Cairns Festival, The Keys to the City.

Cairns Festival, The Keys to the City. 06/07/2010

I visited a friend in Cairns. Queensland, yesterday and she told me about the Cairns Festival held in August each year. Apparently, the festival provides, fantastic free public entertainment.

Last year they held a festival promotion called the Keys to the City and brought the city of Cairns to life, as there were pianos set up in outside covered spaces around the town and pretty well anyone who passed, who had ever had any piano lessons stopped and twinkling the piano keys.

The streets came alive to the sound of music. Each piano had its own story to tell, having been painted by one of a group of emerging artists from throughout far north Queensland.

The project would have been a great stimulus, to encourage people, to take up piano lessons.

The whole Cairns community was encouraged to come along and play regardless of whether they were a talented pianist, a budding musician a beginner taking piano lessons or just someone who enjoys music, “Keys to the City” was to give everyone an opportunity to channel their inner Mozart.

The series of pianos were placed, at the Cairns Esplanade, City Place and along Shields Street. The “Keys to the City” was a free program developed by the Cairns Esplanade and supported by Buzz Music, incorporating music, art and community in the city heart.

Plans are underway now for the Cairns Festival 2010