Discover Art in the Arboretum at the Van Stadens Flower Festival

Gqeberha-based artist Erin Smith has been working behind the scenes with FOVS and the NMB Reserve Management team to help bring the exhibition to life.

Visitors to the Van Stadens Flower Festival can look forward to more than beautiful indigenous flowers this year, with a first-ever art exhibition inviting them to discover local creativity beneath the trees at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve.

Art in the Arboretum: Under the Trees will transform the Arboretum’s old nursery area into a creative space where art, nature and environmental heritage meet, offering festival-goers a new experience to explore during their visit.

Gqeberha-based artist Erin Smith has worked alongside Friends of Van Stadens (FOVS) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Reserve Management team to help bring the exhibition to life. Known for her sculpture, site-specific installations and land art, Smith explores humanity’s relationship with nature and the places we call home.

Inspired by the theme Under the Trees, participating artists will interpret the natural world through their own perspectives, exploring subjects such as biodiversity, heritage, ecology, belonging and our connection to the environment. Selected artworks will also be available to purchase, giving visitors the opportunity to take home a unique piece of local art.

Festival-goers are encouraged to take a detour into the Arboretum, wander beneath the trees and discover how local artists have interpreted the beauty and significance of the natural world.

The Van Stadens Flower Festival takes place on Sunday, 25 October 2026, from 07:30 to 14:00 at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve. Entry is free.

Combining indigenous flowers, environmental awareness, local art and community spirit, the festival offers a memorable outdoor experience for visitors of all ages in Nelson Mandela Bay.

For more information, follow the Van Stadens Flower Festival and Friends of Van Stadens on their official communication channels.

To view the programme for the day, visit: https://fovs.co.za/