Local artists celebrated at Graceville Arts Festival

Feature artist Pixell Rathmell.

The Graceville Arts Festival, hosted by Lutheran Services' Graceville Centre, brought together artists, families and the wider Sunshine Coast community for a vibrant celebration of creativity and connection.

Now in its eighth year, the festival has become a much-loved community event, showcasing the creative talents of artists from across the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

The free exhibition ran from 13-16 August and featured an inspiring collection of paintings, photography, drawings and handcrafted pieces.

This year's theme was Create Together: Belong Together, reflecting Lutheran Services’ strong commitment to fostering inclusion, participation, and a shared appreciation of the arts.

During the festival's official opening, three major prizes were presented in recognition of outstanding artistic achievement. Congratulations Scarlett Guettler, Eddie West and Bob Maas.

Winners were selected by a judging panel comprising Graceville Centre staff and event sponsors.

Toni Roselt, Program Manager at Graceville Centre said the festival highlighted the remarkable talent within the community.

"We saw an outstanding display of artistic talent across a wide range of mediums,” Ms Roselt said.

"Creative expression can have a profound impact on wellbeing. Through art, people can build confidence, tell their stories and connect with others in meaningful ways.

“The festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate creativity while bringing people together in a welcoming and inclusive environment."

This year’s feature artist, Pixel Rathmell, known by her artist name TydleWaive, is a local multimedia artist who uses watercolour, oil and acrylic pouring.

Inspired by her lived experiences with mental health challenges and learning disabilities, Pixel's vibrant, dreamlike artworks transform emotion into colour, form and symbolism, creating powerful connections through art.

“I use symbolism to process what is happening internally within myself,” she said

“My work explores emotion, perception, vulnerability and the relationship between inner worlds and the natural environment.

“It was a really special experience to also do a live painting at Graceville Arts Festival, allowing visitors to see the process behind the pieces and make their own interpretations of the work.”

As a not-for-profit community event, all proceeds from the Graceville Arts Festival are reinvested into future festivals and community initiatives.

The Graceville Arts Festival is proudly sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council, Culgoa Point Beach Resort and Cotton Tree Meats.

For more than 50 years, the Graceville Centre has provided mental health and disability services, and accommodation at its Nambour site.