning entries from the "Race Around Campus" short film competition. But arguably the most memorable highlight of the event was a "spell" that was cast to make the bell tower chime the Harry Potter theme across the campus! (I hear the magic was aided with the help of our carillon player and some modern mobile technology!)
TheatreSports Grand Final @ Manning Bar
TheatreSports is an improvised series of drama games, played by competing teams. Points are awarded on technique, comedy, quick-wit and narrative. Teams are given only seconds to create skits involving full audience interaction. The grand final saw the most successful teams of the year compete against each other – marking one Manning Bar’s yearly highlights.
Festival Tent @ Manning House
A feature of this year’s festival was the awesome tent outside Manning House, comfortably furnished with cushions to lounge back on and listen to bands that were playing throughout the festivals. A world record was also broken with 50 hour non-stop gig by one band during the festival!
Art, Photo and Literature Awards
In its 21st year, the APL Awards highlight some incredible literary and artistic talent on campus, with generous prizes for the winners. Zines with entries submitted were published and the art was displayed in the Isabel Fidler Room (top level, Manning House) throughout the festival.
These are just some of the amazing events hosted – and many put on by students – but do you know what was the best part of it? Verge Arts Festival is organised by two students who are taken on by the Student Union to produce this festival. Student Convenors – with the tireless assistance of USU staff – coordinate many of the great events throughout the year that keep university students inspired, happy and handing assignments in late!
Imagine being able to say you’ve coordinated an Arts Festival on your CV! It’s pretty damn impressive, and just goes to show you that all the bits and pieces are integral to your university experience.
The great thing is any student who is a member of the Union can be a student convenor .