That’s a Wrap: The 2024 June Long Weekend with The Pop-Up Project

The 2024 June Long Weekend was nothing short of spectacular for The Pop-Up Project!

From June 8-10, 35 talented artists across 16 studios opened their doors to the public, creating an immersive and unforgettable art experience. A miraculous last-minute weather change brought three days of perfect winter sunshine, helping the event exceed its target figures despite challenging economic conditions. This led to impressive sales and social media growth for our exhibiting artists and significantly boosted traffic to the Southern Highlands, benefiting local hotels, BnBs, retail shops and restaurants.

The day of the opening night, Thursday, June 6, was nerve-wracking. Torrential rain and flash flooding left artists and The Pop-Up team uncertain about the weekend ahead. However, the weather did not dampen spirits; the opening night at Centennial Vineyards, our generous platinum sponsor, went ahead as planned and had a fantastic turnout.

A Record-Breaking Weekend

This year’s event was a resounding success, with visitor numbers and sales soaring compared to 2023. We welcomed an astounding 3,159 visitors, marking a staggering 43% increase from last year. Even more impressive, the event generated $46,087 in sales, far surpassing our expectations. This incredible turnout and financial boost underscore the growing excitement and support for our collective.

Engaging the Community

The June Long Weekend is the perfect celebration of community spirit within the beautiful Southern Highlands, and this year was no exception. The support from local businesses and organisations was phenomenal, with Southern Tablelands Arts, Highland FM, The Fold, 2ST, Centennial Vineyards, Highlife. Southern Highlands Xpress and Southern Highlands News all helped to spread the word and generate excitement for the event.

Destination Southern Highlands also played a pivotal role with their extensive promotional support, including flyer distribution and event listings. The Pop-Up project would like to extend our sincere thanks to every individual, business and organisation that helped to promote the weekend and made it the roaring success that it was.

Highlights and Happenings

Throughout the weekend, visitors were treated to a range of unique and immersive experiences. A standout highlight was the live painting event with Rosa Fedele at Centennial Vineyards. Crowds gathered to watch as she masterfully painted a pristine red 1962 Triumph TR4, with our Pop-Up champion-turned-stunning pin-up model, Erin Adams, striking a pose to complete the captivating scene.

Visitors were also moved by an inspiring artist talk from the wonderful Negin Chahoud. With great courage, she shared her emotional journey to Australia as a refugee from Iran and how her experiences now profoundly inspire her art.

Highland FM “Popped Up” for the first time this year, putting on a beautiful display with a collective exhibition at the station. Radio manager and host Adam Stokeld created a fun and inviting atmosphere by putting on a delicious Hot Canary sausage sizzle for visitors to enjoy while they explored the artworks.

Looking Ahead to 2025

We’re already buzzing with excitement for next year’s event! If you’re an artist looking to join a vibrant and supportive community, now is the perfect time to get involved. We invite new artists to join The Pop-Up Project and bring their creativity to our next exhibition.

For art enthusiasts and supporters, don’t miss out on future events and updates. Join our mailing list to stay informed and be the first to know about upcoming exhibitions, special events and exclusive offers.

Stay tuned, stay creative and see you next year!

To join our mailing list or join The Pop-Up Project, go to:
www.thepopupproject.com.au