Woodend Winter Arts Festival

Woodend Winter Arts Festival Premier regional festival showcasing the very best of classical music from Australia and internation

Musical program includes classical and jazz along with chamber music ; literary program includes philosophy and the traditional and modern classics – including panel discussions with writers and critics.

19/08/2026

The flautist, artist and artistic director earned Australia's highest musical honours for her multi-faceted contribution to Australian music.

Another standout conversation from the 2026 Woodend Winter Arts Festival is heading to a national audience. 🎙️We're deli...
15/07/2026

Another standout conversation from the 2026 Woodend Winter Arts Festival is heading to a national audience. 🎙️

We're delighted that Alan Finkel's thought-provoking address on AI will be broadcast on Big Ideas on Radio National.

In 'Three Laws of AI', Australia's former Chief Scientist explores the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence, asking how we can embrace innovation while protecting what makes us human.

📻 'Big Ideas' on ABC Radio National
🗓 Thursday 16 July, 8pm
🔁 Repeat Friday 17 July, 12pm

🎧 The episode will also be available online and via the 'Big Ideas' podcast from 5pm on Thursday.

📷 © Andre Goosen, Boem Headshots

If you missed this fascinating festival talk, or would like to hear it again, be sure to tune in.

07/07/2026

Today we formally announced that the Book Fair part of Log Cabin Cafe and Book Fair in the Woodend Winter Arts Festival raised a massive $3457.24 as a donation to Woodend Neighbourhood House

A massive thank you to Victoria and Jane who coordinated the sales and on the day operations and the many youth members and volunteers of 1st Woodend Scout Group who contributed.

What an amazing result for the community programs at WNH

Wombat Lyons
Group Leader
1st Woodend

Another Woodend Winter Arts Festival conversation is heading to a national audience. 🎙️We're delighted that the 2026 She...
29/06/2026

Another Woodend Winter Arts Festival conversation is heading to a national audience. 🎙️

We're delighted that the 2026 Sheila Drummond Memorial Lecture, featuring acclaimed journalist and author David Marr, will be broadcast on Big Ideas on ABC Radio National.

In his thought-provoking address, David reflects on the importance of holding fast to the values and ideas that matter in an increasingly noisy world.

📻 Big Ideas on ABC Radio National
🗓 Monday 29 June, 8pm
🔁 Repeat Tuesday 30 June, 12pm

🎧 The episode will also be available online and via the Big Ideas podcast from 5pm on Monday.

If you missed this remarkable festival event - or would like to hear it again - don't miss the broadcast.

REMINDER!! A conversation that began at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival is now heading to a national audience. 🎙️We're ...
24/06/2026

REMINDER!! A conversation that began at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival is now heading to a national audience. 🎙️

We're delighted that Anna Goldsworthy's conversation with Jacqueline Ogeil will be broadcast on ABC Radio National's Big Ideas.

Exploring art, culture, AI and what it means to be human, this was one of the standout conversations of the 2026 festival, and we're thrilled that audiences across Australia will now have the opportunity to hear it.

📻 Big Ideas on ABC Radio National
🗓 Thursday 25 June, 8pm
🔁 Repeat Friday 26 June, 12pm

🎧 Available online and via the Big Ideas podcast from 5pm Thursday.

Congratulations to Anna and Jacqueline, and thank you to ABC Radio National for sharing this important conversation with listeners around the country.

IN MEMORIAM DON DRUMMOND The Committee of the Woodend Winter Arts Festival is saddened by the death of one of our founda...
13/06/2026

IN MEMORIAM DON DRUMMOND

The Committee of the Woodend Winter Arts Festival is saddened by the death of one of our foundation members, Don Drummond, a dear friend to all of us, and we offer our condolences to his family.

Don and his wife Sheila (who predeceased him by almost six and a half years) were with us from 2003, during the early planning stages of the Festival, and it quickly became clear that they were the people to take on the Words & Ideas component, which they did with diligence and success for our first fifteen festivals (2005–2019). Don continued to have considerable input following Sheila’s death, and he showed an interest in our programming until the end. He and a handful of friends, whom we knew as Don’s Coffee Group, also contributed a lot of physical work behind the scenes over the years, assisting with the movement of instruments and setting up of chairs in St Ambrose Church and Hall, and in the Community Centre and Norma Richardson Hall.

Don was a well-known and much-loved member of our community. An inveterate reader, he was always ready to discuss current affairs and a wide range of historical and literary subjects. His championship of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius was still active during recent visits to him. Don had also travelled widely, and he enjoyed reflecting on the visits he had made to various parts of the world with his beloved Sheila. His wisdom and wry sense of humour were appreciated by all.

We at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival were blessed to have Don in our lives, and as a member of our Committee. The event by which we have remembered Sheila over the last few years will in future be the Don and Sheila Drummond Memorial Lecture.

What a weekend! Over four days, Woodend Winter Arts Festival once again brought together artists, audiences, volunteers...
09/06/2026

What a weekend! Over four days, Woodend Winter Arts Festival once again brought together artists, audiences, volunteers, sponsors and supporters for a celebration of music, ideas, storytelling and connection.

It was wonderful to see so many people embracing the festival and filling the town with energy throughout the long weekend.

A heartfelt thank you to our artists, volunteers, venues, partners, sponsors and the many audience members who travelled near and far to be part of WWAF 2026. Your support is what makes this festival possible.

As the final notes fade and the last chairs are packed away, we’re already reflecting on an incredible festival and looking ahead to what comes next.

Thank you for being part of it. We’ll see you again next year.

Big shout out to our box office legends that keep everything behind the scenes running smoothly! 🙌
08/06/2026

Big shout out to our box office legends that keep everything behind the scenes running smoothly! 🙌



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PO Box 781
Woodend, VIC
3442

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