AN official opening of the ARTWORDS exhibition by Mayday Hills Art Society kicked off an exciting start to Beechworth's first-time Winterwords Festival on Wednesday evening.

Close to 40 artists and guests gathered at the art hub on the 'Hill' for the event where artworks showcase innovative creations.

The exhibition will open every day from 10am until 2pm until next Wednesday.

A thrilled Winterwords Autonomous Collective creative director Janet Tweedie said the festival concept with its celebration of words in every form was unknown to exist anywhere else.

"I'm thrilled about tonight where artists are happy and excited," she said.

"Many people in the community have said what a great idea the Winterwords Festival has been and I'm so glad we didn't cancel the event due to COVID restrictions as they have further eased too."

Ms Tweedie said the action-packed fun-filled Festival program had been tweaked a little due to COVID restrictions where 'Words in the Woolshed' with five local poets is now being held in the Town Hall in...