What is Viva?

BACKGROUND ON VIVA LA GONG

Click here to view images from the festival

Click here to view the Viva la Gong trailer

Viva la Gong Festival is a positive, colourful and vibrant expression of the identity of Wollongong. In relaunching this popular event, Wollongong City Council aims to create a flagship cultural celebration accessible to all members of the community.
The festival is a high profile, quality, arts and entertainment event that attracts cultural tourists to the city thereby benefiting the local community, it is also a fabulous showcase for local arts and cultural projects by young and old, reflecting the talent and cultural diversity in the region. In many ways the vision of Viva la Gong is best understood as a celebration of Wollongong, its unique style and energy, the diversity of the community and the beauty and ruggedness of the landscape. Every year Viva la Gong develops a theme for the festival, with this year’s theme being the “Spirit of Flight”.

Over four days and three nights from October 9th – 12th Wollongong will come alive with Viva’s program of events involving upwards of 300 artists from Wollongong and Australia wide covering dance, theatre, music, visual arts, cross media and forums.
Viva la Gong prides itself on the number of quality, free outdoor family events such as the popular childrens day “Make, Create, Celebrate”. This fantastic free event takes place on the last day of School holidays and is sure to be a favourite with all the family.

This year the festival will be the showcase for one of Australia’s finest dance choreographers Meryl Tankard with her new production of her theatre, dance work VX18504. Headlining Viva’s music program will be Tim Freedman, frontman from one of Australia’s most successful and favourite bands, The Whitlams, along with the beautiful and fantastically talented singer, pop diva Katie Noonan with The Idea of North. The festival is also a showcase for multicultural events, this year we have Constantine Koukias’s  Prayer Bells, an amazing choral work in Hebrew, greek and latin with specially crafted hand bells … these all promise to be “not to be missed major events”.  

Viva is also committed to nurturing local artists, dancers, performers, singers, poets and authors, we hope you continue to support our community festival this year by coming along to one or all of our events, bring the family, a picnic rug and enjoy everything that the festival has to offer.  

Remember Viva la Gong is your Festival!