Residents at Blayney Multi-Purpose Service’s aged care unit are making new artworks for their home. Residents have been exploring colour, pattern, memory and place through a unique artist residency led by Blayney based paper-cut artist Laura Baker.
Starts August 25. Critical Writing in the Arts Professional Development Program. BlakView responds to a critical gap in regional arts practice – the lack of diverse voices in critical writing and cultural commentary. FREE.
With the Victoria Pass detour continuing we’ve changed opening days at Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery.
Now open Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm in the NPWS visitor centre at 51 Old Great Western Highway, Hartley.
August 2026. HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS of arts and cultural moments, actions, wins and stories are happening all the time across the NSW Central West. Here’s our now quarterly dip into some of those stories.
The winners of the 2026 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards have been announced, with two writers sharing first prize for the prestigious Short Story category.
The Inland Astro-Trail Project and Bogan Gate Primary School are co-hosting an evening of stargazing with some of the region’s most experienced amateur astronomers on Thursday, 13 August 2026, 6 pm to 9 pm, as part of National Science Week.
You may have seen a lot of chat about Payday Super and new requirements for musicians and other gig artists to be paid super (and what that means for, say, festivals and music venues).
Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre received 22 entries for the annual competition.
“We were blown away by the quality, creativity and calibre of our regional talent. Choosing our finalists was no easy task – but after much deliberation, we’re excited to reveal our Top 14!” they announced.
Bathurst Regional Council is seeking community feedback on the Strategic Framework for the future revitilisation of the Bathurst TAFE Heritage Precinct.
Arts OutWest, in partnership with Health Infrastructure, are working within Blayney Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) Residential Aged Care, using art making experiences to both engage residents and create new artworks for the space.
Congratulations to Nigel Helyer who is the recipient of the inaugural Full Circle International Residency Award 2026, a partnership with Orange Regional Gallery.
Local community groups and organisations will benefit from a significant boost in funding, with Council increasing its annual Community Funding Program allocation to $175,000.
Parkes Shire Council is excited to announce the recipients of Round 1 of the Events Financial Assistance Program (EFAP) for 2026. The round was popular with seven applicants requesting over $45,000 in support.
Parkes Shire Council is pleased to announce the four successful recipients of its 2026 Cultural Grants Program, with funding supporting a diverse range of cultural events and activities that celebrate the creativity and cultural heritage of communities across the shire.
Wanda’s artwork was picked from almost 40 other outstanding works from artists in the region. It has now been acquired by Cabonne Council to become part of the Cabonne Council Art Collection
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.
Kandos will once again become a meeting place for artists, locals and visitors when Cementa26
Contemporary Arts Festival returns from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 September 2026.
Kandos Artist Fleur MacDonald has released her first novel, a dark comedy crime story under the nom de plume of Betty Stewart. Her editor’s description “It’s like a mashup of a CWA doco with the series of The Sopranos in which all the wives relocate to country NSW. There’s a little bit of War of the Roses to it too.”
The Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts has received a major boost, with Destination NSW awarding $90,000 over three years through its Regional Event Fund – Flagship Event Stream, recognising the festival as one of New South Wales’ premier regional events and supporting its continued growth. The Funding Amount must be expended on costs that enhance the marketing and promotion of the festival.
This collaborative reflection not only honours the creativity and messages of past decades but also empowers our students to carry these inspirations forward. We are proud of their thoughtful engagement and look forward to seeing how they will continue to express these values in their journey ahead.
Lithgow City Council is delivering a major boost to safety, vibrancy, and local activation in the CBD, with more than $1.25 million secured to transform Main Street and surrounding public spaces.
In partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG), Artspace will present As Above, So
Below by Maddison Gibbs as part of Artspace’s ongoing Banner Series.
Workshops Sundays 5 July, 12 July, 26 July, 2 August.
The big drums will be out again for the Galari Lachlan Rivers Arts Festival in Forbes on Saturday 8 August – and thanks to an Arts OutWest Cultural Fund microgrant the community can learn to play them.
Lachlan Shire Council is excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Waste 2 Art Competition, celebrating creativity and sustainability within our community. The competition showcases the innovative use of recycled materials to create stunning artworks, encouraging environmental awareness among participants and the community alike.
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.
July 3-5 at The Cutaway at Barangaroo, Sydney.
Kew-Y-Ahn Aboriginal Gallery joins more than 50 stallholders where visitors can purchase art, handmade jewellery, homewares, food and more, with all proceeds going directly back to the artists and First Nations communities.
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.
Orange Male Voice Choir presents a Choral Masterclass with Paul Jarman
Friday 19 June, 5pm – 9pm in Orange.
Celebrating 100 years, we asked OMVC what makes them sing.
Parkes-based artist Christine Somers has claimed the top prize at the 2026 Waste 2 Art exhibition, continuing her long-standing involvement in the program that celebrates creativity and sustainability.
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.
Sunday 21 June, 10am-3pm in Lithgow
Not just a meeting, join us for a day of networking, hearing local arts stories and catching up with Arts OutWest and creatives from the region.
A donation to Arts OutWest is so much more than the gift of money. It’s connection, it’s growth, it’s a gift to yourself — because when you keep the arts alive, you keep your own heart beating.
Your support brings creativity to life.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation before June 30.
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.
Mark these dates in your diaries. The Lithgow Arts Trail is on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, the first weekend in November 2026. The Lithgow Arts Trail Artists have had their first meeting for 2026 at The Lithgow Workies in May.
Lithgow’s creative community has been recognised at the 2026 Waste 2 Art exhibition and competition, with local schools, artists and community members celebrated for transforming discarded materials into imaginative works that champion reuse and sustainability.
