Roll Up Your Sleeves: Arts Muster Festival Brings Immersive Art Experiences to Huskisson This August

By Samantha Tannous
Download hi-res images
Buy Tickets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Now in its fourth year, the beloved winter festival deepens its program with non-traditional workshops, the celebrated Huskisson Artisans Market, and a holistic focus on community connection.

HUSKISSON NSW, THURSDAY 18 JUNE: The fourth annual winter arts festival returns from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August 2026, celebrating an expansion into a four-day cultural program. True to its founding ethos—that creativity is a vital contributor to the wellbeing of both individuals and communities—this year’s festival offers a range of novel arts experiences for everyone. From two-day intensive workshops to free community gatherings, Arts Muster remains dedicated to active participation over passive viewing, inviting everyone to live by the festival motto: Let’s Make Things Together.

Twelve Art Making Workshops

At the heart of the festival are 12 meticulously curated workshops offering a diverse range of art classes. Not your standard painting tutorials, these classes delve into unique mediums and concepts, taught by award-winning and generous art practitioners. To ensure an intimate, high-quality art-making experience, each class is strictly capped at just 10 students, guaranteeing unparalleled individual attention from the tutors.

View the full program of workshops.

A Four-Day Journey of the Senses

Co-convenors Samantha Tannous (founder of Arts Muster) and Dr Natalie McDonagh (curator of Artfulmind Gallery/Shop and Huskisson Artisans Market) have intentionally designed the entire weekend as a holistic, thoughtfully balanced program to engage the senses, feed the mind, and nurture people’s creativity. Around the suite of two-day workshops, the Festival program features a series of unique events:

  • Thursday 27 August | A Frolic at the Movies: Frocks, Film & Refreshments The festival commences with a movie night with an Arts Muster twist at historic Huskisson Pictures. The event encourages a quirky dress code, presents a talk by two local artists—both formerly frock designers—who share some insiders’ insights into how clothes affect how we feel and who we are, followed by a screening of iconic Aussie film, The Dressmaker. Refreshments included. In line with the festival’s community-first ethos, 100% of the profits from ticket sales go to scholarships for local high school students to participate in Arts Muster workshops and events. Book Movie Here
  • Friday 28 August | Mindscapes+Soundscapes This art after dark event is an avant-garde reimagining of the classic ‘paint and sip’ Using a vast array of art materials provided, participants create abstract art in response to live, sonic stimuli performed by experimental musician, Scott Gillespie, and refresh themselves with delicious nibbles by local cook, Claudeen Irwin, and BYO drinks. At Huskisson Community Centre from 5.30pm. Book Mindscapes Here
  • Saturday 29 August | Artfulmind Aesthetic Adventure Two, small group sessions, guided by Natalie McDonagh, invite a playful, hands-on exploration of Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop transformed into an art installation. This is a tactile, sensory steeping designed to feed the mind and uplift the spirits. The sessions are also an opportunity to preview and purchase unique works of art and crafts. The ticket includes a handmade ceramic drinking bowl to take home, refreshments, and a talk on engaging the arts for wellbeing. Two sessions from 3pm and 5pm at Huskisson Community Centre.
  • Sunday 30 August | Huskisson Artisans Market The highly anticipated, thrice-annual market—by artisans for artisans—takes over the Huskisson Community Centre to present arts, crafts and products created by 60+ makers, artists and providores plus Artfulmind Pop-up Gallery/Shop curated by Dr Natalie McDonagh. At Huskisson Community Centre 10am-3pm.
  • Sunday 30 August | Rhythm Reset Arts Muster Festival concludes with a profound breathwork and sound bathing session. This immersive, sensory experience, designed to generate a restorative nervous system reset, is led by two of the region’s most respected wellness practitioners. At Huskisson Community Centre 6-8pm. Book Reset Here

From the Co-Convenors

Samantha Tannous, Founder and Co-convenor of Arts Muster, emphasises the event’s core philosophy: “Arts Muster is built on the belief that creativity is a powerful vehicle for wellbeing and human connection. We are creating spaces and events where people aren’t just looking at static art on a wall—they are rolling up their sleeves and making together. People are gathering, connecting, exploring, discovering, learning, being inspired together. When you immerse yourself in live cultural experiences like these, in the supportive company of others, it does something wonderful for the soul. We want our ticket holders to dive in head-first and feel the genuine joy of active participation.”

Dr Natalie McDonagh, Co-convenor, reflects on the high calibre of this year’s curation: “Every element of Arts Muster Festival reflects the extraordinary creative talent of our regional arts scene, from the exceptional talent of the artists leading our original workshops to the calibre of makers showing and selling their wares at Huskisson Artisans Market. This isn’t simply a schedule of events; it’s a considered, curated program grounded in the neuroscience of how arts experiences boost the mind and body’s wellbeing. We have created Arts Muster events to nurture our guests from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.” 

An Asset to the Region’s Cultural Identity

Arts Muster is a vital, niche fixture on the regional cultural calendar, offering local and visiting attendees a meaningful way to engage with the South Coast’s vibrant creative ecosystem. It represents a model of sustainable, community-driven cultural tourism that directly benefits local youth, community members, artisans and wellness practitioners alike.

Event Details:

### ENDS ###

Media Contact:

Dr Natalie McDonagh

Festival Co-convenor

[email protected]

0414 524 266

artsmuster.com.au / @artsmuster

Note to Editors: Interviews with co-convenors Dr. Natalie McDonagh and Samantha Tannous, as well as participating artists, can be arranged upon request. High-res imagery is available.

A collage of images from different creative workshops
At the heart of the Arts Muster Festival are 12 carefully curated, two-day workshops.
0