Love art and fancy a South-West weekend getaway?

Sculpture by the Bay has been a much-anticipated highlight of the South-West calendar since the first event took place in 2010. Back then just 12 artworks dotted the shoreline. This year will see more than 30 sculptures on display.

For the artists involved it’s an incredible opportunity to have a major work seen by thousands of people. For the public, it’s a fantastic day out in the sunshine by the beach, following the sculpture trail and enjoying all the delights of creativity, scale and detail the artists have included in their art.

Sculpture by the Bay is on from March 4 to 6.

While this one long weekend puts Dunsborough squarely on the art lover’s map, the South-West is actually brimming with art all year round. There are wonderful art galleries nearby to delight you, whether you’re into watercolours, photography, sculpture or ceramics.

Here are just a few worth visiting:

Christian Fletcher Photographic Gallery

On Dunn Bay Road in Dunsborough is this fantastic photography gallery. There are hundreds of spectacular images of the local region on display (well worth a look) but you will also find plenty of photographs from around Australia and the world.

Goanna Gallery

Located on Hayes Road in Quindalup, Goanna Gallery combines two things the region does really well — food and art. It’s a café and gallery, supporting local producers and local artists. It’s open every day except Tuesday.

Yallingup Galleries

Fine art, furniture and all manner of stunning works can be found at Yallingup Galleries. It has two locations, one on Caves Road and the other on Marrinup Drive. Ceramics, glass, jewellery, paintings, prints, textiles — Yallingup Galleries have something to suit everyone’s taste.

There are many more galleries across the region and all of them are worth a visit. After all, you never know when you’ll find that perfect piece of artwork to adorn your wall or shelf at home. There’s a really good list of galleries to visit here.

Arts festivals all year round

Sculpture by the Bay is just one weekend a year, but the South-West region has a great artistic tradition and there are various arts festivals all year round.

In April, for example, there’s Margaret River Region Open Studios — the biggest art event in WA. It gives art lovers a rare chance to visit private art studios across the region, including many that may not otherwise be open to the public. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the artists who create the works. It runs from April 22 to May 7 this year.

Here are a couple of sites to keep an eye on for details of festivals and other arts events.

Lots to do once your art experience is over

And, of course, if you are heading to the South-West to experience the art, you’d be mad to miss out on the region’s other famous attractions — wine, gourmet food and fresh local produce and craft beers. That’s not forgetting the stunning ocean views, pristine beaches, sporting activities and hiking trails, caving and cycling opportunities and many more.

Here are some suggestions for things to do to make a Dunsborough getaway special.

If you’d like to get away from it all and soak up some art, some scenery, and some local food and wine, we have a large number of properties just perfect for a weekend retreat — or even a longer stay. Get in touch.