IN CONVERSATION: Join film industry icon David Stratton AM on Thursday, July 11 at 6pm at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery. David will be discussing his love of film, Australian cinema, and his career as a film critic and commentator. David has worked in the film industry since the 1960s in a number of roles including Sydney Film Festival director (1966-1983), International Film Critics Juries (Cannes and Venice) president, journalist, and co-host with Margaret Pomeranz on The Movie Show (SBS) and At the Movies (ABC) for 28 years. There's limited capacity at Thursday's talk, so bookings are essential. Ticket fees are used to purchase artworks for the BRAG's permanent collection.

SIX MINUTES: Enjoy an evening with former Bathurst local and author Petronella McGovern, as she launches her debut novel Six Minutes at BooksPlus on Thursday, July 11 at 6pm. Tickets are $5. RSVP to 6331 5994 or email admin@booksplus.com.au.

MET OPERA SCREENING: Die Walkure is an unmissable epic story of monsters, gods, and humans on a superhuman scale. Starring Christine Goerke as the warrior goddess Brunnhilde, whose encounter with the mortal twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, sung by Stuart Skelton and Eva-Maria Westbroek, leads her on a journey from Valhalla to earthbound humanity. Screening at 2pm on Sunday, July 14 at BMEC.

REGIONAL ARTS FUND: The Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund is now open and designed to benefit regional and remote arts practitioners, arts workers, audiences and communities. Applications close 5pm, Sunday, August 25. The Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote Australia and meets the strategic priorities of supporting participation in, and access to, the arts and encouraging greater private sector support for the arts. The fund encourages and supports sustainable economic, social and cultural development in regional communities. It aims to assist in developing partnerships and networks which leverage financial and/or in-kind support for specific projects and encourage ongoing collaboration; developing audiences and broadening community engagement with the arts and increasing employment and professional development opportunities while raising the profile of regional and remote artists. You can read more at http://regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/raf. If you have any inquiries about the fund, contact the manager of grants and projects at Regional Arts NSW on (02) 9270 2502 or email funding@regionalartsnsw.com.au.