| Western Riverina Arts Newsletter August 2026| Leeton Shire | Narrandera Shire | Murrumbidgee Shire | Griffith City | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
| | | |
Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition 2026 |
|
|
|
Image: Western Riverina Arts, Design by Jay Korhonen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Start writing because it’s on again! Western Riverina Arts is delighted to announce the return of the Murrumbidgee Short Story Competition in 2026 for its sixth year. Come tell a short story! This year, as well as celebrating our region’s writers with six prize categories, we are adding a new category which is open to National Regional & Remote Writers as a national accolade.
With over $1500 worth of prizes, the Jury Awards for Western Riverina Arts-based writers include: Open Prize, Open Runner-Up, Under 18, Under 18 Runner-Up, Under 12, Under 12 Runner-Up with some Highly Commended awarded at the judging panel’s discretion. New Category: National, Regional and Remote Writers Prize (entry fee of $20 applies to this category).
Keep your eyes posted on our social media and website for updates on how to apply when the competition opens. |
|
|
Celebrating NAIDOC with a Special WRA Team Member |
|
|
| Supported by his community: L-R Aanya Whitehead, Karen Davy, Geraldine Higgins, Ty Osmond-Davy, Aunty Mary Atkinson, Courtney Davy. |
|
|
On 24th July 2026, Western Riverina Arts was honoured to attend the NAIDOC Assembly at St Francis de Sales High School, where they showcased the video that our Team Member, Ty Osmond-Davy, completed as his first solo-produced film. 
Ty Osmond-Davy at the St Francis de Sales NAIDOC Assembly July 2026, photo: A. Whitehead WRA
Ty worked with Aboriginal School & Community Workers Brody Davy and Tinyka Tabain to film, edit and then premiere it at this special event featuring a wide range of interviews by students and staff discussing the importance of NAIDOC. 
Brody Davy (R) and Tinyka Tabain (L) worked with Ty to organise the special NAIDOC screening, photo: A. Whitehead WRA
Ty is a proud member of the Wiradyuri community who completed a School-Based Traineeship with WRA in partnership with St Francis de Sales, earning him his HSC and his Certificate III in Business. He has been so successful in his traineeship that WRA has kept him on as Digital Arts Assistant.
Congratulations Ty on your successful graduation, being a great contributing member of the WRA team, and sharing your artistic talents with the community! |
|
| |
|
Visiting the Team at Museums of History; (L-R) Director of Museum Operations & Visitor Services Susan Sedgwick, Chief of Staff Christopher Hodge, CEO Annette Pitman, MH Board Member Elijah Ingram, WRA ED Aanya Whitehead. |
|
|
In July, Creative Officer of Western Riverina Arts Elijah Ingram and Executive Director Aanya Whitehead visited the Hyde Park Barracks Museum in Sydney at the invitation of management from the Museums of History. Elijah Ingram sits as a Board Member on the Museums of History that runs the museum and multiple sites across NSW.
Immersive audio space, Photo: A. Whitehead WRA
The Hyde Park Barracks Museum has experienced a curatorial refresh that shows a very strong example of truth-telling of the First Nations presence in the time of the convict era. The new additions speak to a range of themes and subjects with a fearless, respectful and sensitive presentation. Using high-end immersive audio technology, it has fluid, tactile exhibition spaces and organic, intuitive displays that tell hard stories, finishing the exhibition with a pillar of screens showing descendants of that time; particularly moving is the descendant of Wiradjuri Warrior Windradyne.
Descendant of Wiradjuri Warrior Windradyne, Photo: A. Whitehead WRA
Elijah and Aanya met up with the leadership team, including Chief of Staff Christopher Hodge and CEO Annette Pitman. Both are avid supporters of regional arts and are open to discussions on outreach and engagement. Elijah continues to advocate for First Nations and regional stories through the arts and museum space with his important work on the Board of the Museums of History NSW.
|
|
|
Intuitive fluid lines of Hyde Park Barracks curatorial refresh. Photo: A. Whitehead WRA |
|
| | | | |
| | | Ensemble Theatre: Theatre for Everyone |
|
|
|
Ensemble Theatre is inviting enrolments from young people aged 16-24 residing in the Western Riverina region to join the ETC Regional Mentorship Program for the remainder of 2026.
For More information and how to enrol, click the button below. |
|
| |
Griffith Community - Remember You are Your History |
|
|
Come on down to Pioneer Park Museum and record your own oral history in a professional space, or have it come to you. The recording will be kept in trust and in secure conditions by Pioneer Park Museum for future generations and family members to enjoy; as a bonus, you will also receive your very own copy.
Stories can either be granted permission to be publicly accessible, or kept private; the choice is yours.
Importantly, they are OWNED BY YOU, THE STORYTELLER and form part of an important cultural history that everyone is living every day.
Open to everyone, and it is a FREE SERVICE. |
|
|
|
Curator of Pioneer Park Museum Fox Darcy with Creative Officer of WRA Elijah Ingram. Photo: A. Whitehead, Western Riverina Arts 2026 |
|
| Book Now for Speaking Place |
|
|
|
The Speaking Place weekend includes an open community festival, where workshop facilitators and participants showcase their newfound skills to the wider community. This event is a celebration of regional arts; and includes presentations, panel discussions, keynote addresses, live demonstrations, and performances. ArtFarm also opens the Speaking Place Festival to local and regional makers, with the opportunity to showcase their work and hold market stalls, and network with other artists. Find out all about SPEAKING PLACE held at Piccolo Family Farm Workshops: Saturday 24th October Festival: Sunday 25th October |
|
| | |
| Photo: Courtesy of South West Arts, The Night Sky Project 2026 |
|
|
SWA is delivering an event in Hillston on October 10, 2026, as part of our Night Sky project. Our aim is to deliver a project that brings together the arts, science and culture for one afternoon and evening. We will have an Indigenous astronomer discussing Aboriginal astronomy, an artist delivering light painting and long-exposure photography, including night sky (weather permitting) and a youth project making and performing a shadow puppet show. We will show a digital version of the David Malin Awards astrophotography exhibition and hope to include multicultural sky stories along with a community potluck. I am collaborating with the Griffith Multicultural Council and Carrathool Shire Council to engage local CALD and First Nations community members – spread the word
The Night Sky Project: Songs from Sky Country Free Event Balranald Discovery Centre
83 Market Street, Balranald NSW 2710
|
|
| | Griffith Bloomin’ Art 2026 |
|
|
|
This October, Griffith Bloomin’ Art is running its second annual Art Prize, hosted at Emeri’s Garden, as part of Griffith Spring Fest. Over $2,000 worth of prizes are on offer, as well as the chance to have a stall and sell your own art. We are also seeking expressions of interest for artists to run live demonstrations of their practice. Submissions are almost open for entry into the prize as well as Expressions of Interest to be involved in the Griffith Bloomin’ Art event. This year our theme is 'Growth.' Until we have the details finalised, please start thinking about and working on your submissions ASAP! Submission dates are as follows: · Intention to enter due by 30th September (Keep your eyes on the Griffith Art Collective and WRA Socials) · Images (photos/videos) of Artwork due by 10th October · Actual artwork delivered to Griffith Bloomin’ Art Prize, Emeri’s Garden by 9.00 am on the 18th October We are truly hoping to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event and make Griffith Bloomin’ Art a staple creative space to showcase the variety and talent of our local artists. For enquiries, please email griffithartcollective@gmail.com |
|
| | |
|
Griffith artist Nehma Vitols is the 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. |
|
| | | Leeton Community Group Vote |
|
|
| | | | Connect through Creative Groups |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A Night in Casablanca at The Roxy Community Theatre |
|
| A Night in Casablanca' transports audiences to the timeless world of Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, and one of the greatest films of all time with music that defined an era, from String of Pearls, to American Patrol, and Moonlight Serenade to In the Mood. Whether you’re a devoted big band fan, an avid dancer, or simply love the allure of Hollywood’s golden age, the Australian Army Band Kapooka supported by the highly sought-after local band Groove Inc. will deliver an experience to remember!
Come dressed in the style of this evocative era and be transported back in time with a beautiful evening of music, dance, and glamour!
Saturday 12th September 2026 7:00pm |
|
| | |
Ditch the gym. Make real connections. Learn to Swing Dance!
No rhythm? No problem! We start from the absolute basics. You will be spinning, stepping, and smiling before the night ends.
Why Swing Dancing? Instant community. Meet friendly people. Pure joy. Upbeat, pure foot-tapping music. Great workout. Burn calories while laughing. Zero experience needed. Seriously, everyone starts here. Cost
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - yep, FREE.
The Details When: Every Friday @ 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm Where: Narrandera Ex-Serviceman's Club Wear: Comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes Claim Your Spot because spaces fill up fast! Grab your shoes and let’s swing |
|
| Tuesday Night Jazz Griffith |
|
|
Tuesday Night Jazz sessions at Griffith City Band Hall at 496 Banna Ave is the new venue for TNJ (Tuesday Night Jazz), which will be held on alternate Tuesdays between 7.00 pm and 8.30 pm.
This is an opportunity for jazz players to get together and play through a varied repertoire of music, which will be provided, as well as developing improvisational skills under the guidance of Multi-Instrumentalist Martyn Cook.
The evenings are designed to be fun and totally non-judgemental, and with the aim of ‘getting out there ’and performing publicly.
Players should be able to read a bit of music, and have a love of jazz. There is a small donation of $5 per session to cover costs. |
|
| | With One Voice Riverina Community Choir |
|
| 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. |
|
| | ArtsHub @Narrandera Railway Station |
|
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Location: Gordon Hall, Leeton Multipurpose Community Centre, 3-5 Wade Avenue, Leeton.
For more information, contact Vita Vitelli via email leetonartsociety@gmail.com |
|
| | | Griffith Art Collective meets monthly. Contact Jenny Ellis via email or through their socials: griffithartcollective@gmail.com |
|
| |
Griffith Regional Art Gallery - Open Studio |
|
| 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 or visit: https://artsculture.griffith.nsw.gov.au/Griffith-Regional-Art-Gallery/Public-Programs |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The MAKE Group Coleambally |
|
| The M.A.K.E. Group in Coleambally is a regional social enterprise and community art collective based at the Kerri Weymouth Art Gallery and Studio, empowering local marginalised women through creative projects. https://www.kerriweymouth.art/make |
|
| | Leeton Library Writers’ Group |
|
| Meets third Saturday of the Month at Leeton Library. Contact the Leeton Shire Library for details. |
|
| | Jerilderie Library Knitting Club |
|
|
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
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Grants and Funding Enquiries |
|
| |
| Thank you to everyone who has applied to this year’s Micro Grants round for 2026! The interest has been wide-ranging this year, and we were able to assist in a high number of areas of arts practice. Applicants ranged from Narrandera all the way to Griffith, and we cannot wait to see what everybody creates from this opportunity. |
|
| Regional Arts NSW Quick Response Grants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Griffith City Council Community Grants |
|
|
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | Searching for a Career in the Arts? |
|
|
|
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. |
|
| | | | | | |
| | | |
| | This month’s WRA Newsletter was published by Jay Korhonen from Riverina Live as a service to WRA |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
