Bathurst Arts Council Column

Wednesday December 10, 2008

Seven days and seven ways to stretch your creative wings:

One: Put your name on the open-mic backboard at tonight’s Wattle Foyer Soiree. This very cruisy showcase of local talent starts at 7pm upstairs in the Wattle Foyer at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre. Bring along a song, a poem to perform, something you’ve been working on or just turn up for some free entertainment. The bar will be open. Info 6333 6161.

Two: Carillion Theatrical Society are producing the popular musical Les Miserables next year. Auditions will be held this week. Principals tonight at 7pm, the chorus and small speaking parts tomorrow night 7pm, children on Friday at 7pm followed by call-backs on Sunday 10am, all at Milltown Hall in Bathurst. Info: 6331 8753.

Three: An expert from the National Archives will be at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery to present a free Photographic Conservation Workshop and Clinic this Friday, 10am-3pm. The workshop will include information on how to store, preserve, handle and display photographs found in both institutional and family collections. Bring along your historic B&W or colour photos for discussion and advice. Bookings essential 6333 6555.

Four: Find the inner fool at the Bathurst Theatre Company YOUtheatre Drama Celebration, Festivale Of Fools, this Saturday 12-3pm in Machattie Park. Music, dance, circus, puppets large and small, masks and general shenanigans will be the order of the day from the youth theatre members as well as a jumping castle, face painting, food and more.

Five: Kick up your heels at the Bathurst Country Music Club Christmas Concert 4pm on

Sunday at Bathurst RSL Club.

Six: Get your application in for the Hill End Artists in Residence Program 2009. Applications close this Friday December 12. Contact Bathurst Regional Art Gallery 6333 6555.

Seven: Nominate a talented young person for a Bathurst Youth Art Award. The ten recipients of the 2008 2BS Youth Arts Awards were honoured in a concert last Saturday afternoon. The annual winner of the Family First Credit Union Youth Arts Award will be announced alongside other annual community awards on Monday December 15. Nomination forms for 2009 from www.bathurstartscouncil.org.au

Bathurst Arts Council Column

Wednesday December 3, 2008

Each month the Bathurst Arts Council awards the 2BS Youth Arts Award to someone aged 12-24 who has excelled not just in the arts but in contributing to the community. See performances by winners Saturday, 3pm at BMEC. An overall Family First Credit Union Annual Youth Arts Award will be presented on Australia Day 2009. If you know a worthy candidate for the 2009 awards grab a nomination form from www.bathurstartscouncil.org.au

Today is International Day of People with a Disability. Last night an exhibition works by Bathurst Independent Living Skills clients opened at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre. The Seymour Centre will also run a day of art and craft activities today. More info: www.dontdismyability.com.au

Bathurst TAFE’s End of Year Student Exhibition opens tomorrow night, 6pm and runs weekday to Friday December 19 at the Panorama Ave Campus. Central West Community College will run a

Digital Photography Course for SLR cameras this Saturday, 10am-4pm. 1300 136 885 to enrol.

Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues will be performed again in Bathurst next year, with the project launched 7pm this Friday night at the Commercial Hotel Bathurst. In 2009 Carillion Theatrical Society are presenting Les Miserables. Their  information nights are next Monday and Tuesday, 7pm at Milltown Hall with auditions to follow later in the week. Info: 6331 8753.

John Merkel will kick off the new Bathurst Regional Art Gallery exhibitions with a talk 5pm Friday night on the making of his documentary portrait of Lulu Wilson, foster daughter of Norman Lindsay. Other new exhibitions, opening 6pm Friday, are the nostalgic Summers Past: Golden Days in the Sun 1950-1970, Director's Choice of New Acquisitions and High Tea: Ceramics from the Collection.

Also this weekend Sunny Corner Sunday brings out artists and craftspeople of Yetholme, Tarana and Meadow Flat with exhibitions in their studios of mosaics, prints, fashion handbags, jewellery and more. Follow the yellow signs.

Sunday is Carols by Candlelight at Machattie Park featuring Mitchell Conservatorium Ensembles and Bathurst City & RSL Band. And next Tuesday the Bathurst Folk Club have lined up Alistair Hulett & David Rovics for a show at Café Kai from 7.30pm.

For more events this week right around the region go to www.artsoutwest.org.au/events

Bathurst Arts Council Column

Wednesday November 26, 2008

Just four short weeks to Christmas and if you’ve so far missed the decorations in shops or the influx of party invites you can’t miss the festive season this week with the wonderful Song Company visiting town for their show 12 Days of Christmas this Saturday night, 6.30pm, at All Saints Cathedral. Six singers under the guidance of Ronald Peelman will perform music from all parts of the world in a witty and offbeat celebration of Christmas. Tickets at the door. Follow this up with an Advent Carols Service Sunday, 4.30pm, at All Saints Cathedral.  

If you’re thinking of handmade cards or gifts this Christmas, brush up those scrapbooking skills in an All Day Album Making Workshop Saturday, 10am-4pm at the Girl Guide Hall in Charlotte Street (6337 3667), or pick up craft items at the Bathurst Craft and Gift Expo over the weekend at the Showground.

The year is changing over and so are the exhibitions at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery. This is your last weekend to see the drawing exhibitions before a host of great new summer themed works arrive next week. Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre launches their 2009 season next Monday. Book your 2009 subscription season passes from Monday December 1: 6333 6161.

Next week we celebrate the International Day of People with a Disability, Wednesday December 3. Opening Tuesday in the Wattle Foyer at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre is Bathurst Independent Living Skills’ ‘Let's Be Creative Through Art’ exhibition of works created in workshops with artist Kay Chapman. The Seymour Centre will also run a day of art and craft activities next Wednesday. More info: www.dontdismyability.com.au

With the Federal Government just announcing a bonus $959,000 to Bathurst Regional Council for infrastructure, now is the time to talk to your local councillors about cultural facilities: like additional improvements to community halls or our gallery and museums or even a long hoped for arts and cultural centre. If you have ideas Bathurst Arts Council would also like to hear from you. Email  news@bathurstartscouncil.org.au

For more events this week right around the region go to www.artsoutwest.org.au/events

Send your contributions for this column to news@bathurstartscouncil.org.au

Report on Wiradjuri Basket Weaving Workshop

Thirteen folk came together on a bleak Saturday in late July in Bathurst for the sheet warm pleasure of learning indigenous basket weaving techniques. Tutor Bev Coe, a Wiadjuri woman from Condobolin, together with West Women Weaving's Heather Blackley and Sue Williams, introduced the group to a selection of suitable fibres - beginning with raffia, and various twines, and proceeding to the use of spiny sedge, (Cyperus gymnocaulos) a native grass which grows along waterways. Bev's sedge had been sourced along the Lachlan river.

She showed the coiled weaving technique suitable for baskets, the loose open weave method suitable for 'string bags', and the method of twining fibre by hand. Bev's own beautiful baskets were being exhibited at the same time at Gallery on Bant in Bathurst - quite an inspiration for those present!

Organised by The Gallery in Bant through the assistance of a Quick Reponse Grant from Regional Arts NSW through the Regional Arts Fund, the workshop was held at Central Design Studio Artspace in Bathurst, with a wonderful lunch also provided. Participants enjoyed the day, the gentle teaching method and the light-hearted company of those present.

West Women Weaving are planning another weekend-long workshop in Condobolin early next year in conjucntion with the Ngarrindjeri weavers from the Coorong in South Australia - highly recommended!

by Carol Endean Little

 Bathurst Arts Council Newsletters

start year 2008 http://bathurstartscouncil.org.au/doc/BACnewsletter3.pdf

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