Tiny inspirations, giant creations

By Lua Ikenasio

Jun 2, 2025

The new Rochester Mural Festival Committee has launched the theme and dates for next year’s event. Photo: Supplied.

On Sunday afternoon, the new Rochester Mural Festival committee officially launched the festival theme, ‘The Power of Small Things’.

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Artists will have the creative freedom to interpret the theme and celebrate the small things that make life beautiful.

Committee treasurer Tracie Kyne said the launch was a success.

“It was fantastic. We had a great bunch of people at the launch and everyone was very excited to hear what the theme for next year’s mural will be,” she said.

“I’m just really excited ... there’ll be other events around the festival so (we’re) really keen to make it all work.”

The community gathered at Mural Park for the launch. Photo: Supplied.

The formal announcements were made at the mural park.

Attendees then continued to celebrate the launch over a few drinks and afternoon tea at Poppy Lane, next door to the Rochester Hotel.

The launch also doubled as the debut of the new festival committee after the original committee stepped down after a decade of hosting the festival.

This year’s mural festival artist Christina Rankin with Kate Taylor and Justin Kyne at the celebrations. Photo: Supplied.

Ms Kyne said it was a great committee so far but it was always open to welcoming more people.

“The (committee) that we’ve got are really energetic and keen to make this a huge success,” she said.

“Having said that, we're certainly going to welcome any further people that are interested in being a part of this great festival.

“We’ve got lots of work to do and we’ve got a lot of fundraising to make it happen, but we’ll get there and we’ll work hard to make it a successful festival.”