Photo: L-R-Charlotte Tatton, Lucinda Penn, Billy Oakley, Bridget Alfred. Credit: Kelsey Zafiridis
In a bid to bring the finest from South Australia’s artists to a global stage, SALA Festival has launched ‘Shop SALA,’ an online store championing the unique artworks from the state’s diverse creative scene.
After the success of SALA (South Australian Living Artists) Festival, renowned as Australia’s most inclusive visual arts festival spanning over 25 years, the unveiling of Shop SALA during the 2023 event has been a significant milestone. This platform not only stands out as an Australian-first not-for-profit online store, but its exclusive dedication to South Australian artists further sets it apart.
SALA’s Acting CEO, Bridget Alfred, explained the concept of the platform, saying, “People often asked where they could buy local artists’ work outside of SALA month, so we created Shop SALA, a year-round digital exhibition space for artists to sell their work, and for audiences to browse and discover hundreds of artworks of all mediums and sizes, and for all budgets.”
Launched as a pilot in 2022, Shop SALA’s newest iteration is brimming with enhanced features, ensuring a more seamless navigation experience for users. One can now effortlessly scout for their next favorite artist, thanks to the refined content and advanced filtering.
Lucinda Penn, an artist and curator who showcased her art in three SALA Festivals, expressed her enthusiasm about Shop SALA’s potential. She believes this platform extends the festival’s culture throughout the year, offering a vital pedestal, especially for budding artists. Penn says “SALA Festival always offers an opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work and connect – it’s a real cross section of what’s currently happening in the arts. To see this culture being extended across the whole year is really exciting, especially with the opportunities it offers to newly emerging artists.”
A glimpse into the platform showcases a range of artistry, from the likes of Alan Todd, Dave Court, Carly Dodd, Max Callaghan, to Lesley Redgate. Whether you’re an art connoisseur with an eye for the exquisite or a casual admirer on a budget, Shop SALA’s wide pricing spectrum from $70 to $4500 ensures there’s something for everyone.
To ensure artists leverage this platform effortlessly, Alfred extends an open invitation to South Australian artists to establish their profiles on Shop SALA. “We invite South Australian artists to sign up to Shop SALA so they can reach new audiences locally and globally. Creating a profile is simple and we have staff to assist artists throughout the process. Audiences can follow Shop SALA on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the mailing list to get featured collections delivered straight to your inbox.” she adds.
Established in 1998, the SALA Festival, founded by Paul Greenaway OAM and Sam Hill-Smith, began as SALA Week. Today, the festival stretches through the entirety of August, encompassing over 600 venues across the state and featuring more than 9,000 artists. SALA’s continual dedication towards building new audiences, sponsoring awards, and supporting residencies stands testament to its commitment to the South Australian art community.
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