What happens when contemporary art leaves the gallery behind?

Regional festivals do more than entertain. At their best, they enrich cultural life, create opportunities for artists, attract visitors and bring communities together in new and unexpected ways.

That’s the thinking behind OpenField Arts Festival, a contemporary arts festival held every two years in Berry on the NSW South Coast. Bringing together leading contemporary artists with creatives from across the South Coast, the festival transforms unexpected spaces into places of artistic discovery, making contemporary art more accessible while celebrating the unique character of the region.

The result is a festival that not only showcases artistic excellence but also strengthens regional cultural life, encourages creative exchange and invites audiences to experience both contemporary art and the South Coast in a completely different way.

Since the festival’s inception, Lanham Media has played an active role in helping bring that vision to life. Director Fleur Townley is a founding committee member and has contributed to the festival’s governance and strategic direction, alongside leading communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement and First Nations liaison. This broader involvement has helped ensure the festival’s vision is reflected consistently across its planning, partnerships and public profile.

Working alongside the festival’s co-directors, artists, volunteers and community partners, Lanham Media has developed and delivered communications that reflect the spirit of OpenField while building awareness of the festival locally, across NSW and nationally.

Our work has included communications strategy, media relations, festival announcements, artist and program launches, interview coordination and storytelling that captures OpenField’s unique connection to place.

The campaign has generated extensive coverage across arts, tourism, regional and mainstream media, helping introduce new audiences to OpenField while strengthening Berry’s reputation as a destination for creativity, culture and contemporary arts.

OpenField also demonstrates the power of collaboration. Bringing together artists, First Nations voices, community organisations, local businesses, volunteers and audiences, the festival creates opportunities for connection, conversation and cultural exchange while showcasing the richness and creativity of regional Australia.

As a Berry-based communications agency, we’re passionate about helping organisations tell stories that make an impact. Supporting OpenField Arts Festival has been an opportunity to contribute to a project that not only attracts visitors and celebrates artistic excellence, but also enriches the cultural life of the South Coast and strengthens Berry’s identity as a creative regional destination.

Save the date for the next festival: June 25-27, 2027. Visit openfield.org.au for more information