Latest News

The Festival is Here!
Friday 16th May, 2008
There may be a little rain but it certainly isn't putting a dampener on the electrifying atmosphere around Penola & Coonawarra this weekend! Rug up, bring a brolly and prepare to have a blast amongst all the action, fun and excitement of what is the Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival!

The official opening of the Festival is at 5pm at the Local Images Art Gallery on Church Street, Penola where the John Shaw Nielson Art Prize winner will also be unveiled. This is followed by the major event of the evening, Co-Opera's "La Traviata" at the Poplars Winery, Coonawarra. A small amount of tickets are still available - contact the Penola Visitor Information Centre for further information on 8737 2855 or to make a booking.

Grab your tickets NOW before they sell out!
Thursday 8th May, 2008
Tickets for this year's workshops and events are selling like hot cakes. Be sure not to be disappointed - call the Penola Coonwarra Visitor Information Centre now to secure your tickets! Download a programme and then call the Visitor Information Centre on 8737 2855. Remember there are only 9 sleeps to go!!

Late Programme Edition - Southern Heritage Singers
Monday 5th May, 2008
The Southern Heritage Singers will be performing their 15th Year Performance on Sunday the 18th of May at 3.30pm at the St Andrews Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $5 per person and are available from the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre on 8737 2855.

April News

2008 Programme Launch a Great Success
Saturday 5th April, 2008
The full 2008 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival programme was launched Friday afternoon at Koonara's cellar door attended by more than 40 guests. Those who attended were able to view the programme, website, photo gallery and new television commercial via two projected data shows, while enjoying delicious food catered by diVine Cafe & Gourmet Delicatessen and superb Koonara wine. Click here to view photos from the event. Click here to read the president's speech.

The 17th festival is jam packed with events, exhibitions, workshops and performances. Some of the favourites return from last year, albeit in a slightly different guise; Co-Opera performs ‘La Traviata’ on Friday evening
and we are encouraging everyone to dress up for a night at the opera. The Food & Wine workshop will explore the ‘Art of Tapas’ led by Dorinda Hafner and the next crop of the SA Short Screen Award winners will be shown.

2008 sees the eagerly anticipated return of the writer’s element to the festival, a new concept for Saturday evening with ‘Variety amongst the Vines’ featuring Fiona O’Loughlin, Janet Seidel and Calamari for Breakfast and even later opening hours for The Red Room.

The committee has decided to lift the profile of the John Shaw Neilson Art Prize to the next level; as such the winner will now receive $5000. Make sure to stop in at Local Images Gallery to see the finalists and of course, the winner.
This year we are very proud to bring to you a dedicated family programme that encourages children of all ages to experience the arts through their own participation.

We encourage you to make a whole weekend of the festival, there is plenty to experience, do and see. And don’t forget to bring along your friends!

Click here to download the 2008 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival Programme.

March News

View the 2008 Festival Television Commercial
Monday 31st March, 2008
The 2008 Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival television commercial is soon to be appearing on your television screens! Click here to view this year's exciting TVC.

Festival Design Prize
Tuesday 18th March, 2008
The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival Design Prize is still accepting expressions of interest for the annual  competition. The annual competition determines what will be the identifying graphic feature of the next festival. Please fax or email your expression to enter, attention Robert Miles to 08 8737 2206 or penola@wattlerange.sa.gov.au.

Programme Launch
Friday 14th March, 2008
This year the full Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival programme will be unveiled at Koonara's Cellar door at 5pm on Friday 4th April. Set in the Limestone Coast this premier arts festival is set to deliver even more in 2008. Sponsors, Friends of the Festival and Committee members will celebrate the launch of the 2008 programme with some fine Koonara wine and great local produce.
Time: 5pm
Place: Koonara Cellar door, Church Street, Penola
Date: Friday 4th April 2008

New Website!
Friday 7th March, 2008
The Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival has a new home online. We are very excited about our new website. It's clean fresh design allows everyone easy access to all they need to know about the festival. Stay tuned to the site as we continue to update it with all the latest festival news. With many thanks to our committee member Simone Burdon and E-lift Media.

Co-Opera Confirmed
Wednesday 20th February, 2008
Co-Opera return to the festival programme in 2008 with Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Traviata'. In a change to previous years they will perform on Friday evening, kicking off the festival in grand style.
The story is a timeless one of a father who disapproves of his son's choice of a woman for social reason, breaks up the relationship and then regrets it when he discovers that she has great dignity and is dying. Co-Opera's production of La Traviata is set in the 1950's as it seemed that those years of scandals involving women of doubtful reputation, politicians and men of class were appropriate to the story of this opera.
Join us in Cellar 4 at The Poplars Winery for a night that is rich in tunes which are familiar and rousing. Don't forget to dress for a night at the opera!