Australia just can't get enough of the Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival! Our grand champion winners were announced on Sunrise, Channel 7, with a live cross to Darren and Simone at Kandanga. Their group entry The gingerbread chase included multiple scarecrows and animals created by the couple and their crafty neighbours. Radio interest has included ABC [...]
Cooran artist Lew Brennan has another award to add to his resume, winning the prestigious RJR Property Open category at the 2026 Mary Valley Art Festival in Imbil. Held over four days from 23 July 2026, the festival marked its 25th anniversary with another successful exhibition of paintings representing 100 artists from South-East Queensland. Judges [...]
Organisers of the Mary Valley Art Festival have stretched their cultural offer into the performance sector, partnering with Perseverance Street Theatre Company. President Heinke Butt said they collaborated with Dr Sharon Hogan from the theatre company and Imbil artist Pat Cale to create an original piece. The project was made possible by funding through the [...]
More than 80 scarecrows of all shapes and sizes have crowded into the Mary Valley for its biannual festival and organisers couldn’t be happier! But it was the entry by the Imbil Police Station which stole the judges’ hearts and won them grand champion 2025. Andy Waltzing Matilda depicted two full-sized scarecrows and a sheep [...]
Sunshine Coast artist Cynthia House continues to be a crowd favourite in the Gympie art scene, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Mary Valley Art Festival for the second year running. Her trademark hybrid style of abstraction and realism in depicting a snow leopard won people’s hearts, giving her the slightest edge on her [...]
The deadline for entries for the annual Mary Valley Art Festival has been extended to Monday 14 July. This gives artists more time to apply for the exhibition which offers awards including the RJR Property Best in Show award of $2000, and $1500 for the Open winner from Gympie’s Bendigo Bank. The festival will be [...]
A permanent fine art gallery and cultural hub will be built in Imbil after the local council approved the new build. Mary Valley Artslink received lease documents this week after the unanimous vote of approval by Gympie Regional Council. Art group president Heinke Butt said everyone was delighted that Gympie council had approved the application [...]
From invasive vine to award-winning wearable art—local artist Vivien Eardley is set to wow audiences at this year’s Mary Valley Art Festival. Vivien will bring with her two stunning pieces that have graced the national stage at the Australian Wearable Art Festival, based on the Sunshine Coast. A self-taught, intuitive artist working under the name [...]
Businesses have backed the annual Mary Valley Art Festival with thousands of dollars, giving the organising committee a healthy prize pool for 2025. Entry forms will be available in May as the final details are confirmed for the festival to be held at Imbil Public Hall from 24-27 July. The festival is popular with Sunshine [...]
Mary Valley visitors and residents alike are loving the new pop-up Art on Yabba Gallery in Imbil’s main street. Its first exhibition by popular watercolourist Jan Lawnikanis has drawn rave reviews, and her September workshop has sold out. The gallery’s next show is Eclectic Treasures, featuring works from a collection of local artists including Kym [...]
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