Lismore’s beloved Quad will be back bigger and better than ever, with programs set to return from April.

An outdoor cinema program kicks off on May 21 and Flood Stories, an immersive walking audio tour drawing on community experiences in the 2017 flood, will run from April 28 to May 6.

The popular Backyard Music sessions showcasing local talent will be back monthly from May along with feature events such as the Youth Festival (April 15 and 16) and Playground Festival for kids and families (July 3).

Lismore Quad’s 2021 program is curated by placemaking officer Marisa Snow.

“We’re thrilled that funding from Create NSW will enable us to reactivate this wonderful public space for our community to connect again safely,” she says.

The Quad’s first outdoor cinema will tackle that bugbear of outdoor cinema-goers everywhere: dismal sound, by delivering it with headsets. Performance-oriented features will be screened on opening night (May 21); family-friendly classics on May 22; and arthouse films on May 23.

For those who prefer a more active cultural option there will be the storytelling tour, Flood Stories. Part of the Plein Air residency series Flood Stories invites people to follow in the footsteps of a community impacted by the 2017 flood.

Audience members wear headsets and raincoats and listen to first-hand accounts of community members affected by the flood.

The series, developed by audio documentary maker, sound artist, and Lismore resident Jeanti St Clair, gives people the opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and our readiness for future climate events.

The Quad programming begins with a bang, with the return of the two-day Youth Festival on April 15 and 16. The Festival is a partnership with Dream Bigger, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore Library and NORPA.

It will see the Quad transformed into an open-air hub, with a half-pipe, DJs and ping pong tables. The Gallery will host a comedy workshop, open mic sessions and youth exhibitions Defiant (Beyond Empathy) and The Rainbow Collective (LGBTIQ Youth Group) and there will be masterclasses at multiple venues.

For kids aged eight to 12 and their families the Playground Festival will clock up its third year on July 3. Co-presented with the Lismore Regional Gallery the Quad will be transformed into a kids’ wonderland.

All events have a COVID safety plan in place and further announcements about the 2021 will be made.

So sign up to the Quad’s newsletter at www.lismorequad.org.au or follow its social media pages on www.facebook.com/LismoreQuadrangle or insta @lismorequad