Tasmania's deep south set to flaunt its arts and crafts

 The Huon Valley, the southernmost region in Australia, is known as a hub for quality food and drink.

But the deep south of Tasmania is also home to a plethora of talented craftspeople and artisans across a range of disciplines.

From makers of wooden rocking chairs to paintings, designer knitwear, sculptures, pottery, stained glass and hand-made one-off handbags, the Huon is dotted with innovative creatives.

 
Over 60 artists and artisans will be showcasing their work at the annual Huon Valley Studio Art Trail 2026 to run across southern Tasmania from October 23-25.

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys said the Huon Valley Studio Arts Trail gives visitors the opportunity to meet artists and makers at their studios.

“This year there will be double the number of artists from last year opening their studios or gathering in artist hubs,” Heroys said.

“People come from all over Tasmania and interstate to enjoy authentic behind-the-scenes experiences, with the opportunity to see artists at work.”

The three major hubs will be located at Willie Smith's Apple Shed in Grove - where today's launch was held - at The Kiln in Ranelagh and at The Artisan’s Hand at Balfour House, Cygnet.

Heroys said the Trail is a 150 km journey of discovery through spectacular southern Tasmanian landscapes.

Convenor Kerrie Rhodes from the Artisan's Hand said this year's event would be the biggest ever.

“Travelling between studios is a chance to experience the great southern beaches, the picturesque Huon River lined with orchards, valleys and mountains," she said.

“The artist hubs are an exciting addition to this year’s trail.

“There will be several hubs featuring multiple artists and makers in the one location providing welcoming gathering points to discover artists, artwork and trail information, and help visitors plan their journey."

The Huon Valley Art Trail will be easy to navigate with the launch of a new interactive website with artists profiles, an interactive digital map, as well as the traditional printed souvenir map to accommodate all preferences of travel.

Whether you are interested in ceramic arts, weavers, spoon carvers, musical instrument makers, or jewellery, a multitude of styles will be on offer.

For details see https://www.huonvalleystudioarttrail.org.au/

TarraWarra Estate adds new premium wine experiences

One of my very first gigs as a wine writer was attending the opening of TarraWarra Estate in Victoria's Yarra Valley. 

Owners Marc and Eva Besen put on quite a show. 

 

Four decades on, Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia (UWEA) has welcomed TarraWarra as the newest member of its collection of premium Australian wineries.

TarraWarra Estate brings together cool-climate wine, food, art and nature across a 400-hectare property in the heart of one of Australia's most-visited wine regions.

The Besens purchased the property in 1979 and launched four or five years later. 

Today, the estate encompasses 23.9 hectares of vines, an extensive nature reserve, cattle grazing, a kitchen garden, cellar door and restaurant, as well as a spectacular art gallery. 

UWEA executive officer Sarah Myers says TarraWarra Estate's combination of wine, food, art, impressive architecture and landscape makes it a natural addition to the collective.

“What makes TarraWarra special is how seamlessly these elements come together. Visitors can spend time exploring the estate, discovering its wines and food, and engaging with the art, architecture and natural environment in a way that feels distinctly Yarra Valley,” said Myers.

“TarraWarra reflects what we look for in an Ultimate Winery Experience – it goes well beyond wine tasting and gives visitors a deeper connection to the winery, its story and the region."

At the heart of TarraWarra Estate is its striking subterranean cellar door, where visitors can explore wines including chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah, alongside barbera, nebbiolo, pinot noir rosé and a roussanne-viognier-marsanne blend from talented winemaker Sarah Fagan. 

The chef-hatted restaurant is led by head chef Daniel Snooks. 

Two signature experiences will form part of TarraWarra Estate's UWEA offering.

The Vineyard Tour & Tasting ($200 per person) takes guests on a guided tour of the vineyards for an introduction to the estate and its approach to sustainable viticulture, before moving into the barrel hall for a private tasting of chardonnay and pinot noir. 

For a deeper immersion, Land, Vine & Vision ($450 pp) sees guests are welcomed at the cellar door before enjoying a six-course lunch with matched wines at the estate restaurant, followed by a visit to the TarraWarra Museum of Art and the Eva and Marc Besen Centre, where they can view works from the museum's collection that would ordinarily be held in storage. A version including private return transfers from Melbourne is also available for $750 per person.

“We are excited to work with Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia and the wineries it represents, each offering a unique perspective on Australian wine and the regions we call home,” said TarraWarra Estate general manager Samantha Isherwood.

TarraWarra Estate is at 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen. 

The cellar door is open Tuesday to Sunday, with the restaurant open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch.

Tasmania welcomes spring with the Junction Arts Festival

Tasmania punches well above its weight when it comes to festivals.

Launceston, the state's second city, will once again become a platform for art, performance, music and shared experiences when it hosts the Junction Arts Festival from September 17-20.

Now in its 16th year, Junction Arts Festival invites locals and visitors alike to experience the city in new ways, with a curated program of contemporary art that unfolds across streets, buildings and unlikely venues.

Celebrating Tasmanian artists alongside interstate collaborators, the festival brings together immersive installations, live events, music and participatory experiences.

Junction chairperson Rebecca Birrell said the 2026 Junction program will offer attendees a wide range of experiences.

“"The 2026 Junction Arts Festival program is brimming with art and performance to celebrate the equinox," she said.

"Our 16th festival will transform Launceston with multi-arts experiences. Co-create a beautiful artistic offering of hope to the city in Duravity. Indulge in a luscious curation of art, food and performance in Making. Immerse yourself in the vibrant hub of community and sound at Princes Square. Amaze yourself with the most fun you will ever have under a steeple in The Baptiste. All will come to light in four exceptional days in spring.”

OK. She's enthusiastic.

But when churches become nightclubs, stables become late-night lounges, and Prince's Square becomes the Festival Hub, home to live music, art and performance, food vans, bars, cosy fires and the Little Devil, that's easy to understand.

“Junction has become one of the most-loved weekends on Tasmania's cultural calendar because it gives people a completely different way to experience their own city. This year's program is our boldest yet, equal parts joyful, strange and unmissable.”

For the full program and festival information, visit https://junctionartsfestival.com.au/

Culture driving Italy's tourism boom, new report says

 

Cultural experiences remain a major driver of tourism to Italy, but the country’s visitor economy is increasingly concentrated in a limited number of destinations, a new report reveals. 

The annual Federculture Report, Cultural Enterprise – The Culture that Changes Territories was presented at Italy’s Ministry of Culture in Rome earlier this month and highlights the growing importance of cultural tourism while warning that its economic and social benefits are unevenly distributed across the country.

Italy recorded 476.4 million overnight visitor stays in 2025, up 2.2% from 2024 and 9.8% above pre-Covid pandemic 2019 levels. 

But almost two-thirds of those stays were concentrated in just 1,024 municipalities (equivalent to only 13% of Italy’s municipalities) identified as destinations with strong cultural and scenic assets.

These cultural destinations accounted for 63% of all overnight stays, reinforcing the central role that museums, historic cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites and cultural landscapes continue to play in attracting visitors, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Foreign visitors now represent more than 55% of tourism in Italy’s cultural territories, rising to 58% in municipalities with a strong cultural vocation and 73% in the country’s major art cities.

The report also highlighted growing public participation in cultural activities. In 2025, 48.2% of Italians went to the cinema, while 35.8% visited museums and exhibitions, up from 33.6% a year earlier. Theatre attendance reached 24.3% of the population.

“The growth in audiences confirms that demand for culture in Italy is strong,” said Andrea Cancellato, president of Federculture. 

He called for more stable support for the sector, including strengthening initiatives such as the Art Bonus and the Culture Fund, to reduce regional inequalities and help cultural organizations meet growing demand.

Image: Pisa

Discover Shanghai's new cultural landmark

Shanghai is preparing to unveil one of the world’s most ambitious new cultural landmarks with the Shanghai Grand Opera House to officially opens its doors on October 17, 2026.

Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta in partnership with the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), the striking waterfront venue is expected to become a centerpiece of Shanghai’s cultural tourism offering and a new architectural icon along the Huangpu River, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The opening marks the culmination of a decade-long project that began when Snøhetta won an international design competition in 2016.

The opera house has been conceived as much more than a performance venue. It combines world-class performing arts facilities with expansive public spaces, creating a civic destination that welcomes visitors throughout the year, whether or not they are attending a show.

At the heart of the building are three state-of-the-art auditoriums designed to accommodate productions of varying sizes and genres. 

The main auditorium seats 2,000 guests and is equipped to host grand opera, ballet, musicals and symphony concerts. It is complemented by a flexible 1,200-seat theatre and a 1,000-seat venue for experimental performances, chamber music and community events.

One of the building’s defining features is its dramatic spiral roof, which rises from the surrounding park to create a publicly accessible promenade. It will be open 24 hours a day year-round, so visitors can walk to the rooftop for sweeping views of the Huangpu River. 

A diverse program is expected to showcase opera, ballet, orchestral music, theatre and contemporary performing arts, with additional details to be announced closer to opening.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see this remarkable project approaching its opening,” said Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partner of Snøhetta.

“Watching such an ambitious vision become reality has been special. Soon, the building will belong to the people of Shanghai and its visitors, whether they come to experience a performance or simply enjoy the building and its surrounding park. I hope it will become a place that inspires, brings people together, and stands as a new landmark for the city.“

Walking in sunshine: Nantes offers an artistic voyage

 

Often overlooked, Nantes is one of my favourite cities in France.

I have very fond memories of plates piled high with local seafood and bottles of chilled Muscadet at the delightful and historic La Cigale.

From July 4 to September 6, the Brittany city will host the 15th edition of  Le Voyage à Nantes, its summer arts expo. 

The voyage comprises a 20km open-air gallery with over 100 artworks, exhibitions and experiences
to be discovered on a route traversing streets, gardens and historic landmarks.

For this year’s event, organisers promise, visitors will see new artworks integrated into both iconic sites and hidden locations.

The event showcases Nantes as offering one of Europe’s most walkable cultural experiences.

"This year, Le Voyage à Nantes begins a new cycle of events devoted to the elements," says event director general Sophie Lévy.

"If urban space can be said to be a deeply reconstructed form of nature - one moulded to our scale and offering a backdrop to our modern cacophony - in Nantes, it is founded on the sensorial, fluid character of the elements: earth, water, air, and fire that surround our fair city and shape us in ways both intangible and imperious."

The city is located on the Loire River in Upper Brittany in western France.

It is home to the restored, medieval Château des Ducs de Bretagne, where the Dukes of Brittany once
lived, and is now a history museum.

The city also offers a food scene shaped by its maritime heritage, and the remarkable Galerie des Machines (check it out).

See https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/events/the-summer-journey/ 

Cold, dark and thrilling: Tasmania celebrates Off Season

Look let's be honest. Tasmania's winter is long, dark and cold.

Australians are hard-wired to chase the sun during the cooler months, but during the Off Season, Tourism Tasmania aims to lure visitors into the bleak darkness.

Tourism Tasmania's new Off Season campaign is now live and will ask visitors to become winter people celebrating cool, starry nights, warm log fires. whisky straight from the barrel and truffles fresh from the earth.

Throw in fluffy wildlife. And even fluffier doonas. And festivals like Dark Mofo (June 11-22) that stir the soul.

Tasmania is about as far away from global chaos as you can get. 

Throw in arts, culture, Tasmanian food and drink and swimming in the nude (above). What more could you want? 

"Tasmania is well positioned as a safe, trusted and highly regarded destination, which is important in uncertain times," says Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark.

Many events at Dark Mofo have sold out, and artistic director Chris Twite says: ‘We’re staggered by the support we've seen for this year's Dark Mofo so far.

"Seeing people so eager to lock in tickets and embrace the cold here in Tasmania is tremendous. Tickets are still available to some amazing shows, but you better be quick.’

Offers and events are now bookable for the Off Season period: May1-August 31. 

Visit https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/off-season/ or see darkmofo.net.au

Vivid shines a light on Sydney's beauty

The lights and action of Vivid Festival provide a major boost to visitation to Sydney over the cooler months.

Running from Friday, May 22, to Saturday, June 13, the 23‑day program brings together creativity to Australia's largest city across Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Minds and Vivid Food.

More than 80% of the festival remains free, including the entire Vivid Light Walk, an unbroken 6.5‑kilometre journey featuring over 43 installations and projections created by local and international artists.

The Vivid Light Walk stretches along Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, with additional venues in and around the CBD hosting Vivid Music, Vivid Food and Vivid Minds events. 

This year, Vivid Sydney will feature collaborations for a series of events with Biennale Sydney, as well as cultural institutions, venues and arts companies such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Australian National Maritime Museum, City Recital Hall, The Mint, Carriageworks, State Library of NSW, Sydney Opera House and more.

New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said Vivid Sydney will be bigger and better than ever before. Well he would, wouldn't he? 

“No other city in the world can host Vivid, because no other city in the world has what Sydney has to offer," said the offensively cocky sounding Kamper. 

"Vivid Sydney 2026 will redefine how we experience our city, delivering a bigger and bolder event program that will come to life both day and night."

Festival director Brett Sheehy says: “For 2026 we are expanding our program into new artforms including aerial performance, daytime public art, theatre and dance. 

"These join our vast Vivid Minds, Light, Music and Food offerings to now make your Vivid Sydney one of the great comprehensive arts festivals of the world."

Stay tuned for a special announcement of a Vivid Sydney first, an outdoor performance on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt over the June long weekend.

At the heart of the new Regional Dinner Series is A Shared Table with Yotam Ottolenghi, where the world‑renowned chef will bring together ingredients and flavours from across the state. 

Tickets for Vivid Sydney are on sale now. For more information and for a full list of events, go to vividsydney.com 

Taiwan lights up for the end of Lunar New Year

If Taiwan has been on your travel "to do" list then next week might be a good opportunity.

The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Chiayi County from March 3 to 15. 

Diverse offerings include the chance to stand beneath a 21-metre tower of glowing light while drones paint the night sky, fireworks burst overhead, and the sounds of Irish tap dancers fill the air. 

Taiwan Lantern Festival is one of Asia's most beloved annual celebrations - marking the end of the Lunar New Year . 

Each year it rotates to a different city and this year's theme is "Glow with Taiwan, Light Up Chiayi". 

The festival has 12 official "must-see" attractions. The centrepiece is "Glow of Alishan", a towering 21-metre main lantern synchronized to a full sound and light show. 

International artists include France's Cavalcade of White Horses and high-energy Irish tap dancers, along with the Taiwanese Paper Windmill Theatre, and the Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group.

Chiayi is accessible by high-speed rail with the Chiayi HSR Station connected to Taipei in under 90 minutes. 

See more at 2026taiwanlanternfestival.org/En 

AlUla stakes a claim as an arts and cultural centre

 

Saudi Arabia has never been a major travel drawcard for Australians but the go-ahead AlUla precinct is aiming to make a global impact.

With a wide range of events and drawcards, AlUla, is an ancient Arabian oasis city 350 kilometres north-west of the city of Medina and 1,100 km from Riyadh. 

The area is also known for its striking landscape of rocks, canyons, and wadis, which contrast with the city's palm-filled oases. 

The Royal Commission for al-Ula (RCU) envisages making it a global destination for culture and tourism. 

The AlUla Arts Festival returns for its fifth edition later this month, transforming the ancient city into a stage for contemporary art, design and culture. 

Running from January 16 to February 14, the festival features new art commissions as part of the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla. 

It also includes a major art exhibition, a collaboration between the contemporary art museum in AlUla - as part of its pre-opening programme - and Paris's Centre Pompidou. There will also be a Design Space AlUla exhibition spotlighting Saudi and international talents. 

Visitors will also enjoy live music and immersive performances.

AlUla is seeking to solidifying its position as a year-round global hub for creativity with festival part of AlUla Moments 2025-2026 Calendar. 

“AlUla Arts Festival is the contemporary expression of ancient traditions of creativity and cultural exchange in AlUla," said Hamad Alhomiedan, director of arts and creative industries for RCU. 

"With this year’s diverse program, AlUla becomes a canvas for creative dialogue and a catalyst for conversations in the Kingdom and beyond. We are proud to showcase ambitious works by some of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated artists alongside internationally renowned pioneers, all inspired by the unique culture and landscapes of AlUla."

Desert X AlUla 2026 (January 16-February 28) will presenting 10 new site-specific artworks inspired by the poetry of Kahlil Gibran. 

Other upcoming festivals include Arduna (February 1-April 15) with many of the highlights in the 

AlJadidah Arts District.

 

For more info see https://www.experiencealula.com/en 

Celebrating Tasmania and its seasonal bounty

 

Tasmania is renowned for hosting several outstanding festivals.

Events like Taste of Summer, Festivale and Dark Mofo are all major drawcards.

Less commercial and more connected, ECHO is the East Coast Harvest Odyssey festival, a smaller. more focussed "festival of the senses" that will run from March 13-15 in 2026.

The brainchild of singer and gin-brand owner Ange Boxall, ECHO has grown from small beginnings in 2019 into an event that Boxall describes as being "all about connection".

 


The event launch was held today in Hobart and full details are now available at echofestival.com.au.

ECHO is a festival of storytelling with close connections to First Nations culture, but also indigenous food experiences, hands-on adventures and music.

There is also plenty of wine, with several local producers involved - Spring Vale, Gala Estate, Mayfield Estate and Craigie Knowe among them - as well as Boxall's Spirited Gin brand.

From bush foods and medicine to morning yoga and drinks masterclasses, ECHO showcases live music, art, culture, storytelling and knowledge-sharing. It is a celebration both of harvest and the laid-back East Coast lifestyle.

"Our theme, Layers: Woven in Time, celebrates the people, stories and landscapes that give the East Coast its unique rhythm," says Boxall (below, at the launch).

 

"This year’s early program release features coastal storytelling with surf legend Dustin Hollick, woodworking using rare Hydrowood timbers, a cultural creative space with palawa creative Melissa West, blacksmithing in a historic forge and more.

"The music line-up brings together a powerful mix of emerging voices and established artists from Tasmania and beyond. Across intimate stages and open coastal spaces, musicians will share original sounds rooted in place, story and community. Expect soaring vocals, rhythmic collaborations and atmospheric performances that echo the landscape itself."

The much-loved Native Bounty Feast will also return as the key element of the opening evening.

ECHO, held in Swansea. is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

See https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/90c6baf5-d569-408a-bc77-91650ed7ff7b

Dark Mofo returns to brighten up Tasmania's winter

Tasmania's Dark Mofo mid-winter solstice festival,will return in 2026 from Thursday, June 11-Monday, June 22.

Alongside large-scale public art installations, live performances and musical acts, Dark Mofo 2026 will include familiar rituals: Winter Feast, Night Mass, the Ogoh-Ogoh burning and the Nude Solstice Swim as the sun rises after the longest night of the year.

While the full festival program will be announced next year, organisers have revealed that a strictly limited first release of tickets to Night Mass - Dark Mofo's late-night takeover of Nipaluna/Hobart CBD - will go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, November 5, to those who have pre-registered via the Dark Mofo website.

"Mark your calendars," urged Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite. "It’s exciting to share Dark Mofo’s 2026 dates today as we take our first steps towards next year’s festival where we’ll once again bathe the streets in red, feast by firelight and indulge in a smorgasbord of art, music and performance.

"With plenty of surprises in store, revellers have an opportunity this week to access an early release of tickets to Night Mass and get a head start on planning their winter debauchery."

Following a one-year hiatus, the return of Dark Mofo in 2025 attracted over 50,000 interstate and overseas visitors to Tasmania and delivered over $67 million in economic benefit to the state.

"We’re so grateful for the continued support from David Walsh, and that of the Tasmanian Government, not to mention Tasmanian businesses, residents and visitors - all of whom enable us to continue celebrating the dark," Twite says.

Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said: "Dark Mofo is an iconic Tasmanian event, which drives visitation to the state during the off season and one that is recognised as a world-class winter festival. The Tasmanian Government is a proud supporter of this event.

‘Dark Mofo has something for everyone and we know how important it is to our tourism and hospitality sector during the quieter months. Visitors to Tasmanian events stay longer than the average visitor, and stays have grown, now 2.5 nights longer than they were in 2019."

 # Dark Mofo is a project of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, with additional support provided by the City of Hobart.

New festival sets itself some lofty goals

A new festival in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales has set itself some rather lofty goals - with the confident announcement that The Horizontal Festival is set to "transform Australia's festival landscape".

The new festival, which will debut at Centennial Vineyards on October 4-5 is, apparently "positioned to become a major annual highlight on the state’s cultural calendar".

Big boasts. And the press release carries on in similar vein.

"Horizontal Festival is not just another food and wine event. It is an immersive journey, placing the customer experience at its heart by blending the best of NSW’s food, wine, music, and art in creatively curated spaces."

Sounds huge. But what makes it different?

"Festival-goers will enjoy varietal-led wine tastings, exceptional local cuisine, live music performances and art installations - all designed to foster meaningful connections between producers, visitors and industry."

To be honest, it doesn't sound drastically different to plenty of other festivals.

On we go.

"Horizontal Festival reimagines the festival experience by seamlessly merging the energy of a music concert with the discovery and charm of agri-tourism.

"Throughout the festival, guests will enjoy live performances and curated music in every zone, alongside captivating art installations, interactive workshops, and demonstrations by sommeliers, chefs, and artisans - creating a truly immersive, multi-sensory festival experience that invites exploration and engagement at every turn."

Hmm.

Festival creator and founder Amanda Fry, who I have known for some time, says: “Events have evolved beyond what’s on stage or on the plate - people are craving unforgettable, immersive experiences that engage all the senses.

"I designed Horizontal Festival to put the guest at the heart of the action from the moment they enter the event. Every space offers a multi-facetted experience because I want people to walk away having been part of something fresh, new and exciting.

“By blending the very best of NSW’s food, music, wine, and art in creatively curated spaces, we’re setting a new standard for what a festival can be. A festival that truly puts the customer experience first.

“Across all the events I curate, supporting local businesses and artisans is at the centre of everything we do. So Horizontal Festival is a platform to showcase the extraordinary talent and craftsmanship found right here in the Southern Highlands and across New South Wales.

"We want every guest to walk away feeling inspired, engaged, and part of a vibrant community and planning their next trip to meet the makers in their home towns.

“We’re thrilled that Destination NSW is investing in a regional event of this scale. Their support is instrumental in helping us shine a spotlight on the beauty and potential of the Southern Highlands as a backdrop to celebrating all the NSW makers, creators and growers can offer.”

At the heart of the Horizontal Festival experience are a series of distinct, immersive zones - each "thoughtfully curated" to transport guests on a journey of taste, sound, and discovery.

The organisers are certainly setting themselves a very high bar. And giving potential attendees high expectations.

Check out festival information, program highlights, ticket sales, and updates at www.horizontalfestival.com.au.

When to immerse yourself in both wine and art

There are myriad great wine tasting opportunities in the Margaret River region, but man cannot live on wine alone.

Wine lovers might want to time their visit coincide with spring when over 150 artists from Busselton to Augusta will throw open the doors to their creative spaces as part of the 12th annual Margaret River Region Open Studios.

The event will run from September 13 to 28 and offers a once-a-year opportunity to meet artists, explore working studios, and experience art in the raw - all free of charge.

The 2025 line-up includes iconic names like Leon Pericles, Rebecca Cool, Lauren Wilhelm, Lesley Meaney, Caroline Juniper, Nathan Day, Christian Fletcher and Ian Dowling - along with 30 new artists joining the program for the first time.

Visitors can expect a dynamic mix of artistic expression, from traditional Japanese gyotaku (fish printing) and encaustic beeswax painting, to basket weaving, tattoo art, and immersive sculpture installations.

This event is now in its 12th year and chair Jim Davies said it is now one of the most popular events on Western Australia's arts calendar.

“MRROS is such a special event for both artist and visitor, giving everyone the chance to access art and creativity,” he said.

“Art lovers can explore the Margaret River Region via studios in some of our most picturesque and inspiring locations. Studios might be converted barns, sea containers, railway carriages or inside artist’s homes. The variety of art and experiences provided by our artists is phenomenal.

“Visitors can plan a trail of their favourite art mediums such as sculpture, painting, pottery, jewellery or glass; or by location or artistic style."

Image: Artist Leon Pericles in his Margaret River sculpture garden

Woolly thinking: Canberra's very sheepish festival

Australia is home to an estimated 69 million sheep and 35 million breeding ewes - and celebrates both its wool and its lamb industries.

There are also  hundreds of llama and alpaca farms across the country. 

Canberra’s Old Bus Depot Markets, will dedicate two days to showcasing all things woolly at the upcoming two-day Canberra Wool Expo, on the weekend of May 17-18.

“This is the chance for all visitors to the market to see the complete process from raw fibre, to yarn and then to the many fabulous finished wool products at this two-day wool extravaganza,” said Old Bus Depot Markets’ manager Richard Vagi.

 
“Locals and visitors to Canberra can come along to market and enjoy demonstrations including hand-spinning, weaving, crochet and cross-stitch, have a chat with the region’s most talented craftspeople and designers, and get up close to alpacas, llamas and sheep.”

Canberra Wool Expo has a long history at the Markets, with this being the event’s 12th year.

Having moved from a single day event to a two-day expo back in 2017, the event pulls crowds from near and far who come for the pure love of wool and its many uses.

In 2025, the expo will have more wool stallholders than ever before - and from all around Australia.

Wool producers attending will range from locals Black Wattle Yarn from Murrumbateman to Fibre Naturally Woollen Mill from Macclesfield in Victoria, and Kaalund Yarns from Banyo in Queensland.

“Whether you like the comfort of rugging up all cosy and warm in woollen garments in the cooler weather, find it relaxing to knit, crochet or craft with wool, or want to see some more traditional wool practices in action, the Canberra Wool Expo will be a great weekend out,” said Vagi.

“Many craftspeople from Canberra, the surrounding region and interstate come to create, demonstrate with, and sell wool at the Canberra Wool Expo. And families love it because the kids can get up close to llamas, Hephner the alpaca and Andy and Armani, two Black Nose Valais sheep.”

At the Canberra Wool Expo visitors can also try their hand at contributing to a giant crochet with the Knitters Guild NSW (Capital Region Group) as well as browsing and buying hand-felted garments and accessories, designer and farm label knitwear, and woollen yarns including hand spun and hand dyed.

The Expo will be open from 9.30am – 2.30pm each day. For more information, see www.obdm.com.au

A fun festival with a sustainability message

If you like your festivals small and quirky the Tasmania’s ECHO festival should be on your radar.

ECHO, the brainchild of singer and entrepenueur Ange Boxall, combines of activities and experiences in a rural setting on Tasmania's east coast.

The festival, officially launched yesterday, will run from March 14-16 next year, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a celebration of music, local produce, sustainability, creativity, and the natural world.

The festival’s Friday evening signature event: Native Bounty Feast (above) will again showcase Tasmanian produce, this time incorporating elements inspired by the tides.

ECHO Festival is renowned for its hands-on workshops and artisanal demonstrations, and the main day on Saturday will see guests involved with traditional craftsmanship, such as blacksmithing in the on-site 200-year-old forge, where they’ll create unique anchor wall hooks.

Woodworking enthusiasts can craft a boat paddle-shaped spatula from Tasmania’s legendary Huon Pine.

Festivalgoers will also have the chance to explore their creative side at the Writer’s Corner with acclaimed Tasmanian author Robbie Arnott, and dive into the world of bees and pollinators with a special Bee & Honey Workshop hosted by Wild Hives Honey.

Additionally, the festival will feature seaweed activations, highlighting the ecological importance of these coastal organisms.

Throughout the event there will be live music performances and attendees can also enjoy gin, wine, and whisky masterclasses, led by top distillers and producers.

The Trashions on The Field fashion parade, where participants showcase outfits made from recycled materials, will return for another year.

For food lovers, the Farmers Corner will feature a selection of local producers offering fresh Tasmanian products.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.echofestival.com.au.

Images: Dearna Bond

Dark Mofo to return in 2025

Tasmania’s leading cultural and culinary festival, Dark Mofo, will be back in 2025 - bigger than ever.

Many Dark Mofo events were on hiatus in 2024, but organisers of the midwinter solstice festival today announced a full return in 2025 with an ambitious art and music program including Dark Mofo rituals Winter Feast, the Ogoh-Ogoh, Night Mass and the Nude Solstice Swim.

Dark Mofo 2025 will take place in Hobart from Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 15 with the swim making a splash on Saturday June 21.

While the full festival program will be announced next year, organisers have revealed that a limited pre-release of tickets to Night Mass - Dark Mofo’s expansive art and music CBD takeover - will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday November 5 to those who have pre-registered via the Dark Mofo website.

Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite said: "Dark Mofo is back. For our eleventh chapter once more we’ll bathe the city in red and deliver two weeks of inspiring art, music and ritual. Today we’re giving Dark Mofo devotees a chance to access a limited pre-release of tickets to the sprawling behemoth, Night Mass."

Twite added: “Night Mass is a beast, and this year it will evolve once more; worming its way through the city with new spaces, performances and experiences to dance, explore or crawl your way through.”

The full Dark Mofo 2025 program details will be announced early next year. Sign up to the mailing list for updates www.darkmofo.net.au.

* Dark Mofo is a project of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

Slovenia's capital hits the right notes over summer

The delightful Slovenian capital of Ljubljana comes alive with music and dance over summer.

The Ljubljana Festival is the main summer festival in Slovenia and is one of the oldest festivals in Ljubljana. And it runs for over two months.

Lucky for the locals, they get to experience all the fun for two jam-packed months of warm weather, blooming flowers, arts and entertainment.

The traditional opening concert on June 20 features the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra & Big Band and the RTV Slovenia Youth Choir.

 


Every summer the Ljubljana Festival makes an important contribution to the cultural life of Ljubljana - and entertains visitors - with a program covering a wide variety of genres, including ballet, opera and theatrical productions, musicals, chamber and symphony concerts, the International Art Colony, master classes, and children’s and youth workshops.

Highlights include the Ljubljana Festival events on the River Ljubljanica - the river that runs through the centre of the capital.

Among those participating will be the London Symphony Orchestra, the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra, the ADDA Simfònica Alicante, the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Filarmonica della Scala, and soloists including tenors Jonathan Tetelman and Juan Diego Flórez.

Pianists Mikhail Pletnev and Grammy winner César Camargo Mariano, saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito d’Rivera, violinist Vilde Frang, prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, and conductors such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Riccardo Chailly, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, András Keller, Aleksei Kornienko also feature.

Entertainment will be provided by 4,000 artists from more than 40 countries.

The 72nd edition of the Ljubljana Festival will run from June 20 to September 3, when it will end with a gala concert by pianist Martha Argerich.

See https://www.visitljubljana.com/ and https://ljubljanafestival.si/

How to enjoy some of Melbourne's secrets on foot

Melbourne is a city with lots of hidden secrets.

Laneways with impressive graffiti, tiny speakeasys with no signage, arcades offering gourmet treats and ethnic restaurants that fly under the radar. Until they don't.

There is one company that concentrates on showing off Melbourne's lesser-known charms to visitors: the appropriately named Hidden Secrets Tours.

Focussing on laneways and back alleys, this walking tour operator conducts small group walks in the urban centre with a focus on fashion, art, food, wine and urban design.

Guides offer a little history and architecture as guests descend into basements or climb discretely marked stairwells, to find the haunts locals love. 

You can do much of this on your own, of course, but there's lot you will miss, including context. 

The focus is on Melbourne-based businesses, and local design and the good news is that you will not be fleeced in some dodgy store selling expensive tourist tat.

"We take no commissions from any places we visit and ensure an authentic discrete local experience," Hidden Secrets promises. There is even a tour for French speakers on offer.  

Sounds like fun, Another one added to my Melbourne "to do" list. 

See https://hiddensecretstours.com

Image: Winsor Dobbin   

Vivid: Celebrating humanity at a time of peak inhumanity

Vivid Sydney, the southern hemisphere's largest multi-artform festival, has unveiled its program for 2024.

Among the highlights: 40km-long laser beams to be projected from the city's tallest structure, Sydney Tower and 2023 Archibald Prize winner Julia Julia Gutman to transform Sydney Opera House for .Lighting The Sails.

Vivid Fire Kitchen returns in a brand-new space, Budjerah, Mos Def and Air will headline Vivid Music and, bizarrely, there will be an exploration of sex work in Australia's notorious red-light district of Kings Cross.

The run from May 24 to June 15, the festival runs over 23 nights exploring the theme of 'Humanity' through Light, Music, Ideas and Food.

There will be light installations and 3D projections from Circular Quay to The Goods Line; genre-spanning music performances and creative showcases; a Vivid Ideas program and the popular Vivid Food program.

John Graham, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy (hell of a job title John) said: “Vivid Sydney is an important event every year that Sydneysiders and visitors alike have come to love.

"It's not just a light show, it's a celebration of light, music, ideas and food - a program full of rich cultural experiences that resonate with locals and visitors alike.

“Vivid Sydney brings together important parts of Sydney's culture - Light, Music, Ideas and Food. It celebrates what's great and unique about our city, and our state and creates a uniquely Sydney experience. That's why it's been so popular over so many years.

“This year's festival will have a variety of free and cost-effective events on offer to provide many opportunities for people to come together and celebrate."

In 2023 the vent drew over 3.48 million attendees generating more than $206 million in visitor expenditure.

Vivid Sydney festival director Gill Minervini said this year's festival looks at how creativity fuels our interconnected world.

“Humanity is at the core of everything we do [duh], and this year Vivid Sydney is diving deep into what makes us uniquely human,” Minervini said.

“We have curated a diverse program that explores the human spirit, designed to foster connections, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives. Everyone is invited to be part of this global event in the world's most beautiful city to connect, create and celebrate.”

Staged across Sydney, Vivid Sydney festival locations and venues include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, State Library of New South Wales, Walsh Bay, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, University of Technology Sydney, The Goods Line, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Carriageworks.

Tickets are now on sale. For more info see vividsydney.com.