Outback Arts, Media Release, 31 March 2023
Outback Arts, the Regional Arts Development Organisation for Far West NSW, has launched a brand new interactive website, Creative Country, to showcase and assist travellers and locals discover the art, culture and heritage the region has to offer.
Creative Country, this region, in the words of our project artist Andrew Hull “is where land opens up, the spaces are bigger, and inevitably the people and the culture reflect the scale of this landscape. This expanse is where ideas have space to grow and where art fills the space diversely and authentically,” and I couldn’t agree with him more said Jamie-Lea Trindall, Executive Director, Outback Arts.
“It’s truly remarkable what this wide, wild outback place has to offer, and Creative Country is the perfect tool to gather this information together. For the first time, locals and travellers to the region will be able to pinpoint creative places, meet the makers, learn the story behind pieces of public art, connect to Aboriginal experiences, get the low down on local museums, find festivals, events, and fun things to do with the family – and even help plan their next road trip,” continued Jamie-Lea.
Encompassing over 163,000 kilometres and seven local government areas including Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan (Nyngan), Cobar, Coonamble, Walgett and Warren, and all the towns in between, Creative Country will collate more than 150 galleries, experiences, public art and events in one handy location.
Travellers exploring this expansive region and visiting places like Lightning Ridge or Brewarrina can use Creative Country to make sure they don’t miss out on any of the exceptional experiences during their trip. From the John Murray Gallery, full of unique and funny bush artworks by Australia’s leading outback artist, to Stanley the Emu, an 18-metre-tall emu constructed from more than a tonne of scrap metal, three Volkswagen bodies and a pair of rusting satellite dishes in Lightning Ridge.
A trip to Brewarrina to witness some of the oldest structures in the country is a must for anyone wanting to truly immerse themselves in our history. Creative Country ensures you won’t miss taking a guided tour of the extraordinary 40,000 year old Fish Traps, or explore the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum which showcasesa variety of artworks and artefacts from local and non-local artists.
Coonamble and surrounding areas are packed to the brim with art and cultural experiences, not just the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Rodeo & Campdraft held every June long weekend. Travellers hoping to catch more than some bucking bulls, should not miss Outback Arts’ own Creative Arts Centre which showcases local and travelling exhibitions throughout the year, or the plethora of public art and murals throughout the neighbouring town of Gulargambone, including the six giant bullocks from the Ghosts of Bullocks Past sculpture.
Visitors making their way to the iconic Louth Races in August can use Creative Country to explore all the towns on route to the region’s most famous race day, from Nyngan’s Big Bogan statue, the Great Cobar Heritage Centre, one of the finest rural museums in Australia, or Cobar’s incredible Sound Chapel, a permanent sound art installation. Take the scenic route via Bourke to encounter Bourke Aboriginal Art Gallery, run by local Aboriginal artists for local artists, or Gunderbooka National Park to discover the incredible ancient Mulgowan (Yapa) Aboriginal Rock Art Site.
“We’ll continue to expand on the content of Creative Country. Locals will be able to keep us up to date with new listings and events, and we are also looking to include our two neighbouring regions of Arts North West and West Darling Arts, so soon you will be able to use Creative Country to explore and plan all the way from Broken Hill to Tenterfield,” concluded Jamie-Lea.
