Who’s Who in 22, Music & Arts: Woodfordia

It has been a big year for Woodfordia, with the opening of 20 new glamping tents and the long-awaited return of the Woodford Folk Festival after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

The organisation led by Executive director Bill Hauritz and General Manager Amanda Jackes has struggled in recent years due to COVID-19 restrictions and border closures but is now on the road to recovery thanks to funding from all three levels of government.

In May, it announced the much-loved Woodford Folk Festival would be back this year.

The six-day festival returns on December 27, creating 2500 jobs for artists and art workers across 27 venues at Woodfordia and generating up to $25 million for the visitor economy.

The festival has been boosted by $500,000 in grants from Moreton Bay Regional Council over the next two years and funding from the State and Federal governments.

“Without the contribution from the State Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council over the years, we might not have been able to return this year for our 35th edition of the folk festival,” Bill said.

“Governments have been a great support with the Queensland Government especially keen to help us, recently announcing through its agency Arts Queensland a $4M operational grant over four years.

“The Queensland Government, through the Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund 2020, further provided a grant of $1.2M towards the installation of 20 permanent Glamping Tents at Woodfordia.”

The Federal Government provided $1.46M from the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund towards Woodfordia’s program.

On December 11, the glamping tents were officially opened in the lead-up to this year’s festival.

They sleep four people, have fixed ensuites and kitchens and will enable Woodfordia to become a year-round, income generating visitor experience.

By expanding into luxury camp stays for private functions and short holidays, in addition to the Folk, Planting and Small Halls festivals, Woodfordia aims to attract 17,000 new visitors to the region.

About Woodfordia

Woodfordia is a not-for-profit, community-driven organisation with its 500-acre headquarters at Woodford. It is best-known for Woodford Folk Festival, The Planting, Festival of Small Halls and Woodfordia’s Artisan Camp.

The Woodford Folk Festival is held annually over six days and six nights, from December 27 to January 1.

More than 2000 local, national and international, artists, musicians and presenters put on over 438 acts to an audience of an estimated 132,000 people.

The festival begins each year with its iconic opening ceremony and closes with the spectacular showcase, the Fire Event on New Year’s Day. This year will be the 35th Woodford Folk Festival and the 28th held at Woodfordia. It is the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia.