Benalla Street Art Festival official launch and Welcome to Country

By Sharlene Baldo

Apr 15, 2025

As excitement built for the Benalla Art Street Festival’s grand opening, the Benalla Art Gallery held an official launch and Welcome to Country on Thursday, April 10.

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The Welcome to Country was delivered by Yorta Yorta woman and Winton Wetlands Koorie cultural officer Nikki James, while Mayor Bernie Hearn officially set the festival in motion.

“Tonight’s the official launch of the 2025 Benalla Street Art Festival, and same with the gallery, we also have two exhibitions which form a part of the festival,” gallery director Eric Nash said.

“We’ve got Jason Parker’s prized ‘Rise, Ruin, Renew and Repeat’, he’s an incredible artist with themes of creation, destruction and morality, which is also inspired by dance and movement.

“He obviously has a really incredible studio practice, but he’s also a street artist of his own.

“We also have this exhibition by Baby Guerrilla, ‘Dancing with Gravity’, she also has both a studio and a street art practice, so these beautiful illustrations of falling and flying figures, and she’s really well known.

“And then in the central space, we have our festival lounge, where one of the official artists, Gus Leone, is actually going to be painting his work for the three days, which following the festival itself would be installed on the facade of the gallery.

“(Also) just make sure everyone gets involved and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.

“There are great programs, 10 incredible mural artists, exhibitions here, the Visitor Information Centre, music, food, beverages, workshops, talks, tours and a whole heap of fringe events, importantly, which the community has been on as well.”