The Grafton Jacaranda Festival has kicked off its 2020 program with a $6,000 grant from the Northern Rivers Community Foundation to produce an audio visual display of the history of the event.

The announcement last week at the public meeting to plan next year’s festival, the money will be used to secure footage from the National Film and Sound Archive from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Festival manager Mark Blackadder said the video would be compiled with other footage already in the festival collection from the Clarence Valley Historical society, Film Australia collection, and footage from Better Homes and Gardens’ 2018 visit to the Festival.

“We plan to have our 2020 feature artist compile an audio visual display including film, audio and still images to be displayed throughout the festival in the Jaca HQ information centre and merchandise store,” he said.

“It will tell a fantastic historical and contemporary story about the festival’s roots and how it has evolved over the years.

“The grant will go toward securing permission from the copyright holder Cinesound for five films and provide us with unlimited additional use after the project is finalised.”

The public meeting at Roches Hotel saw over 100 people attend to discuss planning and provided a platform to put forward ideas to make next year’s event even bigger and better.

“The turnout and the positivity towards this year’s festival was absolutely amazing,” Mr Blackadder said.

“We have generated a great community spirit and there are some new people interested in joining the committee with a wide range experience. “We want to maintain the momentum and so far it’s all pointing towards another milestone event next year.”