20 CENTRAL WEST ARTISTS RESPOND TO A CENTRAL WEST SONIC JOURNEY.
The last two years have been tough in the arts. Lockdowns and loss of work ran right across all artforms. Live shows took a hammering! We wanted to help by creating opportunities for those most affected.
In 2021, Arts OutWest commissioned 15 central west songwriters across 11 local government areas in the region to each write a song reflecting their experiences of 2020. Working closely with our Music Industry Support Officer, Patrick Coomey, we created a compilation album of original music. It was titled While the World Waits.
We heard what it felt like. Now show me what it feels like…

In 2022, artists from across the Central West have been asked to use the CD as a jumping off point and inspiration for new work. This unique opportunity for regional visual artists to create artworks in response to regional music has been a labour of love for Arts OutWest. While the World Waits Exhibition is a curated exhibition in which selected artists each respond to one or more tracks, title or words on the album.
The exhibition will showcase work from across all mediums. You will see painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, moving image, animation, photography, glass and textiles.
Bathurst artist Heather Dunn has been weaving a large wall work. “This is a weaving where the cloth of our dreams are shredded and re-woven, as we struggle to adapt and stay resilient… The messages on the silk strips, typed on an antique Corona typewriter, are knotted in along the way. They rise like a cresting wave, as we are bombarded with rules, changes to the rules and a constant barrage of all things covid.” says Heather.
“It has been a privilege and joy to work with so many artists right across our region to deliver an amazing exhibition. The work is full of heart and optimism. These 20 artists show us that the level of work being produced in regional NSW is just so exciting to experience.” says Arts OutWest artist and curator Steven Cavanagh.
While the World Waits Exhibition will travel for 12 months to galleries and venues across Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Regional, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin.
VENUE | OPENING EVENT | EXHIBITION DATES |
Tremains Mill BATHURST | Saturday 19 March, 2pm | 19 March – 3 April, 2022 |
Grenfell Art Gallery GRENFELL | Thursday 28 April, 6pm | 29 April – 2 June, 2022 |
Gang Gang Gallery LITHGOW | Saturday 11 June, 2pm | 9 – 26 June, 2022 |
Mudgee Arts Precinct MUDGEE | Friday 1 July, 6pm | 1 – 31 July, 2022 |
Canowindra Arts Gallery CANOWINDRA | Saturday 6 August, 2pm | 6 – 27 August, 2022 |
The Foundations PORTLAND | Saturday 1 October, 2pm | 1 – 23 October, 2022 |
Platform Arts Hub BLAYNEY | Friday 4 November, 5pm | 4 – 25 November, 2022 |
Malachi Gilmour Hall OBERON | Saturday 3 December, 2pm | 3 – 11 December, 2022 |
The Corner Store Gallery ORANGE | Saturday 21 January, 2pm | 21 Jan – 5 Feb, 2023 |
Coventry Room PARKES | Saturday 25 February, 2pm | 25 Feb – 11 March, 2023 |
Cowra Civic Centre – June Dates TBC 2023 | ||
Forbes Cultural Centre FORBES- | TBC 2023 (based on venue opening) |
Image featured above: Storm Approaching (detail) by Gemma Clipsham
Opens Saturday 3 June at 2pm. Runs to 2 July. Our popular touring contemporary art exhibition makes it’s 11th stop in 15 months.
Sat 25 February – Sat 11 March, Coventry Room, Parkes. Arts OutWest showcases some of the region’s most exciting visual artists
The While the World Waits exhibition opens on Saturday 21 January, 2-4pm, at The Corner Store Gallery Orange.
Opens Saturday 3 December, 2-4pm. Arts OutWest will showcase some of the region’s most exciting visual artists as they each respond to original music reflecting on the challenging and changing times over the past two years.
Join us for the opening of our regional touring exhibition While the World Waits. Friday 4 November, from 5pm at Platform Arts Hub Blayney, with music and canapes.
‘While the World Waits’ CD albums NOW FOR SALE. Scroll down this page to purchase.
Location: Regional
When: 2022 – 2023
Funded by: Arts OutWest
Curated by: Steven Cavanagh, Arts OutWest
ARTISTS:
Cate McCarthy
Jane Tonks
Shani Nottingham
Helen Carpenter
Bridget Thomas
Heather Vallance
Lise Edwards
Henry Simmons & River Yarners
Laura Baker
Heather Dunn
Stephan de Wit
Timothy Seager
Gemma Clipsham
Hugh McKinnon
Gus Armstrong
Harrie Fasher
Robert Hirschmann
Steven Cavanagh
Christine McMillan
Bev Coe
Cover art: Steven Cavanagh