Every August, South Australia transforms into one giant gallery. The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival sees art pop up in studios, shopfronts, schools and galleries across the state, and this year’s program has some genuinely lovely options for families.
Whether your kids are drawn to monsters made from old buttons, want to see what their peers are creating, or prefer to explore art from the comfort of home, these four exhibitions are well worth a look.
Scraplings at Collective Haunt, Norwood
If your child is the type who sees treasure in a pile of discarded fabric scraps, they’re going to love this one. Artist Maggie Moy has created a collection of hand-stitched monsters and their painted counterparts, each one built entirely from salvaged and discarded materials. The result is part textile art, part character design, and completely charming.
It’s a brilliant way to show kids that art doesn’t require fancy supplies. Sometimes all you need is imagination and whatever’s in the bottom of the craft drawer.
When: 13 August to 12 September
Where: Collective Haunt, 68 The Parade, Norwood
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm
Opening event: 13 August, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Through Young Eyes: Inspired by the Greats at St Joseph’s Memorial School, Kensington
This one is special. Students from St Joseph’s Memorial School have spent time studying the French modernist masters, including Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh, Renoir and Degas, then responded with their own works in drawing, painting, mixed media and sculpture.
The exhibition is a single evening event, and it’s the kind of night that reminds you why art education matters. Seeing how children interpret and reimagine famous works is genuinely moving, and it’s free.
When: Tuesday 25 August, 5:30pm to 7pm
Where: St Joseph’s Memorial School, 46 Bridge Street, Kensington
Cost: Free
Our Town: A Children’s Guide to Tanunda at Barossa Regional Gallery
This one is worth the drive to the Barossa. Foundation students from Faith Lutheran College spent time walking, observing and documenting their town of Tanunda. The result is a collaborative exhibition that treats kids as real contributors to their community’s cultural story.
The exhibition unfolds as a child-led walking experience through Tanunda, with the Barossa Regional Gallery as its hub. It’s a lovely way to spend a morning, combining a regional gallery visit with a gentle wander through one of South Australia’s most picturesque towns. Pack a picnic and make a day of it.
When: 30 July to 31 August
Where: Barossa Regional Gallery, 47 Murray Street, Tanunda
Hours: Monday and Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm
Access: Fully accessible venue
The Magical Tram: A Journey Down Memory Lane, online
For families who prefer to explore from the couch (no judgement here), emerging artist Hayley Frazer has created an online exhibition following Clem, his dog, and the adventures of The Magical Tram. The exhibition features professional artworks, sketches and visual storytelling that kids with a love of illustrated characters will enjoy at their own pace.
It’s free, accessible, and available any time the mood strikes. Perfect for a rainy afternoon or a quiet wind-down before bed.
When: Available online 24/7 throughout August
Cost: Free
The SALA Festival runs throughout August, with hundreds of exhibitions and events across South Australia. It’s one of the best times of year to get kids thinking about art in a new way. Not as something behind a velvet rope, but as something made by real people, often in your own suburb.
For the full program:
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