Come from away: Straddie arts on show in August
North Stradbroke island or Minjerribah, as it is known, is a creative hub where every year the Straddie Arts Trail shows off its finest in their natural habitat.
They call it Straddie – and when it comes to the creative arts, it punches well above its weight.
To celebrate its might, the much-loved Straddie Arts Trail is returning from August 14 to 16, inviting visitors to discover the creativity, culture and character of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) across three days of art, design, storytelling and connection.
With 70 creatives across 35 stops spanning Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout, this year’s Straddie Arts Trail promises to be its biggest and most diverse event yet.
Leading this year’s program is acclaimed Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo Collins, also artist-in-residence at North Stradbroke Island Museum. She will present a body of work inspired by family histories and museum collections, while sharing her creative process with visitors throughout the weekend.
You might like
The arts trail continues its commitment to showcasing First Nations excellence with celebrated Ngugi artist Elisa Jane Carmichael, whose exhibition Held in Blue, created with artist Renata Buziak, explores island stories through cyanotypes, biochromes and collaborative textile works. Visitors are also encouraged to visit QUAMPI, Minjerribah’s new First Nations-owned arts and cultural centre, for the final weekend of the centre’s current exhibition.
Emerging artist Lauri Anderson, fresh from Regional Arts Australia’s Wild Clay program, will present new work from Seventeenth Door Studio, alongside fellow artist Kieron Anderson. At Amity Point’s Soul Lodge Gallery, long-time island painter Robyn Olsen will be artist-in-residence, sharing the vibrant landscapes inspired by more than two decades living on Minjerribah.
The Dunwich Apartments residency welcomes internationally awarded ceramic artist Michaela Kloeckner, while Michele Kordic brings her richly layered landscape paintings to the Taproom at Straddie Brewing Co.
Design lovers will enjoy The Tidal Archive 2026, bringing together island designers Cath Carroll, Sarah Van Der Ryst (of Sunfolk Swimwear) and ceramicist Melany Cordier, celebrating island life through ceramics, textiles, swimwear and collected objects inspired by the sea.
Subscribe for updates
The arts trail’s opening night film screening will feature Subdivision, a comedy set in Hervey Bay, with audiences invited to meet the film’s writers and long-time visitors to the island – Jan and Ashley Bradnam, and Terry McCann – and producers including island resident Trish Lake, along with members of the trail’s creative team.
Along the trail, visitors will discover favourites including Paula Boo Studios, Dr Kathy Townsend, potter Elinor Drake, Jess Scott of Starfish Studio, artist Chris Hooper, the famous Straddie Markets and the North Stradbroke Island Golf Club’s 2026 Minjerribah Photography Awards.
A highlight for visitors and locals will be the Hidden Treasures Art Show, a community exhibition where original artworks are sold anonymously for just $20. Featuring works by established artists, students, families and first-time creators, every purchase is a surprise, with proceeds supporting Dunwich State School.
Creative director of the arts trail Cath Carroll says the event continues to grow because it reflects the extraordinary creative community that exists on Minjerribah.
“The Straddie Arts Trail is about more than art,” she says. “It is about sharing stories, creating connections and celebrating the people and places that make this island so special. Whether you’re meeting an artist in their studio, joining a workshop, discovering an emerging creative or simply enjoying the journey between venues, the trail offers a uniquely Straddie experience.”
Visitors are encouraged to make a weekend of it, with accommodation partners including Whale Watch Ocean View Apartments, Discover Stradbroke, Dunwich Apartments and other island accommodation providers welcoming Straddie Arts Trail guests. SeaLink vehicle ferry promotional offers will also be available to help visitors plan their creative island escape.
With artists, designers, storytellers, workshops, exhibitions, galleries, cultural experiences, whale watching and spectacular island scenery, the Straddie Arts Trail offers the perfect opportunity to experience Minjerribah through the eyes of its creatives.
Straddie Arts Trail, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), August 14 to 16.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
Free to share
This article may be shared online or in print under a Creative Commons licence