The recently held 2024 River of Art Festival, spanning from Durras in the north to Bermagui in the south, marked an unforgettable celebration of 20 years of artistic expression and community spirit on the south coast. 

Running for 11 vibrant days, the festival shone a spotlight on local talent, with a spectacular program of almost 100 events including exhibitions, open studios, shopfronts, workshops and performances.

Among the exhibition highlights were stunning showcases from local arts groups and collectives including the Eurobodalla Fibre Textiles and Artists Group (EFTAG), the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre, The Digressionists, Montague Arts and Crafts Society (MACS), the South Coast Pastel Society, Repurposing for Resilience, Narooma Camera Club,  and the highly anticipated River of Art Prize exhibition held at Narooma Gallery. 

This year saw a record number of River of Art Prize entries. The Art Prize winners and People’s Choice awardees were celebrated for their exceptional contributions with Annika Romeyn’s watercolour monotype print “Passing Through” being the judge’s pick.

Visitors to River of Art enjoyed a diverse range of events including 15 engaging workshops, 10 live music events, a literary gathering, a captivating poetry workshop, and special screening of ‘Bonnard’ at the Kinema, Narooma.

Three performances of Baranguba at Bay Pavilions were a standout, followed by a Q&A session with high audience participation.

The festival saw positive reports across the board, especially in the number of visits to open studios and exhibitions, gratifying for artists who often work long and hard in solitude. Many artists have reported successful sales during the event and sold-out workshops. A full review will be available in the coming month, but the early results show strong engagement and support.

The River of Art committee looks forward to building on this success in the Spring of 2025, with the next River of Art Festival set to run from 26 September to 6 October. 

River of Art chair, Leanne Joyce extended her thanks to event partners, “When local businesses and organisations such as the Mogo Chamber and Bodalla groups get involved, it makes the staging of such an epic community event that much easier. 

“Our heartfelt thanks goes to Narooma School of Arts, South Coast Writers’ Centre, Djaadjawan Dancers along with the Baranguba creative team,Scott Baker, Duncan Irvine, Visomotus and the crew at Bay Pavilions. 

“Additionally, we acknowledge the funders, donors, and supporters whose contributions are essential to the festival’s ongoing success. Your continued support will help us create an even better festival next year.”

For more information or to view River of Art prize winners and entrants visit the River of Art website www.riverofart.com.au