River of Art is the ultimate arts-meets-coast escape – and it kicks off this weekend

Posted on 12 September, 2023

Sun, surf, whales, installations, immersive experiences, open workshops and more – there’s so much to see at the South Coast’s premier arts festival.

Canberrans don’t need much encouragement to head to the South Coast after a long, frosty winter. While we’re putting another blanket on the bed to combat ‘feels like -3 degrees’ mornings, residents on the Eurobodalla Coast are expecting a high of 30 degrees this weekend. Yes, you read that correctly.

But there’s another, far more culturally enriching reason to head to the South Coast for a day trip or holiday this weekend – the start of the annual River of Art Festival.

Held across 10 days from this Friday 15 September until 24 September, River of Art puts the artistic backbone of the South Coast front and center with a colourful celebration of its diverse melting pot of artists and makers.

Each year visitors and residents alike are treated to a feast of colour, sound and performance with painting, photography, textiles and sculpture, performance, food, music, workshops, Open Studios and more on offer from Batemans Bay to Bermagui, culminating in Luminous, the after-dark festival finale that takes place in Moruya on Saturday 23 September.

Here’s our guide for what not to miss.

Light up the weekend with Luminous on Saturday 23 September

The Lumionous Lounge. Credit: KDevine.

Bringing the festival to a close with the ultimate glow up, Luminous is a one-night event that will light up (sorry) the Moruya Showground from late afternoon until late in the evening with a series of digital projections, art installations, live music across two stages, food and art markets and a dedicated Kids Zone to celebrate another amazing year of River of Art.

Look forward to tunes from Benji and the Saltwater Sound System, Ron Callo, Dan Cully, and The Spindrift Saga on the Celebrate Stage, while on the Place Stage there will be Groove Operations, Robyn Martin and Agency Dub Collective helping you groove the evening away.

Hungry? Build your own feast from a variety of local food trucks, including Mi Taco Su Taco, Nourished Sovereign, Pascale Artisan Bakery, South Pacific Woodfired Pizza and more, with brews from Broulee Brewhouse, Malt Man Brewing and Nine Circles Distillery among others.

Don’t miss the fresh, local sushi and other treats from the ladies at the Moruya Showground Cafeteria!

Want to really make a night of it? Book your ticket for the Luminous Lounge. The ultimate experience for art lovers, your ticket gets you access to a private bar and a delicious range of bespoke food options for you to enjoy at a table in an illuminated tent.

The perfect treat for those looking to supercharge their Saturday night or give themselves a quiet moment or two throughout the evening.

Get your hands dirty at a workshop (or three)

One of the best things about bringing artists together is the opportunity to share skills and encourage newcomers to try their hand at a new art form – and from silversmithing to basket weaving, painting, textiles and making lanterns from waste, this is exactly what River of Art offers at a variety of locations along the coast.

Paint watercolour landscapes in Mossy Point, learn weaving in Moruya, try your hand at clay and glazing in Bimbimbie or learn the Japanese art of Shibori and indigo dyeing in Bingie. Established artists can even attend a Copyright 101 for Artists workshop to learn about protecting your valuable intellectual property.

Find the full program of workshops and snap up your tickets here.

Exhibitions

Artist Cheryl Davison.

Naturally, River of Art is chock-full of exhibitions right across the Art Trail in the region’s biggest and quirkiest venues. There are honestly too many to list individually – a whopping 32 in total! – but some honorable not-to-miss mentions include the esteemed River of Art Prize exhibition (held at the Bay Pavilions in Batemans Bay), A Homage to Home and Place (featuring works from some of Eurobodalla’s most celebrated artists held at the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre in Moruya), Capture (a photography exhibition that investigates the theme of ‘exploring place’ at the Narooma Gallery) and EFTAG (the festival’s annual exhibition of textile art, taking place at the Moruya Showground Pavilion).

Find out more about River of Art’s exhibitions here.

Open Studios

One of River of Art’s most cherished programs is its revolving calendar of Open Studios, where artists and makers allow the public to enter their sacred spaces and learn more about their practice.

With a dedicated map allowing you to see exactly where each studio is located (so you can craft a scenic road trip!), why not take a relaxed drive down the coast? From paper art to ceramics, jewellery, weaving and painting, there are so many studios to explore.

Find the map and Open Studio details here.

Artist Talks

Sometimes hidden behind their craft, artists are the lifeblood of our creative culture and River of Art offers you the opportunity to hear about their journeys and craft in their own words, with an extensive program of artist talks including a Hall Of Memory: War, Memorials And Monuments with Kat Rae and award-winning author, Adrian Caesar and Kat Rae, they explore Kat’s her journey from a distinguished career in the army to her emerging career as an artist.

From gallery floor talks to meet the artist opportunities, find out all the details here.

But wait, there’s more…

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to River of Art’s 2023 program, with something for everyone across the 10 days.

Don’t know where to start? River of Art’s Itinerary builder can help – simply ‘heart’ events you’re interested in within the program and the builder will curate a bespoke itinerary! Simple!

Feature image: Scott Baker’s Bioluminescence combines art and science at Luminous on Saturday 23 September.