Arts

At the 40th Bentley Art Prize presentations were made at Bentley Community Hall ... Reg and Phyllis Hartley started the Bentley Art Prize in 1985 and ran it until 2005, when Helen Trustum took over.

Literary lovers, mark your calendar! Byron Writers Festival kicks off Friday 8 August and is set to ignite imaginations, stir conversations, and celebrate the power of stories at the picturesque Bangalow Showground on Bundjalung Country.

Nancy Whittaker. And now for something completely different in the MANet Art Gallery. Just in time to celebrate the Goldfields Gothic Festival, but extending into September. The Maldon Artist Network Gallery invites you to the opening of the exhibition 100 Coffins by Emily N3ver.

The Sculpture by the Sea project, incorporating the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, was the recent recipient of the prestigious Gratias Agit award in Prague. Founding CEO and artistic director, David Handley, travelled to Prague as a guest of the Czech government to receive the award on behalf of Sculpture by the Sea.

... this month’s topic is Amazing People ... The book fair itself is nestled between the CWA pop-up shop and Lowana, two long-established organisations run entirely by volunteers ... There are also people who make a career of volunteering and I recently met one such remarkable bloke. In his words he was heading out bush to earn a few dollars to support his real work – delivering books to people in the bush.

The 2025 Bendigo Writers Festival is fast approaching with the event taking place from Friday August 15 to Sunday August 17. This year’s festival celebrates the fusion of gastronomy and storytelling with a packed program featuring Ben Shewry, Helly Raichura, Jennifer Wong, Grace Yee and Thomas Mayo, along with many others from the literary world.

The Golden Rivers Theatre Group (GRTG) is gearing up to deliver a thrilling blend of mystery, comedy, and audience interaction with their latest production. “Oh, Horrors! It's Murder!” will have audiences of all ages hooked as the talented cast present tales of mystery and intrigue.

Sebastian Calderon. A local country music artist will embark on a world-wide journey through the United States and Europe, after being nominated for more than 19 industry awards. Loxton's Christine Clifford has continued to showcase the Riverland's country music heritage, being named a finalist in numerous categories at three major international awards…

Wandering around the Wilcannia cemetery, you would have seen the unique mosaic headstones. Colourful and creative, they give special tribute to our loved ones who have passed away. It takes care and time to make each headstone, and the work continues on with Uncle Steven (Stevie) Harris.

We're proud to announce Marnpi Festival, a significant First Nations-led arts and community festival co-designed by Badger Bates and Slag Heap Projects with Anthony Hayward and Nancy Bates, in partnership with The Old Vic Gallery Studio and Premier Automotive Tyres.

Sarah Herrmann. Narungga young people are learning how to sing in language thanks to a short film included in this year's Nunga Screen program. Created by Narungga and Kaurna filmmaker Jacob Boehme, Wild Dog Dreaming tells the story of a cheeky boy cursed to walk the earth as a gadli (dingo).

The Woman in the Waves is the second novel by author Camille Booker and it’s an extremely well-crafted work of historical fiction that mixes mystery, murder, mermaids and myth ... you may find this novel sits on the shore of your mind long after you have finished reading. A flotsam and jetsam of phrases and feelings will float in and out of your thoughts all of which leads me to say: ‘a book that lingers is a book worth reading’. 

Little World by Josephine Rowe is without doubt a very curious little book with a very curious little story. This is the third novel by this author who has gained great acclaim for her previous works and this latest book is destined to be another literary success. But having said that this novel is actually one that is incredibly hard to describe and even harder to categorise.

Mike Gillam. Like the parade of Coober Pedy blower trucks, emus create wonderful silhouettes in a landscape of prevailing flatness ... One moves slightly, and there it is, up periscope, the largest male still accompanied by the adolescents of the previous year, confirms their emu identity.

Ervin Janek presents over 100 small wooden portraits of friends, family, and community members. The series began in response to the tremendous goodwill that he experienced after devastating loss from the Cudlee Creek fires.

The Inspire Festival, a collaboration between the Shire of Ashburton and Rio Tinto, will bring a week of activations and events for all ages. Starting off with the 2025 Ashburton Art Awards Exhibition, followed by a culinary experience under the Pilbara stars with a degustation by Fervor, Ladies Night and then the final hoorah...Inspire Festival at the Village Green!

Rockhampton River Festival is set to light up the Riverside Precinct once again, with the full program for River Fest 2025 now officially released. From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 July, the city will come alive with music, art and culture and the best part? It’s free!

The Turner & Australia exhibition at Gippsland Art Gallery has entered its second month and continues to deliver on expectations, drawing steady and growing numbers of visitors from across the region and beyond. Public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the exhibition as “transcendental,” “superbly presented,” and “a major exhibition as good as you would see at the NGV.”

Ian Wickham. An emerging mural on the side of the Hemp embassy alerted me that a new muralist has arrived in town, Marta Kimberley. I was working next door in the Embassy watching it go up – thinking this deserves a story. So I talked to her about the highs and lows of the task.

If your kids or grandkids love books, then the Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Program is the ultimate event to nurture their love of storytelling, while having a blast at the same time! Hosted by comedian Peter Helliar, budding bookworms will be entertained by writers including Tony Armstong in his exclusive Byron Writers Festival appearance...

Announcing the launch of Dinner Party at the End of the World — NORPA's ambitious new multi-artform program exploring stories of community, resilience and hope in a time of crisis. We've engaged a remarkable team of artists, each leading a creative development project in collaboration with Northern Rivers residents.

This July, the inaugural Keys of Gold festival invites audiences on a month-long exploration of Central Victoria’s rich musical tapestry. Presented by Bendigo Fine Music, the festival offers 10 concerts across 7 historic venues in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Inglewood, and Maldon...