More that 11,000 artists across 700 exhibitions - this year's South Australian Living Artists Festival will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary depth, diversity and creativity of the state’s visual arts community.

Running across the month of August, this year’s SALA Festival - supported by the State Government and CreateSA - will transform South Australia into a living gallery presenting the work of emerging creatives, mid-career makers and acclaimed visual artists across metropolitan Adelaide and regional towns.

SALA CEO Bridget Alfred said that organisers had noticed "what feels like a surge of confidence, and intentionality" among the 2025 entrants.

"We’re seeing artists participating in multiple events, hosting opening studios, pulling together strong collective exhibitions and the return of extraordinary artists to the festival," Ms Alfred said.

"We’re seeing a rise in venue participation and metropolitan and regional councils getting behind their communities and supporting events and exhibitions.

"School participation is on the rise. In short, we are seeing South Australian artists and communities take ownership of this festival."

Highlights for this year include:

• The SALA Hub at ILA Light Square is a great place to enjoy a meal or meet friends for a drink before viewing or attending any SALA events on site. Exhibitions include Nature: A SALA Roving Exhibition which features the work of four artists inspired by the natural world, and Coffee, Turps & Devotion, which brings together two incredible artists in Robert and Hannaford and Alison Mitchell Hannford, who have shared their lives and studio building for almost two decades.
• SALA Slide Night, returning on 14 August, is a chance to discover what’s on the minds of our South Australian contemporary artists. The event will be hosted by Christina Peek and will feature artists Dameeli Coates, Brenton Drechsler, Toni Hassan, Mark Valenzuela, Frida Las Vegas, Jeffrey Brown, Alyssa Powell-Ascura, Jo Fife, Swapna Namboodiri.
• The SALA Hub is also the departure point for the popular SALA Bus Tours. The Karoonda Silos Bus Tour will take to the hills and beyond with exclusive artist talks and lunch at Ondeen Farm and culminates in dinner under the stars at the Karoonda Lights opening event, 9 August. The Barossa Light Art Tour will visit Lyndoch Lavendar Farm, the arts of Angaston and Tanunda and delights of Seppeltsfield JamFactory and Wonderground, with local artist talks, platters and tastings all part of the tour, 30 August.
• If you prefer to explore at your own pace there is a range of self-guided regional art trails through the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Encounter Bay, McLaren Vale, the Limestone Coast and Yorke Peninsula. Just scan the QR code in the program for more details.
• This year’s walking tours include the Street Art Walking Tour with artist Nicole Black on 10 August and the ‘Local & Contemporary Art Tour’ led by artist Gregory Ackland on 16 August.

Visit the SALA website or download the app for more details at www.salafestival.com