Cementa is a biennial festival developed by a group of artists based in the small town of Kandos (pop. 1,284) in the eastern part of New South Wales following the closure of the town’s cement works (one of the main sources of employment) in 2011. This unusual scenario has brought many artists to the town for residencies as they develop work for the festival, and several have chosen to move their lives there. This third iteration featured more than 60 artists and saw the festival partner with a diverse range of organizations that saw fertile discussions on a range of issues from experimental farming techniques to Aboriginal land rights, and performances ranging from ambient choral arrangements in the Town Hall, to dynamic parkour in the National Park. Venues in town featuring contemporary art for the festival included the volunteer-run Kandos Museum, the local hairdresser, the Scout Hall, a tennis court and a nursery. Here are some highlights from Cementa17, which ran from April 6 to 9, 2017. 

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