Yield Festival 2025 launches with a spectacular opening night!
A packed house of more than 330 guests joined in celebration on Friday 29 August for the official launch of Yield Festival 2025, marking the opening of two major exhibitions at the Coolamon Up-to-Date Store.
The opening night showcased the Shire’s thriving creative spirit, with live entertainment, local food and drink, and an exclusive first look at the Coolamon Up2Date Art and Capture Coolamon Shire exhibitions.
Guests enjoyed live music artist Andy Owen, alongside the unveiling of Up2Date Art community mural, and local Nicole Dixon creating artworks and caricatures setting the tone for what promises to be a vibrant festival season.
The Coolamon Up2Date Art exhibition once again impressed with an outstanding 400 artworks & sculptures spanning diverse mediums and styles, transforming the heritage venue into a colourful hub of creativity.
Capture Coolamon Shire once again impressed, matching last year’s record with 275 outstanding entries. The exhibition captivated audiences with its inspiring collection of photographs celebrating the people, places, and stories of our Shire. For the first time in the competition’s history, the $1,000 major prize for the image that “Best Depicts the Coolamon Shire” was awarded to a youth entrant – Baxter Smith for ‘Cloudy With a Touch of Gold’.
Each year, Coolamon Shire Council presents the ‘Coolamon Shire Acquisition Prize’. This year’s award was proudly presented to Kerry Symons for her very impressive and intricately detailed artwork ‘I See You’. The piece now joins the Shire’s treasured art collection, which hangs proudly in Council facilities such as the Coolamon Shire Library and Allawah Lodge, ensuring these remarkable works can be enjoyed by the whole community for years to come.
Mayor David McCann OAM said:
“Yield Festival continues to shine a spotlight on the creativity of our region and the incredible talent within our community. It’s a proud moment to see our town buzzing with art, photography, performance, and celebration.”
Festival organisers acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the exhibition committees, artists, performers, and sponsors who make the night and festival a success.
Visitors are encouraged to cast their vote in the People’s Choice award throughout the exhibition period, with winners to be announced at the close of the festival.
Running all month, Yield Festival 2025 brings together events, workshops, exhibitions and performances designed to surprise, delight, and celebrate the makers, thinkers, and creators of Coolamon Shire.
The Coolamon Up2Date Art exhibition is open until Sunday 14 September, and the Capture Coolamon Shire Photography exhibition continues until Monday 6 October. ‘Made In Coolamon Shire’ Exhibition starts Friday 19 September until Monday 6 October. Exhibition open daily from 10am–4pm at the Coolamon Up-to-Date Store, corner Cowabbie and Loughnan Streets.
For the full program, visit https://visitcoolamonshire.com.au/yield
