20th annual McGregor Winter School opens today

150 established and emerging artists from across Australia converged on the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Toowoomba Campus today for the start of the 20th annual McGregor Winter School.

The school offers an intensive creative retreat for artists from beginners to professionals with classes including painting, sculpture, jewellery and digital photography.

Program Administrator for the School Christine Matthews said two new courses are on offer this year.

'We're offering a class in creativity where people can experiment and find where their talents lie,' Ms Matthews said.

'There is also a new class making jewellery using found objects,' she said.

'Basically they bring along shells and beads and other features and use them in their jewellery pieces.'

The winter retreat offers artists an intimate experience to encourage creativity and draws students from Australia and overseas.

'This year we have one student from Hobart and one who travelled from Singapore,' Ms Matthews said.

Eight painting classes, one etching class, two sculpture classes, three jewellery making classes, one digital photography class and the creativity class will run until Saturday.

The community is welcome to come along on Saturday and view the works from the school.

For more information on the McGregor Schools, visit the website www.usq.edu.au/mcgregor/winter or phone Christine Matthews on (07) 4631 2755.

WHAT: McGregor Winter School viewing
WHERE: Q441 (Phoenix Building), USQ
WHEN: 9am–2pm Saturday 14 July 2007

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559