Luminous Festival

Luminous is a mid-winter festival hosted by Hobart Baptist Church

Christians began celebrating the birth of Jesus on 25 December in the 4th century as a reworking of the pagan Roman winter solstice celebrations. A cold, dark winter was an ideal time to celebrate the warmth and light of Christ coming into the world as a signpost of hope and redemption.

Winter in Hobart lends itself to the same opportunity. Luminous means, ’emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused, or glowing light’ and the festival aims to bring light into the darkness of our cultural moment.

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EVENT DATES*

Opening night this year is on 8 June; then over two weeks the festival will host three conversations by providing a space for thought and discussion and celebrating Christmas within its original context of the dark, cold mid-winter.

Art by Michael Henderson questions ‘what the nativity scene represents, and whether it has an ability today to help us enter the mystery of God and faith’. This will be on display throughout Luminous, at Hobart Baptist Church, 12-5pm daily.

Speakers in the Conversations panels will bring expertise on topics asking, ‘Is Tasmania A Place for Everyone?’ and, ‘How can we help Tasmanian Children flourish?

Each of the three conversations will throw light on issues that matter and look for glimmers of hope. These conversations are not just for people of faith.  

The festival ends with a Christmas in Winter celebration that includes a family carols night on Friday 23 June and a traditional Christmas Sunday Service on Sunday 25 June.

In 2021 and 2022, festival speakers included Kate Warner, Tim McCormack, Bec White, Ella Hickey, Wendy Quinn, Jenny Baxter and David Knox.

All events are free but bookings in advance are essential.

*Full details yet to be confirmed.

Register here
  • Luminous Opening Night
    6pm, Thursday 8 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Soundy Lounge
    Opening night will introduce artwork by Michael Henderson called: the seed of life, weighed down
    Michael uses symbols and metaphors to tell stories in his art about identity, faith and longing.
    This artwork is a way of altering a space to extend the original meaning. The space here is a church entrance foyer with a nativity scene placed in the centre. However, by wrapping the objects of veneration, the figures of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus can be considered to be hidden or ready to be unwrapped. The use of light extends the cover up or revealing aspect. By changing the background to graffiti, the original meaning of the nativity scene has been altered and the space has been extended to include the response of the viewer. This work asks questions about what the nativity scene represents, and whether it has an ability today to help us enter the mystery of God and faith. 
    Art is on display throughout Luminous, 1-6pm daily.
  • Conversation 1: Is Tasmania A Place for Everyone?
    6pm, Tuesday 13 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Soundy Lounge
    Panel discussion hosted by Stephen Baxter, with:
    • John Kamara (Tasmanian Australian of the Year and President and founding member of Culturally Diverse Alliance)
    • Councillor Dr Zelinda Sherlock (Chair of Welcoming & Inclusive City Portfolio HCC and Founder/Honorary Advisor, CDA)
    • George Elkhair (Vice Chair Migrant Resource Centre, Tasmania)
  • Conversation 2: How Can We Help Tasmanian Children Flourish?
    6pm, Thursday 15 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Soundy Lounge
    Three stories, hosted by Stephen Baxter relating to challenges for children, with Q&A
    • Mary Dickins (Fostering Hope Australia)
    • Kay Priest (Foster Carer for 50 years)
    • Matt Henderson
  • Conversation 3: How Do We Create Healthy Families?
    6pm, Thursday 20 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Soundy Lounge
    An evening with Stephen and Jenny Baxter

General Program for Events

6:00pm Doors open
6:15pm Light meal is served
6:45pm Main event
7:45pm Coffee and Informal chat
8:00pm Finish

All events are free but bookings in advance are essential.

Luminous Christmas in Winter

  • Christmas Carols
    6pm, Friday 23 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Tab.
    With guest performers Brett Budgeon
  • Christmas Day Service
    10am, Sunday 25 June, Hobart Baptist Church, Tab.

All events are free but bookings in advance are essential.