The annual Artstate festival is billed as a “celebration and showcase of regional arts practice in NSW”.

The festival’s forerunner, Artlands, was hosted by Dubbo in 2016 while Lismore is set to host Artstate later this year followed by the Central West in 2018, Riverina in 2019 and the Murray Darling region in 2020.

A report to council by cultural and community services director Alan Cattermole proposes Bathurst partner with Regional Arts NSW to bring Artstate here from October 31 to November 3, 2018 and set aside $35,000 in next year’s budget as council’s contribution to the event.

Artstate brings together hundreds of artists, producers and key people in arts support, development and thinking.

Mr Cattermole says the festival is a chance to showcase Bathurst as a “centre of cultural excellence”.

“Artstate provides a key opportunity for Bathurst to promote existing cultural infrastructure and arts practice and to share the newly adopted, 25-year cultural vision,” Mr Cattermole states in his report.

“It presents an opportunity to engage state and federal government in support of these initiatives.

“In 2018 it is proposed that Artstate will be timed to lead into the Inland Sea of Sound festival providing a significant patron boost and statewide media coverage for that event. In many ways holding Artstate in Bathurst should be seen as a marketing initiative for the region and provide the platform for additional sales as the 400 expected delegates will be offered event tickets as part of their accommodation packages.”

Mr Cattermole estimates Artstate would inject more than $400,000 into the Bathurst economy for a $35,000 outlay by council.

One project planned to run during Artstate is an event called Singstate, involving regional youth choirs from across NSW.

The event would bring up to 800 young people together for outdoor performances – possibly at the Inland Sea of Sound.