The St Margaret’s MAYO Arts Festival takes pride of place within Queensland's cultural calendar on a biennial basis with the next event scheduled for 2024.
This popular biennial festival is named in honour of prominent sculptor and St Margaret’s Old Girl Daphne Mayo, one of Australia's finest sculptors and, throughout her life, an energetic and tenacious advocate of the Arts in Queensland. The MAYO Arts Festival has, since its inception in 2008, built a reputation for showcasing emerging local and national artists as well as engaging the wider community in the vibrant and inspiring atmosphere of this arts spectacular.
The MAYO Arts Festival involves two signature events:
- an evening Gallery Cocktail Party, and
- the MAYO Arts Festival held the following Saturday.
Throughout its run, the MAYO Arts Festival has hosted a stellar line up of artisans with a focus on exhibiting three-dimensional art across various disciplines including: jewellery, glass art, ceramic art and sculpture.
The festival officially launches with an opening night cocktail party and art exhibition, held in the St Margaret’s Arts Centre Foyer, a spectacular backdrop for this ticketed event. Guests are invited to soak up the breathtaking views of the city while mingling with the artists. This event is the first opportunity for guests to purchase their favourite piece of art from the magnificent collection on exhibition.
View the 2022 MAYO Artist Catalogue below.
The following Saturday ushers in a family friendly art-themed festival with a range of free and ticketed activities, rides, workshops and entertainment for all ages. Guests roll up their sleeves and release their inner artist with a variety of workshops hosted by some of our most talented artists and community members. For the quiet observer there is the opportunity to simply browse the artisan markets and purchase quality handcrafted gifts, jewellery and homewares, or simply take in the creative atmosphere, and magnificent sights and sounds of this family-friendly event. Adding to the festival atmosphere is a steady stream of musical and theatre performances as well as gourmet food and wine offerings.