The South Australian Living Arts Festival (SALA) is a bright spot in the winter calendar of every art-loving South Australian and a fair number of visitors from elsewhere - yes, people do indeed head down South for the sole purpose of exploring the work of S.A.’s vast array of talented a visual artists.

The open-access visual arts festival was a world-first when it was first conceived in 1998 and even today, there are few comparable festivals taking place which are solely focused on visual arts.

Originally founded by Paul Greenaway OAM (Director Greenaway Art Gallery) and Sam Hill-Smith who working together with the Australian Commercial Galleries Association, first envisioned a week-long celebration of Adelaide art, then known as SALA Week.

These days, the entire month of August is dedicated to SALA with pop-up galleries springing up across the state. This year, more than nine thousand South Australian artists will participate in around 600 spaces.

The spaces aren’t all galleries either - SALA makes its way into the most unexpected of spaces; offices, cinemas, bars and even supermarkets turn into miniature galleries overnight so that the region is literally flooded with visual art in all its forms.

SALA’s growth

SALA has always been strongly committed to building new audiences for the visual arts. Back in 2002 the organisation began offering art tours as a unique way to entice office workers into exhibition spaces during their lunch breaks.

Now, SALA presents a comprehensive program of tours and events as well as educational programs, awards and residencies.

Last year saw Jianzhen 'Shirley' Wu, our resident glass artist, scoop the SALA City Rural Insurance Pty Brokers Ltd. Emerging Artists Award.

Awards like this ensure that artists both emerging and established can receive the best in support and publicity throughout their careers.

See the full SALA 2022 program here.

SALA Extravaganza at Fleurieu Arthouse 2022

Here at Fleurieu Arthouse preparations are already taking place for the diverse selection of talented artists who will participate in a group exhibition for SALA 2022.

In addition to our retail artists and our studio artists who will all be offering special works on display throughout the studios and design space, we are also playing host to 20 visiting artists who will be taking over the main gallery with their group exhibition.

The entirety of Fleurieu Arthouse is given over to SALA during August so visitors can immerse themselves in a huge selection of locally produced art and design.

In our design space, we have an all-year round selection of local artists’ work on display with each artist having their own miniature exhibition space dedicated to them. These include painters, printmakers, glass artists, ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists and more.

Among our permanent artists’ works, visitors can find pieces by renowned painters Tony Wilson and Dana Kinter, beautiful ceramics from Carly Mitolo and Alexandra Linden of Linden Haus, metal works from A Small Art Factory and a fantastic selection of jewellery by Anja Jagsch.

The SALA Extravaganza at Fleurieu Arthouse is a celebration of South Australian contemporary art and the artists taking part are each an example of the broad nature of the talent S.A. currently houses.

The Arthouse is an ideal showcase for these artists as a well-established contemporary arts space in the historic township of McLaren Vale.

Set in the grounds of Hardys Tintara Winery, the space consists of an exhibition gallery, artist’s studios which house up to 12 working artists and also a design space where locally produced art, jewellery and homewares can be viewed and purchased.

SALA in the Fleurieu

Visiting Fleurieu Arthouse for SALA offers a great opportunity to see more of this fascinating area.

Fleurieu Arthouse sits in an idea location for those wanting a day of culture, history and great food.

McLaren Vale is itself famed for its wineries so why not combine art with wine and spend a pleasant day visiting various SALA exhibitions and indulge in some wine tours or tastings at the same time?

Fleurieu Arthouse is also home to The Nook, a cafe which specialises in locally produced coffee and specialty pastries made in the Fleurieu region

Fleurieu Arthouse is open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit between 11.00am and 4.00pm.

For group bookings and private tours, please contact the team.

Phone: 87288 3095

hello@fleurieuarthouse.com.au

Arthouse directors Anna Small and Warren Pickering will be exhibiting their work within the Arthouse and at Centennial Park for SALA in the Park 2022. You can also see their work at Fleurieu Arthouse both in the grounds and within the design space.