news
Barossa arts festival
set to spark creativity
article by
MCKENZIE THOMPSON
For the entire month of April, get ready to be inspired and experience the creativity of 60 artists at this year’s Barossa Arts Festival.
The annual festival is an artist led initiative, which is aimed to increase awareness of South Australian artists by providing them with an opportunity to showcase their creative work.
Partnered with regional and local businesses such as wineries, restaurants, cafes and art galleries, the Barossa Arts Festival has enabled community members and locals to stimulate creativity.
With more than half of the artists being locals, the arts trail will also exhibit at 43 different venues across seven towns in the Barossa and Light regions.
“It is the first time for the region to have an arts trail and besides wineries and breweries etc. this also includes local art galleries and some open artist’s studios.”
- Karen Nickels
Ms Karen Nickels, founder of Art Innovations art studio in Tanunda said the festival has over 30 artist led workshops to entice Festival goers and get them being creative.
“These cover a range of art mediums and are suitable for the complete newbie to the more accomplished artists,” she added.
“The emphasis on live art is something that is really unique and the collaborations between artists and local wineries, restaurants, breweries, etc. along with musicians, has created some lovely new business relationships and networking.
“From this there has already been some ongoing employment opportunities which is great and exactly what I was hoping for.
“It is the first time for the region to have an arts trail and besides wineries and breweries etc. this also includes local art galleries and some open artist’s studios.”
A major highlight of the festival is the ‘Meet the Makers’ weekend held on April 1 to 3, where artists will be creating their work live in their chosen mediums at different venues.
Art mediums in the Festival Trail include: pastels, oils, watercolours and acrylics, metal and mixed media sculptures, hand-blown glass, jewellery, mosaics, felting, printmaking, photography, textiles, ceramics, encaustic wax, ecodyeing, tattoo art and street murals.
