New eisteddfod confuses some
A TOUCH of confusion has been added to this year's Lower Clarence Dance Eisteddfod with another event choosing a similar name.
The Lower Clarence Dance Eisteddfod is now in its 16th year and while eisteddfod secretary Karen McKenna welcomed the newcomers, she wished they had chosen a different name.
Ms McKenna said the new event - the Lower Clarence Music Eisteddfod - was similar in name to the established eisteddfod and that was causing confusion between the two events.
"We'd like to clarify we've been going for 16 years and are called the Lower Clarence Dance Eisteddfod, to sort out any confusion," she said.
"And, ours is being held in May and theirs is in June."
One of the organising committee members from the other event, the Lower Clarence Music Festival, Troy Castle, said the new eisteddfod, being held in Maclean Civic Hall from June 27 to 30, was a response to the huge amount of musical talent available in the Lower Clarence.
"We want to give local musicians one more opportunity to showcase their talents," Mr Castle said.
"We decided to give it a go and hope to make it an annual event on the Lower Clarence cultural calendar.
He said musicians from the Clarence Valley and outside were taking advantage of the opportunity to perform.
"We've had approaches from schools from Maclean, Yamba and Grafton and even Evans Head," he said.
Mr Castle said official entries for the music eisteddfod close tomorrow, but later entries would be accepted "within reason".
Ms McKenna said the dance eisteddfod would present about 180 performances every day from May 18 to 26.
