What's on

Building on the success of 2020, the biennial Visual Arts in the Valley 2022 will be celebrated over the October long-weekend – Friday 30 September through Monday 3 October in Kangaroo Valley, NSW. It will feature multiple visual art prizes and special events over four days at a variety of venues in the Valley.

Our objectives are simple – to assist artists while bringing some of the best contemporary art that matters from around the nation to the Valley and surrounds that speaks about national, regional and local issues.

Our goal – to continue to grow as a national contemporary arts event while retaining local and regional flavour.

Total Prize Money $20,000, donated by local Valley residents, including the signature Kangaroo Valley Art Prize, Tony White Memorial Prize for an Emerging Artist, Salon of Local Artists Prize, plus Highly Commended, Commended, People’s Choice and the popular Packing Room Prize.

Now one of the more valuable suites of contemporary art prizes in Australian contemporary art, in 2020 over 1300 people visited the Kangaroo Valley Community Hall, transformed into a professional art gallery. Entry fees and commissions are kept low to return as much as possible to the artists. In each of our past two biennials, over 30% of artworks were sold ($100,000 in 2020).

Guest Curator for 2022 – Megan Monte, award-winning Australian curator who has just assumed the position of inaugural director and curator of Ngununggula, the National Trust and State Government gallery at Retford Park, NSW. Previously director of Cement Fondu contemporary arts space in Sydney and curator of contemporary art at the Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Special Advisor – Rex Irwin, internationally known art dealer in Sydney since 1976 who has nurtured and enhanced the reputations and careers of many Australian artists. Former director, Rex Irwin Gallery, dealing in contemporary Australian and European art, and former co-director, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney.

Judge​ – June Watters, Director, National Trust of Australia (NSW) Galleries and SH Ervin Gallery since 2001. Has curated numerous gallery and touring exhibitions and judged many art prizes including Portia Geach Memorial Award, NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, Calleen Art Prize and Gallipoli Art Prize.

Second Judge and Opening Speaker to be announced.

Key Dates:

25 July – Online entries open

18 August – Entries close

5 September – Announcement of finalists

28 September – Deadline for arrival of finalist artworks

30 September – Prize announcements

30 September – 3 October – Exhibitions

Australian artists Ken Done and Rosie Deacon are well known for their bold colour palettes and ability to capture the quintessential Australian experience. Done’s iconic harbourside paintings, beach fashion and beer commercials have long been sources of inspiration for Deacon.

This exhibition offers a rare encounter of two colliding worlds, with the opportunity to be consumed entirely – visually, aurally and sometimes bodily. Ken Done + Rosie Deacon offers something for all ages, especially young children, with interactive exhibition elements including costume, dance and craft. 

Free Entry

Ngununggula is proud to present Operation Art Touring 50 in our James Fairfax Education Space, an initiative of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in association with the New South Wales Department of Education, featuring artworks made by students from Kindergarten to Year 10.

This touring exhibition commenced at the Art Gallery of NSW and continues to regional galleries. We urge you to visit and check out the incredible talent of the generation to come! When the artworks complete their journey, they will become part of the Hospital’s permanent collection for children and their families to enjoy.

Highlands artist are invited to apply to be part of the Southern Highlands ARTS Trail in 2022. As usual, this is an open-studio event with artists opening their own studios, or joining with another studio to showcase Highlands creativity. Needless to say our wonderful galleries are invited to participate to round off the cultural adventure that is the ARTS Trail.

For many years now, the Southern Highlands Art Studio Trail, held each November, has been a major feature in our cultural landscape. 

You can make your application by visiting the website. Applications are now open and will close, 1 July 2022.