Top tips for running a parish art exhibition
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“Holding Art at Saint Mark’s during the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival brings diverse people from the wider community to our church, growing our outreach and providing a gentle introduction to what our parish community can offer,” says Madonna Dwan from St Mark’s, Warwick
This year’s Jumpers and Jazz in July festival will be the thirteenth time that The Parish of Warwick will be participating in the colourful and quirky yarn-bombing and jazz event. Warwick’s annual winter festival is held over 10 days in July, and will be celebrated between 18 July and 27 July this year.
The festival draws many thousands of visitors to our district and, along with the Warwick community, all are welcome to enjoy the decorated “yarn-bombed” trees, music, dancing and creativity.
Our annual “Art at Saint Mark’s” exhibition is held in the parish hall and offers both new and experienced artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their art in a warm and relaxed environment as part of the festival.
The Ven. Lizzie Gaitskell in the St Mark’s, Warwick hall at the Art at St Mark’s opening night during the 2024 Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival
The parish hall is transformed by captivating art of all mediums, complementing our own handmade craft stall and our ever-popular ArtCafe, where delicious savoury soups and sandwiches and sweet scones and slices are enjoyed with tea or coffee or a glass of wine for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. We receive many compliments of high praise for the service, baking and friendliness of all our wonderful volunteers.
Holding Art at Saint Mark’s during the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival brings diverse people from the wider community to our church, growing our outreach and providing a gentle introduction to what our parish community can offer.
Monies raised through the selling of craft, the café and the exhibition opening night benefit our parish by providing funds for general and operational expenses and assist with our parish’s community giving.
The St Mark’s, Warwick hall filled with people at the Art at St Mark’s opening night during the 2024 Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival
The key to the success of our art exhibition and cafe is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere where people feel valued and treated as special guests who drop by to enjoy art, craft and hospitality.
Top 10 tips for running an art exhibition
- Make your exhibition a whole-parish event, asking people to assist and contribute.
- Embrace your volunteers and encourage them to contribute according to their individual or group skill sets and interests, such as in administration, art curating, baking, serving, promotions, setting up, and so on.
- Ensure you have the space, display stands and lighting to create the right atmosphere.
- Curate carefully, so that the works are chosen and exhibited in a coherent way.
- Provide artists with plenty of notice so they have enough lead time to create their works.
- Add extra to the art exhibition — our craft stall and café are extremely popular elements of Art at Saint Mark’s.
- Hold an “opening and meet-the-artist” event at night and raise funds for your parish’s community outreach by charging an entrance fee.
- On other days, make seeing the exhibition free — a raffle is a simple way to add to the funds.
- Cater for dietary needs in your café, including gluten-, dairy- and caffeine-free.
- Promote your event widely, including via your church newsletter, social media and outdoor sign; via the anglican focus Events listing page; and externally through community noticeboards, community radio, the festival’s website, and local newspapers, magazines and news sites.
Author’s note: You are warmly invited to the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival’s “Art at St Mark’s” exhibition, which will be held in the heated St Mark’s, Warwick parish hall on Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July 2025 (Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm, Saturday 9.30am to 4pm and Sunday 9.30am to 2.30pm), with free entry. The Official Opening and Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday 18 July from 6pm ($20 entry fee, with complimentary beverage). If any parish would like further information on how to run an art exhibition, please feel free to contact the St Mark’s, Warwick office for our handbook.
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