About the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival 2012
The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival is organised by the Penola Festival Association Incorporated. During its 20 year history it has grown to become one of Australia’s leading regional arts festivals. The festival celebrates the literary and arts heritage of Penola, the fine wines of Coonawarra and our premium regional produce.
The Penola Festival Association Inc. is a voluntary, non-profit organisation. Since its inception the festival has attracted major events and exhibitions that have appealed to a broad audience and have contributed to our growing profile. By amalgamating with the Coonawarra Vignerons and incorporating the ‘Coonawarra Unearthed’ programme into the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival we have continued to broaden the only arts based festival in the Limestone Coast. We are fortunate to be one of the few festivals in regional Australia that has the potential to generate significant cultural tourism with an easily recognisable wine brand in ‘Coonawarra’.
Art Prizes
The art prizes associated with the festival are an important element of the event and provide colour, excitement and immense cultural value:
“The prizes seek to encourage artists to capture the essence of Penola or Coonawarra and in the case of the John Shaw Neilson prize the inspiration gained from his poetry”.
Peter Muller, former President, Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival.
In 2008 the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival Committee decided that the profile of our most unique art prize, the John Shaw Neilson Art Prize, should be raised. Our first effort to do this has seen the prize winner now receiving $5000. The art prize is co-sponsored by the festival and Wattle Range Council. A prize for an artist who enters and lives within the boundaries of the local council area is sponsored by Susan Pender.
Where?
Limestone Coast
