From Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June, the town of Berry on the NSW South Coast will once again be transformed into a living, breathing canvas as OpenField Arts Festival returns for its second instalment — a three-day festival of contemporary art, movement, storytelling and shared experience.
More than 20 extraordinary artists will present work throughout the weekend, activating Berry’s heritage buildings, showgrounds, halls, paddocks and footpaths in a town-wide celebration of creativity and connection.
“We’ve designed OpenField to feel open in every sense — open air, open access, open minds,” said Festival Co-Director and renowned Australian singer-songwriter Lenka Kripac. “It’s not about putting art on a pedestal. It’s about cabaret in a community hall, a performance art parade down Queen Street, or a drag tea ceremony in the CWA. We want people to encounter art where they least expect it — and feel like they’re part of it.”
A not-for-profit event two years in the making, OpenField is powered by a team of dedicated volunteers who believe art should be accessible to everyone. The festival is free and open to all, with a handful of ticketed events now on sale and expected to sell fast.
Scheduled Program Highlights
First Nations Program
- A dedicated First Nations Hub, curated by Amanda Jane Reynolds, offers weaving circles, storytelling and art-making exploring connection to Country and totem animals.
- The festival opens with a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country by Aunty Delia Lowe and closes with a moving performance by violinist Eric Avery.
Art in the Streets
- Arts Parade: Berry’s main street will come alive with musicians, roving performers and students from Berry Public School in a joyful, first-ever procession.
- Chalk Mural: Alice McAuliffe leads a collaborative, drop-in chalk mural outside the Berry School of Arts — fun and accessible for all ages.
- At dusk, Joan Ross’s video installation Colonial Grab will be projected onto the Berry Showground Pavilion.
- This is followed by Nothing More, a powerful new dance work by AUSTI. Dance and Physical Theatre — a family-friendly night with movement, art and community.
After Dark Events (18+)
- The OpenField Cabaret: Afterglow Variety Club stars Bella Louche in a night of burlesque, contortion, cosmic juggling and Dreamtime storytelling — paired with French food, wine and champagne. (Friday night)
- OpenField Discotheque delivers a retro dance party with DJs Stephen Ferris, Charlie Villas and Electric Ginger, plus cocktails by Henry Clive and yum cha from Pickled Ink. (Saturday night)
Intimate Performances and Conversations
- Celestial Garden: Jayanto Tan hosts a drag tea ceremony at the CWA Hall — blending ritual, memory and migration.
- Without a Trace: Kenneth Lambert combines traditional sand drawing with robotics in a meditative live performance.
- RE:Place: A panel discussion led by Bundanon CEO Rachel Kent with Janet Laurence, Joan Ross, June Golland and Kenneth Lambert on place, displacement and belonging.
- Drink & Draw: A cheeky life drawing session at the Great Southern Hotel with Bella Louche — relaxed, playful and the perfect festival wind-down.
As a special bonus, OpenField ticket holders receive free entry to Bundanon’s Collection Gallery and historic Homestead on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June — a unique opportunity to experience this iconic cultural site just a short drive from Berry.
With Berry named NSW’s Top Tourist Town three years running, OpenField offers a rare chance to experience contemporary art in one of the South Coast’s most charming and creative communities. After attracting over 4,000 visits in its debut year, the festival returns in 2025 with even more to explore — but ticketed events are limited and expected to sell out quickly.
View the full program and book now at openfieldartsfestival.com.au.
ENDS
Notes for editors
Available for interview: Lenka Kripac, Festival Co-Director and renown Australian singer-songwriter. Artists on request.
Media Assets: available here
All photos in the ‘general photos’ folder to be credited to Ainslie McNamara. Please request credit information for any of thephotos you would like to use in the ‘OpenField Artist portraits’ folder.
Key Facts:
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OpenField Arts Festival 2025 will run 13–15 June in Berry, NSW, transforming the town into a vibrant, participatory celebration of contemporary art, performance, and storytelling.
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The festival is largely free and open to all, with a select number of ticketed events now on sale — including cabaret, dance, panel talks, and an after-hours discotheque.
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More than 20 artists will activate Berry’s streets, heritage venues and public spaces, with highlights including a First Nations program, public art parade, live performances, and community art installations.
About us:
About OpenField Arts Festival
OpenField is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led arts festival held in Berry on the NSW South Coast. Now in its second edition, the biennial event showcases contemporary art in unique non-museum venues — from halls and paddocks to showgrounds and community spaces — across one weekend in June. Most events are free, with a handful of ticketed highlights.
OpenField takes place on the lands of the Dharawal and Dhurga speaking peoples. We pay our deepest respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their enduring connection to Country.
OpenField Arts Festival is made possible with the generous support of our sponsors.
Major Partners: The Great Southern Hotel, Milkwood Bakery, Bangalay Luxury Villas
Project Partners: Two Figs Winery, Morrow Building Group, Bird & Bird, The Berry Alliance, IGA, Hoorah Events
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: @openfieldartsfestival
Facebook: facebook.com/openfieldartsfestival
Contact details:
Fleur Townley, Lanham Media, 0405 278 758
