Hosting the event for the first time in a number of years, the Investigator College Performing Arts and Sports Centre (PASC) was transformed into a vibrant display of visual art, as schools from across the Fleurieu Peninsula gathered to celebrate the creativity and artistic talent of local students.
The exhibition, which features works from kindergarten, primary and secondary-school-aged students, is now in its sixth year, and represents a highlight of the Fleurieu Peninsula’s participation in the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival.
Officially opened by Federal Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, and State Member for Finniss, David Basham, alongside Investigator College Principal Mr. John Robinson and exhibition organiser Mrs. Zoe Crichton, the exhibition welcomed the largest opening night crowd in its short history, with an audience of 660-strong students, parents and members of the public attending the event.
Growing steadily since its inception in 2017, this year saw more than 300 students from nine different schools and kindergartens taking part, as the annual event continued to increase in popularity and enjoyed an ability to house a larger number of works than ever before, thanks to this year’s venue and a large volume of display frames, kindly facilitated by the Rotary Club of Victor Harbor.
Adding to the opening night festivities, attendees were treated to an opportunity to contribute to a live-art mural project with local artist, Amber Black, alongside performances from student bands and ensembles representing Investigator College’s expanding music and performing arts program. The mural – which will be on public display on the Investigator College grounds to commemorate the occasion – was a welcome addition to the exhibition, with many taking up a brush and relishing a chance to make their own creative contributions to the evening.
Building on the success of opening night, the exhibition was also well-patronised throughout the weekend, with a further 500 visitors taking the opportunity to wander through the works. Speaking on behalf of the show’s organising committee, Mrs. Zoe Crichton was quick to express an appreciation for the contributions to this year’s show, both from students and attendees:
“It was amazing to see how much this event has grown in the number of participating schools, the number of student participants and the number of attendees at the Opening Event. We have such a beautiful community, and it was such a privilege to be able to showcase the work of our talented visual artists. We received a lot of compliments [over the weekend] on the creativity and talent of the students, and lots of appreciation for the standard of work on display.”
After the success of this year’s exhibition, planning for the 2024 show has already begun, with organisers keen to keep the momentum, growth and enthusiasm to take part trending upward.
“It’s such a fantastic opportunity for our local students to get their work in front of people and to experience exhibiting on a large scale. The support from the community, from local businesses in sponsoring the event and from each school has been brilliant – it gives us the motivation to keep making the show a feature every year, and to keep the event growing.”
Investigator College would like to thank all of the students, staff, schools and kindergartens involved for their participation in this year’s SALA Schools Art Show, and extends a special thank you to the following local businesses and organisations for their generous support of this event:
- Victor Harbor Council
- Alexandrina Council
- Rotary Victor Harbor
- The Strand Gallery
- Alexandrina Cheese Company
- The Joinery Wine Room – Charlotte Dalton and Cooke Brothers Wines
- Smiling Samoyed Brewery
- Oddfellows Wines
- RAW Bulk Wholefoods
- Peninsula Providore
- Taronga Almonds
- Paris Creek Farms
- Goolwa Central Meats
- Bunnings Victor Harbor
- Lilyarra Artisan Cheeses
- Amber Black (She’s Elektra Jewellery)
