Urban artist Bradley Eastman – widely known as Beastman – will open the festival next month with the production of a large-scale mural on the external wall of the Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre.

All members of the community are encouraged to attend and watch this talented artist at work over the course of the festival.

Beastman’s large solo and collaborative mural works are to be found all over Australia and across the world.

This acclaimed and talented multidisciplinary artist, whose work is included in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, will host a skateboard deck painting workshop at the Muswellbrook skate park for local skateboarders.

Youngsters are invited to bring a deck and hang out with Beastman after school on Thursday, March 7, from 4.30pm.

YIELD will be held on Friday, March 8, from 6pm to 7.30pm at The Void in the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, and will celebrate one of Muswellbrook’s heritage treasures in dance, music and art.

Catapult, a contemporary dance company, Ben Kenning, a painter and mixed media artist and Zackari Watt, singer, musician and composer are joining forces for YIELD to bring the space to life.

The winners of the 2019 Muswellbrook Art Prize will be announced on opening night, Saturday, March 9, at 6pm. 

Be among the first to see the finalists’ works on exhibition and find out who wins the three acquisitive prizes this year, including $50,000 for painting, $10,000 for works on paper, $10,000 for ceramics and $1,000 for the people’s choice.

Culture Harvest will wrap up at the arts centre on Sunday, March 10, at 10.30am with Discovery Map, a panel discussion with a number of the finalists exploring art practice.

Culture Harvest is collaboration between Muswellbrook Shire Council and the NSW Government’s Regional Cultural Fund and, once again, the Muswellbrook Art Prize is generously supported by Bengalla Mining Company as council’s co-funding partner.