A Shepparton Arts Festival Winter Weekend
Regional Art Fair
Fresh ideas. Bold makers. Art you can take home.
22—24 August, 2025
Pre Program
Photo by Digital Journey Photography
Pop-up Choir Workshops for The Big Sing
Raise your voice and feel the buzz of singing in a 100-strong choir!
Join the Shepparton Festival’s Big Sing Pop-Up Choir and learn two classic songs - Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House and Sue Johnson’s joyful Happiness.
Whether you’re a shower-singer or a seasoned chorister, this is a free and fun way to make music with others.
Attend one or both rehearsals in the lead-up to the Big Sing performance on 23 August.
All ages welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult).
Tea and coffee provided – just bring your voice!
Workshop #1
Thursday 14th August 2025, 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start – 9pm
Location in Shepparton TBC
Workshop #2
Wednesday 20th August 2025, 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start – 9pm
Grandstand Building at the Showgrounds
Enter via Thompson St. Shepparton
Friday
Brett Whiteley, Self portrait in the studio, 1976, Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased 1977 © Wendy Whiteley
Bar SAM: Whiteley Art Party
Bar SAM returns for a special midwinter edition to celebrate Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio at Shepparton Art Museum. Inspired by artist Brett Whiteley’s own stylish art parties, you’re invited to throw on something blue and join us on SAM’s Level 4, where the Elsewhere at SAM crew will be slinging delicious drinks and snacks all night long, with a DJ set from Record Per Tutti throwing us back to the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Please note: This event is strictly 18+.
Friday 22 August 2025, 6-9pm
Level 4, Shepparton Art Museum
Ticketed Event: $11
Saturday & Sunday
Regional Art Fair
Join us for the very first Regional Art Fair — two big days of creativity, conversation, and connection at the McIntosh Centre in Shepparton.
We’re building on the buzz of last year’s Mini Mart (with a big shoutout to Mimi Leung and TOPSOIL!) — and this year, we’re going bigger and bolder. The Art Fair is a celebration of the incredible creative work being made right here in our region.
Across the weekend, you’ll find a vibrant marketplace filled with original artworks and handmade pieces — from paintings and prints to ceramics, jewellery, textiles, and more. It’s a chance to meet the artists, shop for something special, and soak up the creative energy of our local scene.
The fair isn’t just about buying art — it’s about bringing people together. Whether you're an art lover, a curious browser, or a maker yourself, this event is an invitation to connect, create, and be inspired.
On Day 1, dive deeper with a lively program of talks, workshops, and interactive experiences, all designed to celebrate the diversity and talent of our creative community.
Day 2 is a quieter and shorter day with more time to explore the exhibitions in the space and those stalls.
Expect colour, conversation, and discovery at every turn — plus delicious food and drinks to keep you fuelled while you explore. Don’t miss this exciting new event — and the opportunity to support and engage directly with the artists behind the work.
Saturday 23 August 2025, 10am – 4pm &
Sunday 24 August 2025, 10am - 2pm
McIntosh Centre at Shepparton Showgrounds
Enter via Thompson St. Shepparton
No Registration Required - Gold Coin Donation on the door (please note under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)
Photo by Digital Journey Photography
The Big Sing
Voices will soar at the Shepparton Arts Festival’s Big Sing, where choirs from across the region – including the Nathalia & District Community Choir, 360 Degrees South Choir, Shepp Sings, Con Spirito Voices and the Australian Welsh Male Choir – come together for a soul stirring morning of music.
Expect a kaleidoscope of music, with each choir bringing their own personality and songs to the stage before uniting for the massed performance of Don’t Dream It’s Over (Crowded House) and Sue Johnson’s joyful Happiness.
Back by popular demand after last year’s event at the Mooroopna Bowls Club, the Big Sing is a heartfelt celebration of community and connection through music.
Want to Sing With Us?
Join the Big Sing Pop-Up Choir and rehearse two uplifting songs with others in a fun, welcoming environment. No experience needed – just bring your voice! Book in now at the top of this page.
Saturday 23 August 2025, 10:30am - 12pm
Grandstand Building at Shepparton Showgrounds
Enter via Thompson St. Shepparton
Ticketed Event: $10 Full/$5 Concession/Under 18’s Free (please note under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)
*Ticket includes entry into the Regional Art Fair
Photo by Meg Doller
Sustainable Artmaking Workshop with Meg Doller
Join local artist Meg Doller, for a hands-on workshop exploring sustainable artmaking practices using collected and recycled cardboard, paint, and a whole lot of creativity. Participants will create their own unique artworks, which will be exhibited as part of the Regional Art Fair display on Sunday.
Open to all ages and skill levels, this is a great opportunity to get messy, make art, and think about how we can turn everyday materials into something beautiful. All materials provided.
Saturday 23 August 2025, 11:00am – 12:00pm
The McIntosh Centre, Shepparton Showgrounds (Enter via Thompson Street)
Free event
Photo by River Loizou
Creative City Networking Sessions
Get inspired and make connections at one or both of these two Creative City Networking events. The sessions are designed to bring regional creatives together to share insights, build community, and explore collaborative ways of working. Held as part of the Shepparton Arts Festival’s Regional Art Fair and Winter Weekend, these engaging sessions are perfect for artists, producers, educators, and arts workers looking to grow their practice and networks.
The program includes:
A Co-Design Discussion led by Kris Tito, Arts & Culture Coordinator at Campaspe Shire Council, alongside Rochester based artist Casual (aka Rodney Young) and a very special guest tbc. Co-design process brings artists, facilitators, and community leaders together to plan and deliver meaningful, inclusive creative projects. These incredible speakers have all taken part in this process in varying contexts, so please join them to find out more!
Saturday 23 August 2025, 12:30 pm – 1:30pm
The McIntosh Centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds (Enter via Thompson Street)
Ticketed Event: Free
Retail and Commercial Relationships with Artists Q+A
A conversation with Becky Fortin and Kristen Retallick exploring how artists can develop sustainable commercial and retail relationships, offering practical advice and real-world insights from two experienced local arts professionals.
Come for the conversation and take away a new connection!
Saturday 23 August 2025, 2pm – 3pm
The McIntosh Centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds (Enter via Thompson Street)
Ticketed Event: Free
These events are supported by Greater Shepparton City Council and TOPSOIL as part of the Greater Shepparton Creative City Strategy delivery.
Photo by Lingy’s Photography
CANCELLED: Screening of Fashion in Shepparton: Sky Stories
Program update: The 'Screening of Fashion in Shepparton: Sky Stories' scheduled for this Saturday will unfortunately no longer be going ahead. We look forward to sharing future opportunities to celebrate this work with you.
Moonlite - Presented by Homophonic!
Homophonic! presents Wally Gunn and Maria Zajkowski’s award-winning Moonlite: for voices, percussion and viola. This 90-minute oratorio tells the true-crime love story of queer bushranger Andrew George Scott, drawing on his own death-cell writings to paint an emotional portrait of love, defiance and legacy on Wurundjeri Country.
Performed by The Consort of Melbourne, leading percussionists, and violist Phoebe Green, Moonlite is both intimate and epic — a must-see for music lovers, history buffs and romantics alike.
Saturday 23 August 2025, 7:30-9:30pm
Grandstand Building at Shepparton Showgrounds
Ticketed Event: $35 Full/$25 Concession
Photo by Mimi Leung
Australian Welsh Male Choir at Shepparton Brewery
Raise a glass and your voice — the Australian Welsh Male Choir is coming to Shepparton Brewery as part of the Shepparton Arts Festival’s Winter Weekend!
Steeped in the rich tradition of Welsh choral singing, this passionate group of voices brings the joy of music to life wherever they go — from grand concert halls to spontaneous pub singalongs. Their harmonies linger long after the final note, carrying a spirit of warmth, camaraderie, and celebration that’s impossible to resist.
At the much-loved Shepparton Brewery, audiences are invited to soak up the sounds of this remarkable choir while enjoying great food, cold drinks, and good company. It’s not just a performance — it’s a cultural experience. As voices rise in both English and Welsh, the melodic beauty of the Welsh language fills the room, offering a rare and moving glimpse into a centuries-old tradition.
"The essence of a Welsh choir is community singing in pubs," says musical director Tom Buchanan. "We started as four or five people singing while enjoying a drink — and 50 years later, we’re part of Melbourne’s musical fabric."
Don’t worry if you’re not a confident singer — this is all about joining in, having fun, and feeling the music together. With the choir’s encouragement, many guests even find themselves singing in Welsh by the end of the day!
Come for the beer, stay for the singing — and leave with a full heart.
Sunday 24th August 2025, 11am - 1pm
Shepparton Brewery, 15 Edward St, Shepparton
Tickets: $50 per person (includes a set lunch) - Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
Exhibitions
Amanda Hocking & Creagh Manning - Winners of the 2026 Call to Create
Celebrate the creative force of two exceptional local artists—Amanda Hocking and Creagh Manning, the 2026 Call to Create winners—in this preview exhibition showcasing four new paintings from each artist.
This special showing offers a glimpse into their distinct practices and the beginnings of an exciting creative dialogue, as they work toward a collaborative exhibition forming a centrepiece of the 30th anniversary Shepparton Arts Festival in 2026.
Don’t miss this early insight into two evolving bodies of work by artists whose styles and ideas will come together next year. Their work will be on display inside the McIntosh Centre as part of the Regional Art Fair all weekend.
Free, no registration required
Saturday 23 August 2025, 10am – 7pm &
Sunday 24 August 2025, 10am - 2pm
McIntosh Centre at Shepparton Showgrounds
Enter via Thompson St. Shepparton
Cardboard Orchestra by Ruby Wyatt Carter
The Cardboard Orchestra is a vibrant, community-focused art exhibition celebrating the powerful intersection of music, identity, and LGBTQIA+ culture. The exhibition is a collection of 20 life-size cardboard replicas of musical instruments—each one uniquely hand-painted to visually interpret a song or musician that holds personal significance to the artist Ruby Wyatt-Carter, or resonates strongly within the LGBTQIA+ community. The Cardboard Orchestra celebrates the intersection of art, music, and LGBTQIA+ history, offering a powerful visual and emotional experience.
Ruby is a young mixed media artist and musician based in Nathalia. They started exploring the use of collage as a means of utilising easily accessible, often discarded or recycled materials, and discovered a unique visual language. Through thought-provoking self-portraits, Ruby confronts deeply personal ideas related to gender identity, mental illness, family trauma, and recovery. Their work invites viewers to engage with these challenging topics and encourages empathy and understanding.
Ruby has contributed extensively to exhibitions at The G.R.A.I.N. Store since 2015. This engagement has solidified their role in the local art community. In addition to paper collage, Ruby works in various mediums, including digital art, sculpture, drawing, watercolour painting, and textiles, constantly pushing the boundaries of their artistic expression.
Free, no registration required
Saturday 23 August 2025, 10am – 7pm &
Sunday 24 August 2025, 10am - 2pm
McIntosh Centre at Shepparton Showgrounds
Enter via Thompson St. Shepparton