In our Strategic Plan (2025-2028) we aim to:
- Provide support for artists, arts organisations and local government to develop cultural activity.
- Support artists to tell regional stories.
- Provide opportunities for audiences to explore stories and place.
- Nurture and build artistic practice and cross-artform collaborations.
- Promote and advocate for artists and arts activity.
- Supporting and developing emerging artists and working with young people to encourage artistic practice and understanding.
- Creating opportunities to build, develop and lead into the future.
How we do this
- advice and assistance
- information and resources
- arts promotions
- residencies
- professional development
- financially auspicing programs and projects
- supporting projects
- new work development
- touring
currently
Connecting creatives across our region
Photography team
Contemporary music industry support
Artist in residence, Portland
visual arts networking
Artist residencies
Exhibition opportunities
Artist residency exchange
Exhibition opportunities
Auspiced by Arts OutWest
Artist call out
Community art making day
updates
Artists from two vastly different NSW environments will spend a month making work in each other’s regions in the new Tidal Exchange program.
That Sarah Randall found time to lap up plein air site offerings during weekends at The Squatter’s Residency in 2025 and 2026 is testament to her focused work ethic.
The year 11 and 12 art students of Kelso High School don’t skip a beat in their engagement and questioning of Harrie Fasher’s process, logistics, themes and more during their excursion to The Foundations, Portland in June 2026.
Remember how we said we don’t do boring AGMs? It’s true.
Here’s some pics from Arts OutWest’s regional gathering and AGM in Lithgow Sunday June 23.
Jane Alexander has spent May 2026 immersed in experimentation at The Squatter’s Cottage, The Foundations, Portland. Working across painting, drawing, and sculpture during her Squatter’s Residency, Jane has embraced having the time and space to trial some cold wax in her paintings for the first time.
Wed 8 July at 4:15 pm – 7pm at Orange City Bowling Club.
Presented by Support Act.
A workshop to help creatives build a more sustainable relationship with their work, their wellbeing and themselves.
Thu 9 July at 9:45am – 2pm at Orange City Bowling Club.
A free workshop designed to help creative workers and leaders respond confidently and compassionately when someone shares something difficult.
Talk arts and make connections. Tue 30 June at 10am – 1pm at Millthorpe Creative Arts.
The popular weekly performing arts program for young adults with disabilities has expanded in Bathurst with an extra class on Tuesdays.
Sun 21 June, Lithgow. We’ve invited Milk Crate Theatre to run an introduction to measurement and evaluation workshop which includes information about their innovative, industry respected Creating Impact project.
Donate now. Launched at Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival a new fund, to support an emerging writer, was launched in memory of the late Bathurst writer Tracy Sorensen.
Celebrating the diversity of contemporary arts and artists living and working in Lithgow LGA.
Exhibition Dates: May 21 – June 28 at the Union Theatre Gallery
past projects
A selection of past projects and activities that come under the banner of ‘Creatives Communities’ focus
Auspiced 2026: New Australian musical
2025: New theatre work
2025: Living history
2024-25: Photography exhibition
2024: Central West art at NSW Parliament House
2024: Showcasing Central West photographers
2024-25: Showcasing Central West artists
2023-2025: professional development
Supported 2024: ARI gathering
an (im)possible festival
2024-25: Backroads touring cabaret theatre
2023: Photography exhibition
Career launchpad for 16 to 27 year olds
2023: Schools history and storytelling
Supported 2022-24: new theatre
Supported 2022: creative and professional development
Supported 2021, 2024: theatre production
Supported 21-22: multi-arts response to bushfire recovery
Small grants
2022-24: Art exhibition responding to music
Original music from the Central West
2021: curated exhibition
2019: Welsh storytellers touring
2018: Contemporary art and a huddle of arts fans
2018: Part conversation, part arts festival.
2017: Kids making history films
Artists Run Initiative for artists with and without disability
2015, 2016: Tour by South African performance group
2014-15: Conversations about how and why we make arts and culture
2014: professional development sessions for creatives
2011-15: arts skills and participation of young people