The Northern Rivers at Artstate Tamworth

The Northern Rivers will be strongly represented in the Speakers program of the upcoming Artstate Tamworth conference and arts festival, 31 October to 3 November 2019.

Mark Cora, our Indigenous Arts Development Officer, will join fellow NSW Aboriginal Arts Officers; Jazz Williams (Bega), Lorrayne Fishenden (Ashford) and Aleshia Lonsdale (Mudgee) to discuss Arts Development On Country.  For a number of years specialist Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Development Officers have been embedded in Regional Arts Development Organisations across NSW. This panel will discuss their programs on Bundjalung, Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Yuin Countries.

CEO of Regional Arts NSW, Elizabeth Rogers explains that Artstate is not only an opportunity for regional communities to showcase their work, it’s also a chance for delegates to gather from across the country to see something different each year and be exposed to the all-round excellence that regional NSW is capable of.

“We are so excited to be coming to Tamworth for the third stage of the Artstate project. From visual and musical, to theatrical, digital and written art forms as well as an extremely detailed speakers’ program Artstate Tamworth is shaping up to be another successful industry event that demonstrate the innovation and creativity of artists from regional NSW.”

The highly anticipated speaker’s program will be held during Artstate Tamworth on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November. Over the two days, delegates and industry leaders will come together to discuss the themes, “On Country – In Country” and “Arts in the Age of Uncertainty”. Complementary to the speaker’s program is the arts festival that will commence with the Artstate Tamworth Opening Ceremony on Thursday 31 October. Reko Rennie, The Regional Youth Orchestra and Roger Knox are amongst the artists involved in the free arts program along with Aboriginal weaving projects, a range of exhibitions, theatrical productions and more.

“Artstate is a one-of-a-kind event that we encourage everyone to get involve in and to support the brilliant work produced by artists in our regional communities,” added Elizabeth Rogers.

The destination for the fourth phase of Artstate, held in 2020, will be announced at the official Artstate Tamworth Dinner on Saturday 2 November.