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AGM and change of Board Members |
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Photo: A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts, 2026 |
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Western Riverina Arts had a very busy time throughout May and June. With two major projects in hand and a round of visits to the region, we have been checking in with the Western Riverina Community in our newly signed up car! |
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In April, Communications Officer Beatrice Waller from Regional Arts NSW came and gave some training to WRA staff and got to visit Leeton Museum and Art Gallery’s newly installed exhibition Marrum: Marrambidya Galing, an exhibition led by Bernard Higgins and Elijah Ingram. The exhibition is supported by the NSW State Government, Leeton Shire Council and Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council. This is a permanent exhibition on Wiradyuri water management from pre-contact to contemporary times using animation, digital media, visual art and sculpture. Check for updates from the gallery for its grand opening in September 2026. |
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Beatrice Waller & Elijah Ingram. Photo A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts, 2026 |
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Connecting Up in Griffith |
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L-R Yianni Johns, Magistrate Pauline Wright, Bonnie Owens. Photo A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts, 2026 |
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WRA caught up with ArtFarm’s Bonnie Owen to speak projects and partnerships including Speaking Place 2026. We also got to say hello to artist Yianni Johns, and Magistrate Pauline Wright who has a passion for the arts and who has had a previous career as a filmmaker, actor and singer. We also paid a visit to Griffith Regional Art Gallery and then Griffith Regional Theatre see Danielle Frank’s exhibition at ArtSpace catching up with Margaret Andreazza, Manager of Theatre and Gallery. |
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L-R Aanya Whitehead, Elijah Ingram, Margaret Andreazza. Photo, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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WRA caught up with ArtFarm’s Bonnie Owen to speak projects and partnerships including Speaking Place 2026. We also got to say hello to artist Yianni Johns, and Magistrate Pauline Wright who has a passion for the arts and who has had a previous career as a filmmaker, actor and singer. We also paid a visit to Griffith Regional Art Gallery and then Griffith Regional Theatre see Danielle Frank’s exhibition at ArtSpace catching up with Margaret Andreazza, Manager of Theatre and Gallery. |
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At the Roxy Community Theatre’s Swingin’ Blues Bros. event on Saturday 9th May we all got straight onto the dance floor for a few hours of brilliant music by Groove Inc and dancing with swing dancers Jo and Steve. What a great night! It shows what an amazing venue the theatre is. We look forward to Roxy 2 being opened. Keep a check on what is coming up at Roxy Community Theatre, a much-loved art deco icon in Leeton. |
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Narrandera’s Mayor Neville Kschenka plays bass guitar in Groove Inc. and was a star at Blues Bros. event. Photo: A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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ABC Riverina in Narrandera |
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Our team were there when Sally Bryant interviewed Elijah Ingram and Martyn Cook for ABC Riverina. The guests spoke in detail about their latest projects including Elijah Ingram’s film directorial foray with the short film Nganhayung Galingabangbur (Our Children). There was a discussion about making and playing Celtic Harps with Narrandera musician Martyn Cook. Martyn plays a range of instruments including clarinet, saxophone, flute and harp and offers music lessons for all ages across the region. Their interviews are on the ABC website on the morning breakfast show from Wednesday 22nd April 2026 and will also be uploaded to WRA’s Youtube Channel. |
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ABC Riverina’s Sally Bryant and Celtic Harper Martyn Cook in Narrandera. Photo: A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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On set for Nganhayung Galingabangbur (Our Children). L-R Writer and Language Consultant Letetia Harris with Writer, Producer, Director Elijah Ingram of Miil Miil Productions . Photo A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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On set for Nganhayung Galingabangbur (Our Children). L-R Writer, Producer, Director Elijah Ingram, Actors Lawrence Barlow and Marley Sharp, 1st AD Jess Murphy. Photo A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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| WRA is a proud supporting partner on Nganhayung Galingabangbur (Our Children), a short film created by Bernard Higgins, Elijah Ingram and Letetia Harris. Writer, Producer, Director Elijah Ingram steered the film through a week of night shoots in April and May that involved cast and crew from across the region, with some coming in from Melbourne with specific technical skills and equipment. The raw footage so far has delivered the extraordinary vision from page to screen which involves complex Wiradyuri dialogue scenes, thought to be a first, delivered by lead actors Yarri Lambshead, Darren Wright and Marley Sharp. The film is executive produced by the Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council and supported by the Aboriginal Languages Trust. |
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Night shoot on location with Nganhayung Galingabangbur (Our Children). Photo A Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
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We will keep you up to date with its release scheduled for 2027. Producers and Writers Elijah Ingram and Jake Speer were present at the Lords of the Soil screening at the Roxy Community Theatre at the end of May. There was a Q&A session by the filmmakers on the making of the film produced in the Western Riverina. This film has a regional release planned by Kensington House Entertainment over the next twelve months. Go to WRA’s Youtube channel and watch our behind the scenes video!
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A Season of Cool - extended |
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Come see the results of the Stay Cool project run with Naviar Records and Red Earth Ecology now running to the end of July at the Griffith Regional Theatre's Artspace, thanks to Griffith Regional Art Gallery. The Stay Cool exhibition includes poems and photos that were shared among the Naviar Records community of musicians, with dozens of pieces of music linked via QR code. Many of the contributors are exhibiting for the first time and some, such as Wagga Wagga's Anne Carpenter, are new to writing haiku poetry. This project has been supported by Griffith City Council through their Regional Art Gallery, as well as financial assistance from the NSW Government through Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW.
Photo: Supplied by Bassling by William Macleod of CBRmedia |
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Your artwork could be featured! Murrumbidgee Council is seeking original artwork to feature in our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which is currently being developed. This is a unique opportunity for creators to showcase the rich cultural heritage and community connection of the Murrumbidgee area. |
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| | Design a Postcard Competition |
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To celebrate Local Government Week 2026, Murrumbidgee Council is inviting residents to participate in our art competition. The competition encourages participants to showcase their creativity while celebrating the unique character, landscapes, people and communities of the Murrumbidgee Council area. Further information, including the competition terms and conditions, can be found via this link. A promotional poster and hard copy entry form are also attached for your convenience. Entries close at 5.00 pm on Thursday, 30 July 2026 with the winning entries to be showcased during Local Government Week in August. |
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| | Artist Callout - EOIs for Speaking Place! |
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ARTISTS APPLY NOW! Western Riverina Arts is proud to offer full sponsorship to two participants to attend one of the five Speaking Place workshops presented by ArtFarm. To apply, fill out the EOI form; applications close Friday 28th August. Find out all about SPEAKING PLACE held at Piccolo Family Farm Workshops: Saturday 24th October Festival: Sunday 25th October
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| | Update yourself on Citrus Threads |
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Griffith artist Nehma Vitols is initiator and artistic director for Citrus Threads, happening on Saturday 17th October 2026 in Memorial Park, Griffith. You can keep up to date with the festival program by subscribing to their newsletter. WRA is supporting the event and we look forward to its unfolding. Nehma Vitols is an award-winning fashion designer who created Vintage 2025, an artistic fashion event celebrating women winemakers of the Riverina.
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| | Seeking an Artist passionate about horses! |
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Barellan Clydesdales have just erected a sculpture of Ian who was bred by Ian Dalenburg from Murrami. Bruce purchased him when he was around 10 yrs old. Ian is made of concrete, and he was made and donated to the Barellan Working Clydesdales by Murray Horsman of Orange. They are seeking an artist who can paint Ian. If you are interested SMS Fiona on 0409 363 682 after 11am on weekdays. They wish to make Ian as lovely as possible so everyone can enjoy this historic Clydesdale. Barellan of course is the childhood town of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. So take a day trip, see her big tennis racquet, have a fabulous pub lunch and visit Ian.
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| | Connect through Creative Groups |
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With One Voice Riverina Community Choir |
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| Join in and sing up a storm at the Narrandera Arts Centre every Tuesday night (unless advised otherwise) at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and free to sing in a safe and caring environment and together, we can change the world, one voice at a time. |
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| ArtsHub @Narrandera Railway Station |
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Location: Gordon Hall, Leeton Multipurpose Community Centre, 3-5 Wade Avenue, Leeton
For more information contact Vita Vitellie via email leetonartsociety@gmail.com |
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Griffith Art Collective meets monthly. Contact Jenny Ellis via email or through their socials: griffithartcollective@gmail.com |
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Griffith Regional Art Gallery - Open Studio |
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| The Griffith Regional Art Gallery is opening its courtyard for artists to come in and enjoy a collaborative art space. Have you got an art project or artwork you have been working on at home that you just can’t get finished? Book a place at the GRAG Open Studio and join other local creatives for ideas, encouragement and inspiration. Open Studio Sessions are facilitated by GRAG Public Programs Officer, Isis-Rae Ronan. Contact them through their socials or email: Gallery@griffith.nsw.gov.au
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Jerilderie Library Knitting Club |
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Knitting Club hosted on Thursdays, excluding public holidays, at the Jerilderie Library. All are welcome to attend. Weekly on Thursdays 10:00am to 11.30am. Location: Jerilderie Library, 45 Jerilderie St, Jerilderie, New South Wales, Australia, 2716, View Map |
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Grants and Funding Enquiries |
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| Griffith City Council Community Grants |
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Searching for a Career in the Arts? |
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Bookmark this page if you have a desire to follow a career pathway in the arts. @artshub prides itself on being a central information source across Australia. |
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