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Support talented local artisans
In the market for a one-of-a-kind piece of art to add to your collection? Head to Made in Mansfield on High Street, a not-for-profit run by a collective of artists from the region. The space is home to a rotating collection of paintings, photography, woodwork, sculptures, ceramics and more, all made by local artisans. Got a blank wall in your living room? Take a slice of Mansfield home with you in the form of a framed painting of native wildflowers in bloom.
Find your Mansfield muse
Want to spend an immersive afternoon in nature and walk away with a keepsake you’ll treasure forever? Hop in your car and drive to the outskirts of town for an art workshop with local landscape painter Wendy Jagger.
“The overriding comment that I hear from people [when they leave] is that they feel like they have been at a day spa, because they have totally forgotten about their everyday life, they’ve escaped the grind and focused on creating, on looking, on feeling the material in their hands, and become engaged with their environment,” Wendy explains.
A Mansfield resident for the past 15 years, Wendy’s home studio has sweeping views of Mt Buller, Mt Stirling, Mt Timbertop and beyond – the perfect spot to capture the epic beauty of the surrounding landscapes on the canvas. While Wendy finds beauty and inspiration all around her, she explains that her number one muse is Little Buller, on the south side of Mt Buller: “In 2006, the fires burnt large swathes of snow gums, leaving behind silvery whiskers running along the ridge lines. It’s a craggy mountain and it sits proud of the descending slopes, jutting up with granite rock faces. I have painted it from various angles for years and I love to take people in my painting workshops to various vantage points to paint it,” she says.
Get comfy at the armchair cinema
In the age of streaming, there’s still something to be said for a night at the movies. For a wholesome evening, settle into an armchair and enjoy a rom-com or thriller at Mansfield Armchair Cinema. This modest, not-for-profit community cinema affectionately referred to as ‘The Mac’ shows a range of flicks throughout the year. The type of endearing experience you’re not likely to find in the city, The Mac is a real small-town gem.