Arts

City of Coffs Harbour’s exceptional art gallery and museum has been making waves in its first 12 months and the next major exhibition will be a deep dive into local surf culture.  Swell Chasers: Surf Stories from the Mid North Coast will open at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) [in November] ... the community can get involved right now.  

Surfing became the obsession of a legion of bored and restless teenagers in 1960s Australia, kids looking for adventure and freedom from the stultifying norms and expectations of their straight 1950s upbringing ... The arrival of the exciting new phenomenon and its far-reaching impact are recorded in a thrilling documentary film showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival in October.

Featuring Floodlights and James Range Band - 10 days of live music and workshops through remote communities in the Northern Territory ... Celebrated  live music and workshop program  Guts Touring  is back for another year, unveiling the two bands who will be performing throughout the Northern Territory for their 2024 program.

Sophie Baldwin. It is only 15 days until the curtain opens on the Golden Rivers Theatre Group’s spring production of The Emperor’s New Clothes. And it is going to be amazing according to performer and committee member Russ Allen.

Sebastian Calderon. A highly acclaimed dinner theatre production that is sparking conversation about mental health and wellbeing is returning to Loxton. After last year’s success, ‘Kick off ya Boots’ makes a comeback in 2024 for a new glimpse of the Connor family’s farming journey, with the show organised by Little Town Productions.

The opening at Raillery Saturday, September 21, will feature the work talented artists, Chris Dyson and Stephen MacKenzie ... In the beautiful valley at Stuart Mill live two artist neighbours whose works invite us into a mystical world.

Why is it that school teachers feel the need to torture the parents of their pupils? ... younger son for some reason decided to learn the violin. The teacher even let him bring it home to practice ... Ode to a Violin ...

Muralists are painting up a storm in Nimbin! Lora Flora has been panting rainforest images outside the new Youth Club room; Julie De Lorenzo, Jen Harkness and Gaia Heart are painting in the newly upgraded laneway next to the Bakery, with help from Nimbin Central students Maddie Wilson and Grace Adlington, using Council funding left over from the footpath upgrade.

Nimbin School of Arts has an extensive program of diverse cultural events this Spring, but one of the absolute highlights is the Twilight Recital featuring world renowned pianist, teacher and human rights activist, Roger Woodward. Sydney-born and now based in the USA, Roger Woodward’s international career began in the early 1970s and, over the subsequent decades, he has performed in orchestras around the world, and under the baton of some of the most famous conductors.

A new play by Cathouse Players is set in France and will be performed in Kyneton, but its star performers are Maldon and Castlemaine locals. ‘Trap for a Lonely Man’ is an intriguing mystery featuring familiar faces ... The Hitchcockian suspense is high in this 1960 comedy-mystery by French playwright and actor, Robert Thomas.

A report into the economic benefit of Bluesfest to the Northern Rivers region and the state has revealed the music festival, which is in jeopardy of not continuing beyond 2025, contributed $148 million to the region and $235 million to the NSW economy this year. Lawrence Consulting were contracted to prepare a report into the economic impact of Bluesfest which reveals significant economic contributions at a crucial time as the festival prepares for it’s final 2025 event…

What is happening at the gallery, well I will tell you. Our Paint a Skateboard Exhibition has opened. This exhibition has an absolute wow about it, so many different ways to make a deck look fantastic.

An innovative portrait project at Uniting Caroona Yamba by renowned local artist Harry Westera is uniting residents and staff, fostering a friendly community and preserving precious memories ... When his wife Grace, a Pastoral Carer at Caroona Yamba suggested he volunteer he took up the opportunity, and in 2 years he has hand drawn 91 portraits of residents, 52 of which adorn the walls of Caroona, with more being added regularly.

Tweed-based Wiradjuri artist  Hannah Lange has been awarded the top prize in the 2024 Wollumbin Art Award (WAA) with a stunning painting paying tribute to traditional First Nations weaving entitled Weaving by the River. The artist also wins a two-week residency at the Gallery’s Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio.

We had a whopping 96 entries for the Wild About Shellharbour photography competition and received some truly incredible images. We’re very excited to announce the winners of the Over 18, Under 18 and People’s Choice categories.

Cascade Art Gallery reopened after a winter hiatus on Thursday 5 September with a beautiful exhibition of David Moore’s 51 paintings of sky, landscape and domestic objects ... Starting at an early age David learned to paint under the guidance of his father and mentored by Sir William Dargie CBE and Harley Griffiths, who was responsible for restoration at the NGV.

Angela Hart from Nobby has been named as one of fifty finalists in The Australian Artists Awards for Emerging Artists ... Angela has been an artist for many years and as part of the local Back Road Artists group has contributed to exhibitions in local galleries and art spaces.

What do you get when you take a Fireback Huntsman home for research and photograph it in your bathroom? And not just any bathroom... Lego bathroom? And why? TEDx speaker, author and wildlife educator Steven Gill says "Let Me Explain..." with his new Australian east coast tour!

Jenny Pollard. A madcap romp filled with stunning vocals, incredible music and eye-catching costumes drew loud applause from the large crowd which attended the Lyster Opera performance of "The Italian Girl in Algiers" at The Rex last Saturday afternoon. The Charlton production kicked off the company tour which is headed across regional Victoria as well as a number of Melbourne locations.

J Lowe. There are rare humans who… may lack the neural apparatus for appreciating tones or melodies. But for virtually all of us, music has great power, whether or not we seek it out or think of ourselves as particularly ‘musical’. This propensity to music – this ‘musicophilia’- shows itself in infancy, is manifest and central in every culture, and probably goes back to the very beginnings of our species…

The Snowy Mountain Tango Festival took place, for the third consecutive year, on the weekend in Corryong. Steadily growing, it attracted more than 100 participants with dancers and performers coming from Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, as well as from Gippsland and the local region, including Albury/Wodonga, Batlow, Corryong.

The biannual cluBarham Rock by the River Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival attracted 250 attendees from local and interstate to enjoy four days of live music and dancing ... The four days of entertainment were complemented by dancing lessons and the opportunity to buy the perfect attire or pair of swanky shoes to complement one’s moves on the dance floor.