To celebrate creative spirits and endeavours we thought we'd share the news about the ARTfest 09 celebrations happening on the south coast of New South Wales at Milton and Ulladulla with the art events being showcased.

The creative art festival 2009 runs from Friday, 2nd October through to Sunday 11th October. This is a great opportunity to make a creative escape to this sparkling part of the coast for the October long weekend and be inspired with painting, writing, photography, designing, sculpture, poetry, music and the people expressing themselves.

Below is a list of the comprehensive Art Prizes up for grabs with links to the website for submission forms and more details. The competitions are open so get involved. Also listed are the workshops being held throughout the festival as well as the festival program activites, times and dates.

The festival of the arts is kicked off with Richard Clapton at the Milton Theatre, has a Living Craft exhibition at the Milton Showgrounds, features authors, includes a music festival, art workshops and the list goes on.

Arts Prizes for the Art Shows
Total Prize Pool $5650

ARTS PRIZES form an integral part of the Escape ARTfest art show program each year. The 2009 theme is 'community' - this theme is applied to most of the prizes and is open to interpretation by the entrants in whatever way they feel is appropriate to their individual creativity. All prize information can be found on the Escape ARTfest website - www.escapeartfest.info

8x8 Canvas Prize
Light-hearted Community Art Prize where entrants work on an 8x8" canvas for an even playing field. Works will be on display at Coast Gallery during ARTfest. Various Categories. First Prize - Open $500 sponsored by Ulladulla Picture Framing. Other sponsors Boots Great Outdoors, Riversdale 7 Photography, Splatters, Artyfacts, South Coast Business & Financial Solutions and CC Gifts & Bargains.
Purchase your 8x8 entry from Splatters in Milton or Artyfacts in Nowra.

SOAP
Shoalhaven Open Art Prize - Open First Prize $600 - major sponsor Bendigo Bank Milton. Other sponsors House of Jules Art Studio, Millhouse Art Society, Riversdale 7 Photography, Meadowlake Lodge.
Works will be on display at Coast Gallery during ARTfest.
Download entry form & guidelines form www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html or pick up from Splatters in Milton.

Escape ARTfest Youth Art Prize
Open to youth aged 5-18years. Major sponsor CC Gifts & Bargains. Various age categories. Works will be on display at Coast Gallery during ARTfest.
Prizes to the value of $500.
Download entry form & guidelines form www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html or pick up from Splatters in Milton.

Angus & Robertson Short Story Prize
Open & Youth Sections, various prize categories. Prizes to the value of $750.
Download entry form & guidelines from www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html or pick up from Angus & Robertson Ulladulla or local libraries

To Whom It May Concern Postcard Art Prize
Open & Youth Sections, various prize categories. Major sponsors Milton Newsagency and PresOz Computer Services. Works will be on display in the Milton Newsagency windows during ARTfest. Prizes to the value of $250.
Download entry form & guidelines from www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html or pick up from Milton Newsagency or Splatters in Milton.

Me & My Instrument Art Competition - NEW
Open media. Sponsored by MUD Music Council & Smith's Music. Works will be on display in the shop adjacent to Smith's Music for the duration of ARTfest.
Prizes to the value of $600.
Download entry form & guidelines from www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html

Angus & Robertson Children's Book Reviews
Bring in a short review/picture of your favourite book for a chance to win a voucher/book... Be creative! Closing date: 3rd Oct 2009
Open to all school students.
Download entry form & guidelines from www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html or pick up from Angusr & Robertson Ulladulla or local libraries

Re{invent} Yourself Youth Digital Art Prize
Children to 18 years are invited to submit a digital art work, inspired by the theme 'community. Sponsored by Re{invent} Yourself. Works will be displayed on the festival website. Visit the website for more info.www.escapeartfest.info/prizes.html

PBS Sustainable Communities Prize - NEW
$500 ARTS PRIZE open to all art works associated with Escape Artfest '09. Proust Bushland Services is offering a $500 prize for the art work that "best represents sustainable community". Works may be in any creative shape or form. The mission of PBS is centred around sustainable land management ... providing quality, best practice ecological restoration services for land managers.
Proust Bushland Services will be using a 'guest' judge to visit all of the exhibitions and arts prizes to select a winning artwork.

Festival Events Program 2009
...announcing the amazing line up of events to inspire! This is just a quick summary..
visit www.escapeartfest.info for more details

PRE FEST:

WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER
6.30pm MIND POOLS BY LINDA LEES @ Bawley Beach Cafe

THURSDAY 1ST OCTOBER
4-7pm ABOVE-BELOW & BEYOND @ Cupitt's Winery for wine and finger nibbles
5-6pm CRUNCH & SIP FACES @ Reilly's of Ulladulla Café- Official Launch

ARTfest

DAY 1 - FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER
5pm OFFICIAL FESTIVAL OPENING HARBOUR BEATS @ Ulladulla Harbour
also featuring * Youth Lantern Parade * Circus School Fire Demonstration
8pm RICHARD CLAPTON @ Milton Theatre

DAY 2 - SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER
9-4pm MILTON MUSIC FEST throughout the Milton CBD
12.30pm LUCIO GALLETTO AUTHOR EVENT @ Cupitt's Winery
10-4pm LION'S LIVING CRAFT FAIR @ Milton Showground Pavilion
4-6pm NAKED FLAMES EXHIBITION LAUNCH @ Hibiscus Gallery
6-8pm GREEN HOUSE EXHIBITION LAUNCH @ Greenhouse Gallery
8pm MELINDA SCHNEIDER @ Milton Theatre

DAY 3 - SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER
10-4pm LION'S LIVING CRAFT FAIR @ Milton Showground Pavilion
10-3pm MANYANA ART & CRAFT FAIR @ Manyana Yalunga Community Hall
10.30am GLORIOUS MUDSINGERS BRUNCH @ Burrill Lake Community Hall
2-4pm LIVING WITH TREES - MUSIC & ART Under Milton's big fig @ Mick Ryan Park
4-6pm A FINE LINE EXHIBITION LAUNCH music by Chris South & more @ Edge Cafe
8pm BLUESTONE JUNCTION & JONNO ZILBER @ Milton Theatre

DAY 4 - MONDAY 5TH OCTOBER
10.30am ART & THE UKULELE @ Kingstudio
12pm SCULPTURE IN THE FOREST LAUNCH @ Kingstudio

DAY 5 - TUESDAY 6TH OCTOBER
5pm EMBELLISH EXHIBITION LAUNCH @ Ulladulla Guest House Gallery

DAY 6 - WEDNESDAY 7TH OCTOBER
10-3pm WORKSHOPS @ Milton CWA Hall

* Make & Learn To Play The Didgeridoo

* Hand-painted Ceramic Plate

* Drawing from the Beauty of Nature

11-12pm MONTY THE MUTT FROM MILTON @ Milton Library
12pm YOUTH POETRY & SHORT STORY WINNERS @ Milton Library
6pm COMMUNITY LANDSCAPES LAUNCH @ Beach Art & Framing

DAY 7 - THURSDAY 8TH OCTOBER
11-12pm MONTY THE MUTT FROM MILTON @ Ulladulla Library
12pm YOUTH POETRY & SHORT STORY WINNERS @ Ulladulla Library
5.30pm SALVAGE OFFICIAL LAUNCH @ Coast Gallery
6-8pm MILTON GALLERY WALK @ 14 Venues in Milton
8pm ARTFEST AWARDS & SLIDE NIGHT @ Milton Theatre

DAY 8 - FRIDAY 9TH OCTOBER
ESCAPE ARTS FILM FEST OPENING NIGHT @ Arcadia Twin Cinemas

DAY 9 - SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER
all day RAKU WORKSHOP & DEMONSTRATION @ Yatte Yattah Pottery
10am Artist Talk - Jack Brilliant @ Em's Homewares
6pm ESCAPE ARTS FREE OUTDOOR CINEMA @ Ulladulla Harbour also featuring
* Wearable Art Fashion Parade

DAY 10 - SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER
10-4pm OFFICIAL FESTIVAL FINALE
HARBOUR ART 'N' ABOUT @ Ulladulla Harbour also featuring
* Live Music * Dance Demonstrations * Youth Prayer Flags * Nia Demonstration
* Citizens On Grass * Dragon Boats * Meet the Makers * Face Painting
* Circus Workshop * more...

OTHER EVENTS - ANY DAY
The following exhibitions will not be having an official launch, but will be
open during the festival. Be sure to include them on your gallery trail.
* RECENT WORKS @ Anica Art Gallery
* DAWN @ Boardwalk Cafe
* PRIVATE UNIVERSE @ Rainbow Pie Shop
* TRANSLATIONS @ Something's Brewing
* TONI McDOWELL @ Cafe Brill
* ME & MY INSTRUMENT @ Smith's Music Ulladulla

Workshops @ ARTfest

RAKU DEMONSTRATION & WORKSHOP @ Yatte Yattah Pottery Saturday 10th October. A demonstration of the raku fi ring process - red hot pots are taken from the kiln and placed inside a bin containing combustible materials. The process will be running all day, from early in the morning - best time to visit is between 10am and 3pm to see Kees Staps and the Nulladolla Potters in action. Free Demonstration. Enquiries to Kees Staps 0404806832.

DIDG MAKING WORKSHOP @ Milton CWA Wednesday 7th October 9-10.30am.
Open to everyone - get the whole family buzzing. Hamish will guide you through the process of making your own didgeridoo and instruct you in the fundamentals of 'getting the buzz.' Cost $10 pp. (or combo deal - $15 pp - stay on for the next workshop with Meagan Jacobs who will help you turn your didg into piece of art). Ph: 4454 5993 to book.

DRAWING & PAINTING FROM NATURE with Meagan Jacobs
@ Milton CWA Wednesday 7th October 11-12.30pm.
Be inspired by the beauty and intricate patterning of nature. Working on paper (or your didgeridoo) create your own visual language/designs to adapt to any surface. Cost $10 pp (or $15 pp for both Didg & Painting Workshop). Ph: 4454 5993 to book.

HAND PAINTED CERAMIC PLATE WORKSHOP with Julie Sydenham
@ Milton CWA Wednesday 7th October 1-2.30pm.
Paint a small plate and discover several ceramic techniques with Julie Sydenham. $20 pp, suitable for big and little kids. Children under 7 must have an attending adult. Ph: 4454 5993 to book.

TRIBAL FUNK ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP with Hamish
@ Milton Public School Hall Wednesday 7th October 1-3pm.
WANTED: musicians of all levels of experience. If you drum bring a drum, if bass is what you play bring it along, if you need some volume you're going to need your amp too... whatever your instrument there's a spot for you. 3 hours of mass improvisation with an emphasis on rhythm, an eye on vocals, melody and chords and an overview of what it means to be part of a whole. $10pp. Ph: 4454 5993 to book.

AWASH - (ARTfest Wearable Art Show @ The Harbour)
Workshops being held at the TDFA Studios 26th Sep & 7th Oct to create wearable art from recycled materials. Wearable art is about using the body to express ideas. You don't need to be able to sew or have studied fashion before. The participants will parade their creation at Ulladulla Harbour prior to Cinema by the Harbour on Saturday 10th Oct. Call Dinah on 0410506570 for more info. Free workshops for Ages 15 - 25.

YOUTH ART WORKSHOPS - Lanterns
A series of in-school workshops are being held for younger students to create lanterns. These will be paraded at the official festival opening - Harbour Beats @ Ulladulla Harbour on Friday 2nd Oct 5-7pm. Workshops for older children will be held at Ulladulla Youth Centre in the weeks leading up to the festival.
For more info 4454 5993. If a child wishes to be part of the parade but is from out of the area or cannot make the workshops, instruction sheets are available via email. Please reply requesting this info.

Give you Support and Save $$$

Join Friends of Artfest 09-10 and recieve over $100 in value for just $25 membership, including gift vouchers, gifts, discounts and other offers by local businesses.

By joining this supportive group you will be helping to ensure the success of the Escape Artfest not only this year, but into the future.

Visit www.escapeartfest.info for more information and membership form.

If you are already a member don't forget to show your membership card for discounts on music and film tickets!