art & culture
MARY VALLEY ARTS
Mary Valley has a strong arts and cultural community engaging all ages across the region.
Two major annual arts events include The Mary Valley Art Festival held in Imbil and the Kenilworth Arts Festival. Various arts and crafting groups play host to many skilled artisans.
The Kenilworth Museum houses outstanding items of historical interest and many artisan studios dot the Mary Valley Landscape.
ART FESTIVALS
MUSEUMS
STUDIOS & GALLERIES
ARTISAN GROUPS
MARY VALLEY ART FESTIVAL
The Mary Valley Art Festival is held on the first weekend in July at Imbil and provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their talents, while vying for their share of over $8000 in prize money.
Each year the artwork on display is testament to the creative abilities of individuals residing in our communities, while visitors attending the festival share the privilege of being able to view or buy the results of many hours of intense effort and passion.
There are nine categories for adults, and the Youth Award offers prizes to young people from 6-17 years.
These awards, along with the popular People’s Choice award, are presented on the Sunday of the festival, at the closing ceremony.
In 2020, the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. We hope to be back better than ever in 2021 with an even more expansive program for everyone.
KENILWORTH ARTS FESTIVAL
Kenilworth Arts Fest (formerly Kenilworth Celebrates!) is a major arts festival held annually in Kenilworth. At this fun art festival, you will find a vast range of exhibitions, competitions and workshops.
A range of special events are held throughout the festival including live musical performances, art competitions (Landscape, Still Life, The Human Form, Animal Life, Contemporary Art and Portraits), art displays and presentations.
Kenilworth Arts Fest also runs a huge range of workshops where you can build your skills in your chosen art. In previous years, workshops have consisted of Australian Landscape in Oils Masterclass, The Wonder of Watercolour, Encaustic Wax Foundations Workshop, Figure Drawing Life & Beyond, Expressive Drawing, Acrylics Minimalist Landscapes, The Magic of Monoprinting, Dynamic Watercolour and Woodcarving – Concept to Creation in 3D Sculpture. Most of the workshops run for four days, with some running over five days.
MARY VALLEY SCARECROW FESTIVAL
October 1, 2020 – October 31, 2020
Scarecrow spotting is a popular spring activity in the Mary Valley, as visitors meander through the country roads between villages, enjoying the quirky side of a traditional art form brought into the 21st century. Scarecrows can pop up anywhere. You can expect to find scarecrows from Kenilworth in the south and throughout the Mary Valley via Brooloo, Imbil, Kandanga, Amamoor, and Dagun.
The annual Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival is a popular annual festival and visitors can arm themselves with a Google map to find the scarecrows during October each year.
The straw creatures are leaving the hills to take up residence in the Mary Valley and they want you to come and see them. Social distancing is easy because they are usually solitary additions in their yards and paddocks!
STUDIOS GALLERIES MUSUEM GROUPS
HOPKINS GALLERY & FRAMING
ARTIST – Pam Hopkins
Gallery & Framing Studio
47 Yabba Creek Rd, Imbil Qld 4570
SUTTON STREET STUDIO
ARTIST – Sally Luchich
The Picture Room
71 Sutton Street, Brooloo, QLD 4570
PETER WALLACE POTTERY
Artisan – Peter Wallace
Ph 0457636603
KENILWORTH HISTORICAL MUSEUM
ATTRACTION
7 Alexandra St,Kenilworth
The Museum is open at any time for groups of 10 or more – by appointment.
MARY VALLEY ARTSLINK
GROUP
Mary Valley Artslink (MVAL) promotes the arts as a viable industry within the Mary Valley. Host to the annual Mary Valley Arts Festival and Scarecrow Festival, arts workshops and other cultural events.
IMBIL VILLAGE ARTISTS
GROUP
Imbil Village Artists are a group of like-minded people from the Mary Valley who meet regularly to talk, draw, paint, sketch and gossip – in other words, have a good time
KENILWORTH COMMUNITY CRAFT CENTRE
GROUP
9 Elizabeth St, Kenilworth QLD
Bringing together like-minded people with a passion for crafting.