Arts

Our region's rich and vibrant arts culture is a reflection of the diverse local artists, our active and participatory local community and the rich cultural heritage of the Adelaide Hills.

Adelaide Hills Council is committed to working with local artists and the wider community to facilitate and promote artistic and creative activities for all members of our community, and offer unique artistic experiences that attract visitors to the Adelaide Hills.

Discover arts and cultural experiences coming up in the Adelaide Hills.

Fostering creativity in the district is a strategic priority for Council. Our role in this space was considered in the report Adelaide Hills Council's Role in Supporting the Arts — Considering the need for Arts Hubs (August 2017).

This report led to the development of Council's Arts Action Plan 2018–2021 which is a summary of actions arising from the report and provides the strategic guidance for Council's support of the arts and cultural development across the Adelaide Hills Council region

In the buildings where once the iconic Onkaparinga blankets were made, arts, heritage and community connections are being woven together into a new kind of gathering place.

Located in the striking industrial buildings of the former Onkaparinga Woollen Mill in the Hills town of Lobethal, Fabrik is destined to become the home of gallery spaces, artist studios, workshops, artists in residence, retail and a heritage display celebrating the important history of the Mill.

The name was derived through community suggestions of variants of ‘fabric’, in recognition of the old woollen mill’s functions, as well as a nod to the township’s German roots, with the word ‘fabrik’ being the German word for factory, or industrial facility.

The bi-annual Adelaide Hills International Sculpture Symposium created a lasting legacy of public art across the Adelaide Hills.

The world class sculptures on the ‘Hills Sculpture Trail’ is a journey of discovery that winds through the rolling landscape of the stunning Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, linking towns and regions, art and people, nature and beauty.

The sculptures were crafted by master sculptors from all corners of the world during the Adelaide Hills International Sculpture Symposiums.

The first, held in 2012, resulted in three of the original eight sculptures being placed at Balhannah, Lobethal and Stirling. A further eight were created and placed in sites across the Hills in 2014, and a final eight during 2016.

This lasting legacy of 26 sculptures is a tribute to the amazing vision, support, collaboration and generosity of the people of the Hills communities.

The development of the trail has been made possible by a matched funding grant from Regional Development Australia awarded to the Adelaide Hills, Mt Barker and Alexandrina Councils and AHISS.

The Community Mosaic Couch project brought together residents affected by the 2015 Sampson Flat Bushfire to produce a legacy celebrating their resilience and community spirit.

Sharing skills, stories and laughter, people of all ages worked side-by-side on the project, creating mosaic patches that joined to form 'quilts' to adorn a trail of outdoor community couches.

The Mosaic couches offer a unique and fun focal point for the communities and a legacy that is testament to their resilience.

Community mosaic couches are located at Kersbrook Hall, Cudlee Creek Soldiers Memorial Hall, Federation Park (Gumeracha), Paracombe Recreation Ground, and Houghton Inglewood Hermitage Memorial Park.

The Community Mosaic Couch project is a joint initiative of Adelaide Hills Council, City of Playford and City of Tea Tree Gully, and proudly sponsored by SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission through the Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival is a statewide festival of visual art.

The Adelaide Hills is strongly represented each year as part of SALA Festival as numerous galleries, studios, restaurants and businesses across the Hills liaise with and exhibit the work of local artists.

Our region's representation in SALA Festival continues to grow year on year, and we look forward to being a driving force by encouraging and supporting local businesses, venues and artists to participate.

For further information about community theatre, dance, singing, music, arts or other such groups, please visit the SAcommunity directory of community services website.

Visit Adelaide Hills website provides an extensive list of arts and culture events, groups and facilities around the Adelaide Hills.