Artstate is a four-year project by Regional Arts NSW to shine a light on excellence in regional arts practice and to explore the exciting possibilities for arts and cultural development across the state.

This year’s event will see Regional Arts NSW partner with Arts Outwest for an exciting two-day program of guest speakers exploring the event’s core themes: A Sense of Place and Robust Regions.

A Sense of Place explores regional arts practices that respond to culture and landscapes, while Robust Regions will examine the contribution of arts to regional communities.

Along with the speakers program, to be hosted by the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre [BMEC], Artstate Bathurst will feature a diverse arts program that will showcase the Central West’s ambitious arts community.

The program will dive deep into the thick of Bathurst’s arts scene, covering the fields of music, theatre, dance, cabaret, performance and visual arts.

READ MORE: Bathurst Arts Council | Ready for the launch of Artstate

Highlights of the arts program include the joint BMEC/ Australian Theatre for Young People production The Climbing Tree, Nicole Welch’s moving image work Transformation [to be held at Tremain’s Mill], and a closing concert by the Regional Youth Orchestra.

Also featuring at the event will be musical performances by talented local acts such as Smith and Jones, Gabbi Bolt, The Orient Royal Mail Band and Kris Schubert.

The event will also feature a strong focus on Indigenous Australian art and culture, with the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Aboriginal Community Elders playing an integral part in the program.

The opening ceremony of Artstate Bathurst will feature an Indigenous component that tells Wiradyuri dreaming stories exploring the history of the Bathurst region: ‘Wahluu’, the traditional story of Law that gave Mount Panorama its name, and ‘Dyagula’, the story of the lyrebird.

The many different events happening throughout Artstate Bathurst will highlight plenty of the region’s existing and emerging artists, and with a large selection of local venues catering for exhibitions, there will be no shortage of creativity.

READ MORE: T.arts Gallery has new About Place exhibition

As Artstate is a four-year project, it is expected to be a once in a lifetime event for the Bathurst community, which has been highlighted as one of the stronger centres for the arts in regional NSW.

Artstate is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and Destination NSW, as well as Bathurst Regional Council.

The event will run from November 1-4 and for more information, visit www.artstate.com.au/.