I am Anna Barnes founder of Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experiences. I am an artist, chef and anthropologist. I am also a long-time traveller to Vietnam.

I design and host Creative Experiences in Vietnam. I aim to help people connect, transform, recover, and thrive through art, food, and cultural experiences. My love and passion for Vietnam, the people, the culture and the food has brought me to a deep desire to share it with you. I believe that with the right guides, your experiences are enhanced, and you feel confident to take that corner, sit in that eatery, and strike up that connection with that grandma who invites you in for tea. You come away having had the time of your life!

My goal is to share with you the incredible beauty of the culture beyond the service and hospitality industries, beyond simply looking at pretty scenery, and beyond eating the easily accessible foods of the high ranking tourist restaurants.

We go on creative and sensory journeys, coming together in small groups in safe & exciting locations, provoking life long curiosity and connections.

I design slow travel experiences with the emphasis being connecting with local people, nature, food, art, music, stories and the history of the places we go. We learn to travel sketch or keep a travel journal and are curious eaters and foodies. We go out of our comfort zone a little to go off the beaten track and experience grassroots culture.

We remain sustainable for local communities, the local environment, ourselves and our creative lives.

I’ve held “Sketch&Lunch” 1 day workshops in Sydneys vibrant and colourful suburbs since 2017, hosted “Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experiences” in Vietnam since 2017. I’ve designed and delivered cooking classes, been a cooking demonstrator, presented corporate team-building cooking events, and facilitated The Artist’s Way groups.

I have a Masters in Design Science from The University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts and Social Anthropology.

I was the Executive Chef of Sydney’s Best Specialty Restaurant winner and has worked in Sydney restaurants for over 25 years, focussing on specialty cuisines.

I was the founder and operator of “Fiasco and Debacle”, Sydney’s largest artisan cafe cake manufacturer for 8 years, and still enjoys cooking for friends and baking for regular clients.

I am an artist, mother and traveller, and live in Sydney, NSW, Australia.

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Anna’s Art, Food and Culture Experience Curator & Host.

Retreats, Workshops, Day Trips, Classes, Demonstrations.

Illustrator - Food, Markets, Recipes, Urban Life.

Travel Journaller.

Organic Baker.

Sustainable Toymaker.

Photographer & Ethnographic Film Maker.

Content Creator :

@annasartfoodculture

@artfoodculturenature

@sydneytravelsketching

@annamariebarnesbakes

@artfoodculturephotos

@annabarnesstories

Nature Journalling Teacher The Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.

Travel Sketching Teacher - Vietnam, Sydney, The Blue Mountains (NSW Australia).

2004 MDSc (Master of Design Science, Digital Media) - The University of Sydney.

2004 Dean's Honour Award - The University of Sydney.

1997 Executive Chef "Best Specialty Restaurant" winner Sydney.

1996 2nd Chef “Best Specialty Restaurant” winner.

1989-1999 Chef (Sydney Restaurants-specialty cuisines).

1992 BA (Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts and Social Anthropology- The University of Sydney)