School Participation
Every year, South Australian schools and pre-schools register exhibitions of student artwork to be part of SALA Festival.
Participating in the SALA Festival fosters creativity, school pride, and community engagement. It offers schools the opportunity to connect with the vibrant visual arts scene and allow students to exhibit alongside over 10,000 South Australian artists.
Education Partner
SALA Festival is proud to have I-Nex as our 2026 Education Partner, supporting the visual arts in schools and school participation in the Festival.
In 2026 I-Nex is covering the cost of registration for eligible student groups, allowing them to participate in the 2026 SALA Festival for free.
STUDENT EXHIBITIONS
South Australian schools and kindergartens can participate in the SALA Festival by holding an exhibition of student artwork. Every year, thousands of students exhibit their artwork as part of the South Australian Living Artists Festival. Educators use this as an opportunity to connect aspiring artists to the South Australian visual arts community, as well as encourage the development of self-confidence and other key skills.
How to put on a school SALA exhibition
Putting on a school SALA exhibition can be broken down into 3 steps:
PLAN an exhibition
REGISTER the exhibition
ENJOY being part of SALA Festival
Further information & Tips
Student exhibitions can be as small or as large as you like, featuring anywhere from a small number of students, to the whole school! These displays can take place on school grounds or elsewhere in the community, as long as the display is accessible to the public at least once during August (eg, one evening after school during August). We’ve also seen some wonderful online student exhibitions over the years!
For a more detailed guide on how to participate as a school, view the SALA School Participation Resource (PDF).
If you have any questions about registering your event, please contact the SALA team.
ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE PARTICIPATION
Free participation in the 2026 SALA Festival is available to South Australian government-regulated education providers, including kindergartens/ELC, primary & secondary schools (including mature-age students), & homeschools.
Student groups that don’t fit within the criteria may still participate in the SALA Festival with applicable registration fees.
Other ways students can be involved in sala
Incorporate SA artists into the curriculum
Throughout the month of August, South Australian visual artists will exhibit their works across the state in a range of traditional and unconventional venues. The SALA Program will be released in July both in print and online, and contains all registered exhibitions. Use the map feature in the online program or the free SALA App to see which exhibitions will be nearby or plan an excursion.
Every year we celebrate an established South Australian artist on our poster, making them a great artist to include in classroom learning (more information about the SALA Feature Artist).
SUBSCRIBE TO UPDATES FOR EDUCATORS
Join our educators mailing list to receive content tailored to your needs. This is information in addition to our general mailing list, so we encourage you to subscribe to both.
Credit Union SA School Awards
Established in 2019, the School Awards aimed to encourage South Australian schools to participate in the annual SALA Festival in August and recognise different strengths and creativity in presenting student artwork to the community.
WINNERS
Berri Regional Secondary College
Berri Brushtrokes was an excellent SALA Festival debut with a variety of artwork on show, different modes of display, and the painting demonstrations by students on opening night were a fantastic touch.
Valley View Secondary School
It was fantastic to see students involved at all stages of putting on the exhibition Yellow and Blue and being hands-on for the installation process. A variety of artwork styles were presented, allowing individuality to shine through the work. Another excellent SALA Festival debut.
Woodcroft College
Science in Art – Invisible Worlds was a comprehensive and interactive on-campus exhibition that encompassed a breadth of styles and involved thinking beyond the execution of artwork to audience interaction. Congratulations to all students involved on the invisible worlds discovered – real, imagined, microscopic or otherwise!
Woodville Gardens Primary School
The diverse and skilful outcomes in Art on Show at Armada Arndale were impressive – even when responding to common subject matter there was such variety and individuality in how students responded. Congratulations on a well-received exhibition and great use of a local space.
COMMENDATIONS
Christies Beach Primary School
The seasonal theme in Seasonal Scenes made for a cohesive exhibition with a breadth of engagement across year levels, and fostering student pride in an outcome with an impact more than the sum of its parts.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School
Art at Urrbrae Agricultural High School Barn Market was a fantastic display of high quality artwork, and the channelling of established artists in the elevating of ordinary scenes on campus was a highlight.
WINNERS (& judges’ comments):
Christies Beach Primary School
Coastal Connections not only gave primacy to students’ learning and rationale behind their work, but was presented in an engaging installation in the school library that cohesively tied all of the work together.
Littlehampton Primary School
Touched by Nature featured an incredible range of media in a thoughtful installation in the Littlehampton Peace Memorial Hall. A fantastic SALA debut.
Nuriootpa High School
Hidden Creatures of the Barossa brought highly-considered sculptural works (creatures) to a number of shopfronts in the Barossa. A great way to bring student work to the community in an engaging way.
St Aloysius College
Signs of the Times utilised a small space to present big themes by using the format of the postcard as a way for students to be heard on current issues. An impressive emphasis on student voice and tackling big ideas.
COMMENDATIONS (& judges’ comments):
Pinnacle College
Diverse and United presented an engaging online exhibition of very polished and authentically diverse work.
Riverland Special School
Tales of Textiles proved how creativity can be bolstered by a restraint – focusing on the medium of textiles encouraged a myriad of creative ideas. The domestic object installations with textile intervention were a particular highlight.
WINNERS
Adelaide High School – Adelaide High School SALA Exhibition 2020
Faith Lutheran College – Feels to Frames – Faith Lutheran College Year 6 Artists
St John’s Grammar School – Ã la carte
Wirreanda Secondary School – Classic Blue
COMMENDATIONS
Nuriootpa High School – Nuriootpa High School Senior SALA Exhibition
Walkerville Primary School – Walk the Terrace with Walkerville Primary School
WINNERS
St John’s Grammar
Conversations with Line
Riverland Special School
Sensory Stars
The Heights School
The Heights School Art Exhibition Competition
St Gabriel’s School
Gabriel’s Gallery
COMMENDATIONS
Bridgewater Primary School
The Earth Beneath Our Feet
Woodside Primary School
We All Smile in the Same Language
Bowden Brompton Community School
Kill the Streets
Primary School Award:
Joint Winners: Woodside Primary – Plastic Oceans
St Brigid’s School – Identity Explorers
Runner Up: Elizabeth Grove Primary School – Square-eyed
Secondary School Award:
Winner: South Coast collective of schools including
Encounter Lutheran College, Investigator
College and Victor Harbor High School
– SALA School Art Show
Joint Runner Up: Bowden Brompton Community School
– Work Hard Dream Big
St John’s Grammar School
– Current Practice
