IT WAS a full house at arts festival Frost Over Barraba that drew its biggest crowd yet.
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Art competition entries were up by 20 per cent and close to 600 artworks were submitted, committee member Jane Harris said.
"We are thrilled with visitation numbers this year, we have seen record numbers through the doors of the main exhibition and fantastic attendance at the various events, workshops and artist exhibitions around town," she said.
"The Commercial Hotel's motorcycle Show and Shine, the RSL Club's vintage VW meet and fireworks display have also reported increased numbers in attendance and they couldn't be happier with how things turned out."
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The weekend's events saw huge numbers and even better quality art displayed at the annual exhibition.
Manilla-based artist Liz Priestly was named winner of the Best Work of Art major prize with her encaustic beeswax piece Baseless Fabric - A Cloud Study.
The works were judged by New England Regional Art Museum director Rachael Parsons.
Ms Priestly's work is both expansive and sublime, she said.
"It's a captivating work full of emotion, masterful use of colour and texture to create a sweeping sense of depth and movement," she said.
Manilla must be the home of raw talent with Best Work of Pottery or Sculpture going to another Manilla resident Clinton Yates.
Events like these are very important to small regional towns like Barraba and it's great to see artists across the state getting involved and showcasing their incredible talents.
- Rachael Parsons
He took out the top honour with his welded metal and wood sculpture Wedge Tail Eagle, and Ms Parsons said it was a piece that demanded attention.
While the Best Work of Photography prize went to Wellingrove resident Rebekah Rogan for her open colour entry called Honey, praised for it's balanced competition and clear focus.
Best Children's Work went to Millie McMurtrie from Bingara with an ink painting called Snow Drops.
"The standard of entries this year has been excellent," Ms Parsons said.
"Events like these are very important to small regional towns like Barraba and it's great to see artists across the state getting involved and showcasing their incredible talents."
The three-day arts festival had pop up exhibitions through town including photography, painting, art film showings and a crafty wool exhibition at the Fuller Gallery.