Get first dibs on artworks at the biggest ever festival exhibition

Thirroul’s long-cherished Seaside & Arts Festival, which began in 1993, returns to village streets and venues this weekend, June 2 to 4. First up is the popular art exhibition, which opens on Friday evening.

From 7pm, attendees will be welcomed with wine, soft drinks and nibbles, and enjoy a first look at the art on show, all of which is available to buy.

Art team volunteer Christine Hill says this year’s exhibition boasts the most entrants in its 31-year history.

“It's about 170 artists [who] have entered and they don't just enter what you might call a painting that goes on the wall, we also have a sculpture section, which is bigger this year than it has been before,” Christine said.

“This is very much a local art show, so we encourage the participation of local artists – some of whom are professionals and some of whom are beginners – it's a chance for them to display their work in public.

“There will be names there that we haven’t seen before, but it does tend to be very much the same artists that exhibit year after year, and they do look forward to it.”

This year also marks the first time that the festival has embraced online entries, allowing more artists to learn of the event.

“In the past, the art show was organised totally on pieces of paper; artists filled in an entry form, and they posted it to us, and they paid us with a cheque,” Christine said.

“We started keeping computer records in the last 10 years or so, and they've become more and more sophisticated such that this year, the Lions Club had a brand-new website made, and that enabled artists to enter their details, their entry form online.

“Now we're busy trying to match up all of that and print out the various little, teeny-weeny labels that are put on the display beside each painting.”

For the team of six art show volunteers behind the exhibition, delivering an exhibition of this scale requires three months of all-consuming work. But come the weekend, the delight on the faces of visitors and participating artists will make this labour of love worthwhile.

For Christine, seeing visitors leave with an artwork in hand is the most fantastic feeling.

“[Last year’s sales] were exceptional, so we hope it'll be repeated… I think we sold about 75 paintings, which was quite something,” she said. “Some of [the sales] were the small ones from the minis [section], but it shows a huge confidence and enthusiasm in the local people and visitors who come from afar.

“We certainly see hundreds and hundreds of people over the weekend, we have done in the past, and we expect that this year as well… [so come for] a great day out, family, fun and entertainment, and buy a painting.”

Opening night will begin at 7pm on Friday, June 2, at Thirroul District Community Centre. It's for over-18s only and the $20 entry fee will grant you a first look the exhibition, wine, soft drinks and nibbles on arrival, and attendance at the awards ceremony, presented the by festival’s sponsors and featuring guest speaker Dr Virginia Keft.

To learn more about the exhibition and Sunday’s beachside market stalls and entertainment, click here.