Arts Festival on the horizon

THE 2026 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival (PCAF) is on the horizon, with preparations underway for a whimsical three-day celebration in May.

The local community is banding together to organise the event, which promises to showcase the burgeoning art scene of Penola and Coonawarra.

Festival executive member Peta Baverstock said organisers have so much in store for this year’s festival.

“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Penola and Coonawarra where the local art scene continues to blossom,” she said.

The iconic arts festival is always looking to evolve and the festival committee has added a new event for this year’s program.

‘Resealed’ is an art competition encouraging participants to ‘think outside the trash.’

The premise is for entrants to use seals of any kind and the artworks will be displayed at Brands Laira cellar door throughout the festival, with an official prize presentation on Saturday, May 16 at 2pm.

Festival committee member Luke Gahan was encouraging everyone to turn their old bottle tops, ring pulls, o-rings, jam lids, and of course wine bottle corks into a piece of art.

“We can’t wait for this exciting new event and are looking forward to seeing the art people create from all types of seals,” Luke said. “This event is going to be a fun activity on people’s list this year.”

This competition, created by Coonawarra local Deb Redman, is sponsored by Coonawarra Fringe, Penola Recyclables, Brands Laira, and PCAF with entry forms available on the festival website or through the Still Water Studio in Penola.

Of course, the arts festival is not just about innovation and evolution but also cognisant of the rich traditions on which the festival was built so the centrepiece of the event, as always, will be the Poets of Penola Acquisitive Art Prize, formerly known as the John Shaw Neilson Acquisitive Art Prize.

Each year, PCAF honours the literary and artistic heritage of Penola, inviting artists to create works inspired by the poetry of John Shaw Neilson, Adam Lindsay Gordon, and William Henry Ogilvie.

The coveted art prize is made possible by the Mary Skene Kidman Fund.

Festival committee chair John Mossop said it was thanks to the Mary Skene Kidman Fund that the Art Prize was able to continue in 2026.

“The Poets of Penola competition will see artists from all over celebrate the enduring words of our local poets through their outstanding artwork,” he said. “It is truly an incredible event, and we are thrilled to be calling for entries again in 2026.”

PCAF also invites the public to support the volunteer-run festival by becoming a 2026 ‘Friend of the Festival’ which presents the opportunity to receive VIP access to pre-sale event tickets and, new this year, an exclusive Friends and Sponsors Festival Opening Preview Event.

“This year, Friends of the Festival will be able to explore the Poets of Penola exhibition first,” Peta said. “They will enjoy drinks and canapés, meet the guest judge, and most importantly, get the first opportunity to purchase the sought-after artworks.”

To become a Friend of the Festival, you can sign up via the festival website (www.artsfestival.com.au).