About Art in the Porongurup
Fostering community engagement and positive well-being, this free community event has developed over 24 years to encourage and stimulate established and emerging artists to showcase their sculptures. This free Great Southern Event is now well-established on the local event calendar.
Located in the natural bushland surrounding Porongurup Hall, this outdoor event provides the public with the chance to view and buy one-off sculptures and art pieces, as well as cast their vote to help determine the People’s Choice Award winner. In conjunction with Art in the Porongurup, the Porongurup Craft Group runs its annual Art Bazaar. The two events entwine beautifully, complementing both sculpture and art.
Hosted by a subcommittee of the Porongurup Community Association Inc. (PCA), a small but active not-for-profit volunteer group, this event meets its core objective—to foster community spirit and fellowship in the Porongurup. This event is popular with both adults and children. As there is no entrance fee, it provides an economical family day out. Visitors can spend an hour or more exploring the sculpture nature walk and casting their vote, then browse the Art Bazaar while enjoying coffee, cake, or a light lunch inside the hall. The event focus remains to motivate creative minds and create a fun, safe, and enjoyable environment for all ages.
Photos from our Nature Trail & Art Bazaar
Check out the reviews from some of our previous guests!
“Lovely way to spend an afternoon.”
“We had to do another lap to choose as too many good ones.”
“I like the use of the environment in pieces and the reuse of materials.”
“I appreciate the whole community involved, great diversity.”
“So good to see all the youth entries, well done.”
“Such a good family event, got the whole family thinking and talking.”
“Hall craft looks very welcoming, worth coming to.”
“Lovely, nice to wander around in nature and art.”
History
The event was initiated by the late Ann Burchell (past president) to assist the volunteer conservation group, Friends of the Porongurup Range, to buy a 511 ha farm property on Knight Road, located between the Porongurup and the Stirling Ranges on the Kalgan plain. The purpose of the purchase was to protect a unique mixture of flora and fauna communities which represented a remnant of the suite of vegetation on the plain, since cleared for agricultural purposes. It also presented an opportunity to revegetate cleared portions of the farm.
Originally called Art in the Park, for nearly 20 years, the venue was in the Porongurup National Park at the Castle Rock Picnic Area. Due to parking and visitor fee conflicts during the Easter holidays, with visitors going up to Castle Rock, the exhibition moved for a short time to the grounds of Karribank and has now settled at the Porongurup Hall.
After substantial community support and fundraising efforts, the Knight Road farm became the Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve and is listed with the National Reserve System.
See more on their website: www.porongurup.org.au
Since the move to the Porongurup Hall site, the event is now hosted by the Porongurup Community Association, a small but active not-for-profit volunteer group seeking to meet their core objective – to foster community spirit and fellowship in the Porongurup.
Some of our past sponsors
Lothlorien Studio, Corkescrew Gallery, Bolganup Homestead, Annette McGready, Castle Rock Estate, The Sleeping Lady, Kelly & Judy O’Neill, Strike Me Pink, Maleeya’s Hillside Bamboo Nursery, Bendigo Bank Mount Barker, Porongurup Inn, Shop & Tearooms, Shire of Plantagenet, Friends of the Porongurup Range, Karribank, Duke’s Vineyard, Mount Barker Co-op, Scrubby Creek Bush Camp, Lavender Bee, Healing Hands Wildlife Care
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Contact Us
If you would like to support this event and become a sponsor—or if you have any questions—you can email us at:
