It’s a permanent fixture on the peninsula’s cultural calendar, and now celebrates its 52nd year. The Flinders Art Show has stood the test of time, from its small beginnings in 1967 to the annual event that has raised in excess of $300,000 in the past ten years.
Flinders Art Show president, Christine Haydon, says the art show has continued to grow and raise money for the local community.
“The art show was started as part of an effort to reinvigorate the ladies committee of St John’ s Church of England, Flinders, to raise funds for parish work but very quickly grew too big for the church premises and has since been held in the community hall,” said Ms Haydon. “We are heavily dependent on the goodwill and hard work of the local traders and community from which the committee and volunteers are drawn.”
The Flinders Art Show has always distributed profits to local charities and community groups on the Mornington Peninsula.
For Ms Haydon, who has always been a collector of art, becoming involved as the president was a natural progression.
“It is wonderful to be involved in helping raise money for the community and promoting our brilliant artists on the peninsula,” said Ms Haydon who took over the presidency four years ago. “We have mainly local artists but some from towards the city and other regional areas are entering their works.”
The Flinders Art Show provides the opportunity for artists to market their works, and with the revenue generated, gives financial assistance to sustain community needs on the Mornington Peninsula.
“It is really about the community and has become an iconic event over the past 52 years, being held every Queens Birthday weekend,” said Ms Haydon. “Anyone can enter so you don’t have to screen the work before it comes in. Normally we are restricted in numbers by the size of the hall but can accommodate around 300 pieces of art.”
Flinders Art Show is a mixed bag of work with oils, watercolours, pastels, drawings, photographs and small works of art.
“We have awards for every category and a people’s choice which has become very popular,” said Ms Haydon. “We have donated to the Flinders Cricket Club, CFA, Flinders Pre-school, Frankston Peninsula Carers, Hastings Police Senior Citizens Register, Southern Peninsula Food for All, and the Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre to name a few.”
Funds are raised via individual donations, major sponsors, commission on the sale of paintings, entry fees and advertising which all go towards staging the annual Flinders Art Show. All profits raised are distributed to local charities and community groups on the Mornington Peninsula.
Flinders Art Show is on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, opening on Friday June 7 and closing on Monday June 10, 2019.