It has been estimated that one in ten of Kangaroo Island’s adult residents produces art. The phenomenal natural environment attracts artists to the island and inspires wonderful interpretations of  the place and its people. 

We are fortunate to have more than our fair share of photographers, writers, film-makers, designers, architects, musicians and many others who make a living from their craft. Many who live here immerse themselves in the bush or look to the ocean to find the tranquility and space to explore expression, from early childhood well into the rich and productive years of the ‘third age’ of creative life.

Our island’s ancient geological and Indigenous heritage, stories of French and British exploration, whaling, sealing and post-WW2 settlement invite creative interpretation. The forests, beaches and wild seas are populated with lighthouses, shipwrecks, ruined settlements and interwoven stories that are proudly shared and retold by tour guides and locals alike.

Local art installations and studios are commonplace across the island. The Artist Collective and Art Society Group are hubs for meeting, sharing resources and regular exhibitions. Several commercial and community galleries provide a stimulating creative environment for visual arts, where you can learn, collaborate and contribute. Kangaroo Islanders understand that art doesn’t have to be perfect, but it must be authentic; it must come from the heart.

Regular gallery exhibitions and enthusiastic involvement in South Australia’s SALA Festival – including an annual exhibition at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide – keep our connection with the broader art world alive and thriving.

The local theatre group, KI Players, stages a production in the Kingscote Town Hall annually and often a Junior Players’ production for children. And if you don’t picture yourself on stage or behind the scenes in theatre, you might want to grab a ukulele to join the KI Ukes or ponder prose and poetry with the Dudley Writers’ Group.

Our Island is a muse for some and a source of inspiration for all. We cannot wait to see what you might create.