Nepean Festival of Arts and Design

Region: Metro South and West Metropolitan North Metro | Penrith
Years 7 to 12 students | Professional Artists | Teachers
Local arts program Visual arts
Tags: Media arts

Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School in partnership with the NSW Department of Education, The Arts Unit, invite submissions for the Nepean Festival of Art and Design.

The Nepean Festival of Arts and Design is a celebration of the works of emerging and professional artists, photographers, designers, ceramicists, sculptors and tertiary students from across Penrith and the neighbouring LGA’s of Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury. Students from Years 7 to 12 studying in the Penrith LGA only are eligible to enter the secondary school’s category. All the works will be exhibited over 2 days at the Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School. 

Professional development conferences, experiences and programmed events for educators and the community also align with the festival event, transforming the school landscape into a dynamic arts, culture, and innovation space.  

The 2025 feature artist will be Julie Scifo and the featured street artist will be Cameron Marbus.

As part of the event, there is also the chance to win a range of prizes from the wonderful event. Selected Festival of Arts and Design Award recipients will be exhibited at the Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of the Lewers Bequest, Loungeroom Gallery.

Nepean Festival of Arts and Design exhibition
2024 exhibition

2025 exhibition

Dates

  • Friday 21 November 2025 6 pm – 9 pm
  • Saturday 22 November 2025 10 am – 3 pm

Venue

  • Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Hall

Details

  • Light catering for the event will be provided on the Friday night only.
  • The 2025 Arts Patron is Dr Leo Robba, Western Sydney University, Associate Dean, Engagement, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University.
  • 2025 feature artist Julie Scifo and the featured street artist Cameron Marbus will be in attendance at the festival.

Tickets

All tickets can be purchased through Trybooking from mid 2025.

  • Pricing TBC.

Important dates

  • Artist and student entries close Monday 3 November 2025.
  • Delivery of student works – Monday 17 November 2025, 9 am – 12 pm, Nepean CAPA High School [115-119 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains, NSW, 2750]
  • Delivery of external artists’ works – Tuesday 18 November 2025, 9 am – 12 pm to Nepean CAPA High School [115-119 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains, NSW, 2750]
  • Collection of works – Monday 24 November 2025, 8 am – 4 pm.

Saturday art activities

The Saturday workshops for all ages are still being confirmed, they will be facilitated by festival supporter Sharz Art Design.

Online booking for the workshops is free, with a $2 cover charge included to cover the cost of materials. Spaces are limited, so it is essential to register via Sharz Art Design, then selecting the appropriate workshop you wish to attend.

For further inquiries email prudence.rowston@det.nsw.edu.au.

How to enter

Student entries 2025

All applications will open from Term 2, 2025

  • All submitted artworks must be clearly labelled with the title, image of the piece, student’s full name, school name and the student's
  • academic year. Completed artworks should be handed to the student's organising teacher for submission.
  • All submitted artworks must be original works and must not have been exhibited in the Nepean Festival of Arts and Design in the previous year. Student submissions are free of charge.
  • Each student may submit up to a maximum of 3 artworks. The student’s organising teacher may request to submit additional pieces on behalf of the student, subject to approval.

Artist entries 2025

All applications will open from Term 2, 2025

  • Artists wishing to participate will be required to complete the 2025 online artist application form. Please ensure all details entered are correct, as this will be used for display purposes and to contact you.
  • All submitted artworks must be clearly labelled with the title, medium, and dimensions of the work. All submissions must include a photograph of the artwork or a sample of the artists’ practice within the entry form.
  • Submissions must be original works and must not have been exhibited in the Nepean Festival of Arts and Design in the previous year. There is no submission fee for participating in the exhibition.
  • Each artist may submit up to a maximum of 3 artworks. Artists may request to submit additional pieces, subject to approval.
  • All submissions must include a photograph of the artwork or a sample of the artists’ practice within the entry form.

Nepean Festival of Arts and Design - Terms and conditions of entry (PDF 101.84 KB)

Event reviews

  • “It was a delight to be involved in the festival! The room was so full of creative energy, and it was wonderful to see people of all ages coming together to appreciate artistic creation and practice. I really loved seeing the students not only exhibit alongside professional practitioners but having confidence to talk about their works and inquire deeply about works made by people further down the road than them. What a potent opportunity for NCAPAHS students lead by enthusiastic, passionate teacher. I was also chuffed to win the open category as well as meeting Blak Douglas and hearing his story!” (Sarah Frost – 2022 Winning Artist)
  • “As a Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa artist in my first year at the National Arts School, I was so excited to have my work acknowledged. It was amazing to come back to my old school (NCAPA) and receive an award at the Nepean Festival of Art and Design” (Mea-Mei – Stanbury National Art School)
  • “With money raised by the successful Festival of Arts and Design the Zonta Club of Nepean Valley will be able to further our project aimed at ‘making a better world for women and girls’. The event, for Zonta not only celebrated the recognition of the amazing talent in the Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) but also highlighted the current and potential ability to network extensively and successfully to achieve a variety of objectives within the community.” (Rona Cassidy – The Zonta Club)
  • “It was a pleasure and a privilege for our students to be involved in such a wonderful event. We look forward to future celebrations of the arts that showcase the creative work happening in our schools.”  (Ms Jo-anne Hornidge – Visual Arts Educator Cambridge Park High School)
  • “Within the short span of a three hour event I have felt more seen in my own community than ever and I could not be prouder to be a Penrith Artist born and raised.” (Cameron Letta – Artist and Educator at Nepean CAPA High school)
  • “My involvement in the Nepean Festival of Arts and Design event has allowed me to access the intricacies of holding an Art event, from marketing through to curatorial decisions and exhibiting challenges. This placement has strengthened my ability to build relationships and communicate with Art Professionals, Art Educators, Volunteers, Senior School Executives and Sponsors.  My capacity to design, build and position a successful event has been realised. I have witnessed the power of creativity to unite artists, designers, schools, and the local community." (Emily Edwards – Fine Arts Honours Degree Student UNSW Art and Design)
  • “The Nepean Festival of Art and Design event has established new partnerships, exhibiting pathways and learning opportunities for our students and staff. The event provides a platform for Hospitality students to cater, Musicians to perform, Drama students to act, Photography and film students to document and local artists and designers to exhibit, share and inspire each other.” (Mrs Prudence Rowston -  H/T Creative Arts Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High)

Previous festivals

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Sarah frost with her art
Sarah Frost

The 2024 Nepean Arts and Design Festival was held on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2024.

  • Locust Jones was the 2024 Art Patron
  • Sarah Frost was the 2024 feature artist

 

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Johnny Romeo - Nepean Festival of Arts and Design 2023 Art Patron
Johnny Romeo

The 2023 Nepean Arts and Design Festival was held on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 November 2023.

 

 

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Blak Douglas
Blak Douglas

The 2022 Nepean Arts and Design Festival was held on Friday 11 November 2022.

Over 600 works were submitted from 10 secondary schools and 52 professional artists and over 500 attending the evening.

  • Blak Douglas was the 2022 Art Patron.
  • Winning artist was Sarah Frost

 

Enquiries

Prudence Rowston
Event Coordinator
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Hall

Great Western Hwy
Emu Plains NSW 2750
Australia

Open Map

The Nepean Festival of Arts and Design is proudly supported by Supporters National Art SchoolEckersley's Art & CraftDalmarri and Sharz Art Design. 2024 prize partners also include Zonta.


All Arts Unit programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the Nepean Festival of Arts and Design, please email Prudence.Rowston@det.nsw.edu.au so that we can assist.