Onkaparinga council is kick-starting the arts in January, with free creative programs for budding young artists, beginning in the school holidays.

They include street art masterclasses as part of the City of Onkaparinga’s new Spray Society Ink program.

It will offer legal street art opportunities, supported by a $20,000 grant from Carclew, South Australia's largest multi-art form and cultural non-profit organisation dedicated to artistic outcomes by and for people aged 26 and under.

The Spray Society Ink program will offer up to 40 young people the chance to participate in 275 art opportunities delivered by 10 local professional artists and support staff throughout the first half of 2023.

It all starts on Wednesday 11 January with a free open studio day and aerosol practice run by local street artists Mark Twohig and Zhaine Reynolds.

For ages 12 to 26, no experience necessary, it will be held at Aldinga’s Studio 20 Youth Centre. 

Also at Studio 20, on Monday 23 January, is a free Spray Society Masterclass with local street artist Thomas Readett, for those aged 15 to 26.

The Spray Society Ink program will offer more masterclasses, workshops, paid opportunities to create public art works, and an exhibition where the young artists can show and sell their work.

Studio 20 Youth Centre will also offer a new Artist in Residence program next year.

It comprises four three-month residencies offered to emerging Onkaparinga artists aged between 18 and 30, working across any discipline.

The chosen young artists will have the time and space to develop new work in a large, open, shared studio workshop at the youth centre, from March to August 2023.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 15 January Full details are on the City of Onkaparinga website.