PENOLA will be home to an array of creative exhibitions, live performances and unique art in May for the jam packed 2018 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.
Launched last Thursday night, committee member Kat Searcy welcomed guests to the function at the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre.
“The community has responded amazingly with events for this year’s festival and the committee has spent hours compiling them in their own voluntary time,” Ms Searcy said.
Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival president Rhett McDonald said part of this year’s literary section will involve journal writing workshops, memoir workshops and will see authors travel to the district to offer their expertise.
Organiser of the family program Nicole Lear said she was excited about a range of activities on offer.
“One of these is street art, which will see either permanent or temporary art sprawled across the town, designed by not only Penola High School students but also any willing community members,” Ms Lear said.
“It will be fantastic to have permanent art around town which can be celebrated for 365 days of the year.”
The prestigious John Shaw Neilson Art Prize is continuing to draw entries while in its 27th year, giving artists the opportunity to create pieces inspired by the famous Penola poet.
A total of $10,000 in prize money will be up for grabs, sponsored by the Balnaves Foundation, with the local prize this year increased to $1000.
“Last year the popular prize received an impressive 55 entries,” Amelia Balnaves said.
Veteran of the Penola Coonawarra Arts festival Lois Hodge was awarded honorary membership of the festival at the launch.
Involved with the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival for 22 years, Ms Hodge held the inaugural opening of the festival in her Local Images Art Gallery in 1992.
“Lois is one of the group that started the arts festival and is one of our longest serving committee members,” Mr McDonald said.
“The community is lucky to have champions of the festival and that is exactly what Lois is, she continues to promote it, donate paintings, her time and her energy.”
He praised Ms Hodge for her encouraging nature and the support she gives to those involved in the festival.
“She displays unwavering support and advocacy and continues to offer extensive knowledge in regard to the John Shaw Neilson Art Prize,” Mr McDonald said.
Ms Hodge thanked the committee for the recognition and said she understood the amount of tireless hours put into getting the festival up and going.
“We are very lucky we have had this voluntary support over the years and they have achieved so much,” Ms Hodge said.
