General News
24 October, 2025
Avoca art show returns
Avoca Art Show and Sale returns this weekend with an expanded focus on local youth.
Avoca’s art show returns this weekend with familiar favourites and an expanded youth section fostering the next generation of local talent.
Attendees are invited from across the region to attend the Avoca Art Show and Sale at the Avoca Town Hall starting today through to the end of the weekend.
Organised by Avoca Community Arts and Gardens (ACAG), as part of their Barking Owl Arts Festival, the event promises art competitions spanning all ages, artisan demonstrations, and an illuminated night at Avoca’s art silo.
The event is the community group’s only fundraising event each year with a history dating back to Gallery 127’s founding.
In the years since, ACAG president Hugh Forster said community support has been strong.
“It’s fantastic. That’s what we need,” he said.
The event’s annual return celebrates local talent with competitions from adults through to school-age kids.
The adult competition includes numerous awards and cash prizes supported by local businesses.
As does the secondary school competition which has three prizes across the year levels.
The event will be officially opened tonight at 6.30 pm by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett.
Alongside complimentary food and drink, the winners of the various art competitions will be announced.
While this may be familiar to previous years, Mr Forster said the youth section is particularly strong this year.
“What really got me, when you look at it, it really knocks your socks off to see what the young kids have done,” he said.
Beyond the almost 20 secondary schools involved, five primary schools across the Pyrenees region have made large collages for the event.
The works are unified by the theme of animals threatened or endangered in their local region.
Avoca Primary School art teacher Suzanne Blackie, who helped organise the project, said local kid’s effort helped them feel a part of their community.
“It just gives children a voice,” she said.
“Art speaks a lot of languages, in fact, you don’t need a language for art.”
The arts show offers a “powerful” connection to community, Ms Blackie said, who encourages locals to attend.
“I think a healthy community involves everybody, you want everybody to be seen, and sometimes kids need that extra voice,” she said.
This year’s Avoca Art Show and Sale runs from October 24 to 26 with more information available on the Arts Avoca Facebook page.