Plan to spend a night or two in Mary Valley Country to see the annual Mary Valley Art Festival, a grassroots event on July 22-25 where over $8000 is up for grabs, including $2500 for the Open Award.
The rich prize pool draws quality entries from South-East Queensland, 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.
The Bendigo Bank Open Award is now $2500, with $1000 for the highly commended entry. There are nine categories for adults, and a Youth Award for entrants aged 12-17 years.
A feature this year is the Mary Valley Alive exhibition, celebrating the festival’s 20th anniversary, which tells the story of the Mary Valley through its flora, fauna and people. Twenty artists have been invited to create artworks reflecting the theme, to be combined with artworks from the original Mary Valley Alive which reflected art from the place, time and events of the Traveston Crossing Dam campaign.
Festival viewing starts on July 22 at the Imbil Public Hall, Edward Street, Imbil, but the festival officially opens on Friday July 23 with award presentations and celebrations, closing on Sunday July 25 2021.