Why I stepped up to help keep ‘Art in the Open’ alive. 5 Lands Walk 2026

Last year, something unexpected happened. There was no committee to organise Art in the Open, the beautiful community en plein air event that's been part of the 5 Lands Walk for years.

So I put my hand up.

I couldn't bear the thought of it disappearing. Not just for me, but for all the artists who show up each year, brushes in hand, painting live in the elements.

This year, Saturday 20 June, Art in the Open will be a quieter version of itself. No prize money. No big-name artists chasing awards. But there will be art. We'll be out there, painting on the land we love, and gathering afterwards to celebrate what we've made together.

Walking for Something Bigger

The 5 Lands Walk is more than a coastline trail linking Macmasters Beach to Terrigal. It's a cultural experience with a deeper purpose. Connection. Reconciliation. Reflection.

It brings the Central Coast community together, locals and visitors walking in unity, honouring the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of this land, and acknowledging their deep and ongoing connection to Country.

Reconciliation can feel like a big, layered, complex word. But on this walk, it becomes something you feel. You walk gently, reflecting on your presence on this land on this day. You start to understand that this land holds so much more than footprints. It holds memory, culture, resilience.

Walking together is a small but real act of respect. Of listening. Of feeling. Of moving forward in solidarity.

Why We Paint En Plein Air

Painting outdoors is magic. There's an energy out there that can't be replicated in a studio. The crash of waves, sand in the paint, birdsong, sun, wind, all of it influences your brushstroke. It's a collaboration with nature, whether you signed up for it or not.

Artists support this event by simply showing up. You'll find us at the Surf Clubs selling our wares, setting up installations and painting live. We paint what we see, feel and absorb. It's raw. It's real. Often imperfect. That's the point.

There's a vulnerability in creating publicly. People stop, watch, ask questions, share stories. It builds a bridge between artist and community. As someone who believes art can make people feel something, peace, joy, memory, connection, I can't think of a better way to share what we do.

My Place in All of This

The 5 Lands Walk feels like an extension of my own connection to nature. Surrounded by sea, sand and people. So stopping to paint is a way to celebrate cultural diversity, nature and the land where I live.

I chose to step up. Not because I had spare time (who does?), but because I believe in this. I believe in keeping the arts alive in community spaces, and in giving people moments of beauty to carry with them. If I can help make that happen, even in a small way, that's enough for me.

We're celebrating 20 years of the 5 Lands Walk. See you there.

To register to paint: www.mazsmuses.com/artintheopen
To register to walk: www.5landswalk.com.au/registration-form

Maz x

Follow @mazsmuses on Instagram for updates and sneak peeks of the art in progress!