The vibrant spirit of creativity and community was on full display last weekend as Encounter Lutheran College proudly hosted the 2025 SALA Southern Fleurieu Schools Exhibition on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 September.

The event launched with a spectacular opening night on Friday 29 September in the College Plaza, where more than 500 guests gathered to celebrate student artists from across the Fleurieu. The evening featured live music, interactive art spaces, and a joyful showcase of the region’s emerging creative talent.

“This exhibition is all about fostering students’ love of the Arts and celebrating their creativity,” said Marie McCartney, Visual Arts Coordinator at Encounter Lutheran College. “It’s inspiring to see our young people so passionately expressing themselves through different mediums and to share that with the wider community.”

A Celebration of Student Talent

The exhibition is part of the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival, an annual statewide event held each August to promote visual arts across South Australia. Since 2017, schools across the Fleurieu Peninsula have taken turns hosting the exhibition.

This year marked Encounter’s second opportunity to host the event—made even more meaningful as it coincided with the College’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Twelve schools and early learning centres participated in this year’s showcase:

• Encounter Lutheran College
• Lighthouse Early Learning
• Investigator College and Early Learning
• Goolwa Primary School
• Goolwa Secondary College
• Mount Compass Area School
• Port Elliot Primary School
• Port Elliot Kindergarten
• Victor Harbor Primary School
• Victor Harbor High School
• Victor Harbor Community Kindergarten
• Yankalilla Area School (joining for the first time)

Art teachers and coordinators from each school selected the works to be displayed, ensuring a rich variety of pieces that highlight talent, creativity, and effort.

Diversity of Expression

Visitors were treated to an extraordinary range of artwork created by children as young as three through to Year 12 students. The collection spanned an array of mediums, from painting and printing to textiles, clay, and collage.

“The diversity of expression is one of the most exciting aspects of this exhibition,” Ms McCartney reflected. “Every artwork tells a story, and together they form a tapestry of how young people see the world.”

The Theme of Joy

In keeping with Encounter’s annual theme of Joy, the College infused this year’s exhibition with interactive and collaborative experiences.

Highlights included:

• Ephemeral art: Families created temporary artworks using natural materials, photographed them, and contributed to a shared display.
• Community drawing space: A hands-on area where visitors could add their own sketches and doodles.
• Collaborative wool installation: Inspired by the New Zealand Wharenui Hariko (“House of Joy”), students, staff, and community members began weaving a colourful wool art display, inviting guests to add their own strands.

“These interactive elements gave families a chance not just to view the art, but to be a part of it,” Ms McCartney explained.

Community Spirit

The weekend exhibition was free to attend, with visitors also supporting the College through raffle ticket purchases. Prizes included a $100 Blues Restaurant voucher, gin from Never Never Distillery, a painting by Jo Eastaff, and several art, wine, and local business packages.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the City of Victor Harbor, the Rotary Club (who assisted with display set-up), and the countless teachers, staff, volunteers, and community members who helped bring the exhibition to life.

“Our community has once again shown incredible support for the arts,” Ms McCartney said. “Together, we’ve created a space where creativity, joy, and connection can thrive.”