If you’re aged between 18‐30, live in south‐eastern NSW and fancy yourself as a rock‐star blogger, then we want you! The search is on again for the official Festival Blogger to blog, interview artists and manage the festival’s Facebook and Twitter page live at the festival. If you live in south‐eastern NSW ‐ in the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Bombala, Snowies, Cooma‐ Monaro, Palerang or Queanbeyan and are good at writing, know your way around Facebook & Twitter, love listening to live music and are aged between 18‐30 then read on. Entries close by 28th May It's a fantastic op...

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This year the Perisher Snowy Mountains of Music is very excited to announce a new national competition which could see your band cranking it out on the main stage at Australia’s only music festival in the snow. (pictured: Wild Martins) We are looking for an artist/band with a professional sound and a wow factor – whether your flavour is blues, roots, world, acoustic, folk or fusion this is your opportunity to take your music to the next level.  All entries need to be submitted online by Monday 28th May and there will be 1 winner only. The winner not only win a gig at the...

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Don’t miss out on a unique  Food and Art Tour experience on the 20th May for only $77.00 which  includes Morning Tea, scrumptious lunch and wine tasting and a goody bag worth more than $100.00. The Tour will showcase some of the wonderful artistry and flavours of Eurobodalla. The wonderfully illustrated Eurobodalla Food & Art Guide comes to life on the 20th May with a tour of some of the studios, galleries and food outlets featured in this publication as part of the River of Art. Bookings are essential and places are limited. Ring 1800 802 528 or drop into the Visitor C...

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MUSIC         SATURDAY 19 MAY        BARNEY BARNBROOK MUSIC IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP 10am – 4pm @ St. Mary’s Performing Arts Centre, Queen St, Moruya. This workshop is designed for people who have a basic understanding of musicianship, but would like skills in Celtic, Rock and Blues improvisation.  Knowledge of D, E and A pentatonic scales required. The day will cover vertical and horizontal (modal) improv.  These will then be implemented in settings from traditional to avant-garde and includ...

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Mix an experimental performance and spoken-word Hip Hop artist from New York; a Quebecoise globally awarded theatre maker and playwright; an Artistic Director from an Australian Children’s theatre company that regularly performs globally; and a systems change expert who specialises in powerful conversations and you have the beginnings of what will inspire dialogue with delegates at the 2012 YPAA National Symposium this July. Presented by Young People and the Arts Australia (YPAA), the Symposium is titled Speaking in Tongues: How do we translate the collective language of the Arts? The...

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After the success of Bench earlier this year, Theatre Onset returns in May, uniting with In Theatre for Promise, a funny, tender, vibrant and moving play by English playwright, Megan Barker and directed by David Stocker. Involving a large cast of adults and students and intricate staging, Promise tells the story of a small town set upon by scavenging media hordes determined to beat up a news piece about a teen suicide cult. They’ll stop at nothing to tell the tale their editors and producers want them to tell. They certainly won’t let the facts or the feelings of the town’...

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Stuart Whitelaw  is finalising his works for his latest exhibition at the Mechanic’s institute, Page Street Moruya. He is making the most of the autumn weather and working out of doors as much as possible. His current series of landscapes is concentrating on the small lagoon systems (or ICOLLS) that punctuate our beautiful coastline. A short time lapse video of Stuart at work can be seen at http://vimeo.com/40923688 Stuart’s favoured medium is pastel used in conjunction with a clear acrylic medium. This enables relatively large works on canvas to be done in situ, and the co...

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The Minister for the Arts, the Hon George Souris MP, has announced the opening of the 2013 ARTS FUNDING PROGRAM.  Guidelines for the 2013 Arts Funding Program (AFP) can be downloaded from the Arts NSW website.  Application forms will be progressively released on the Arts NSW online application system. You will be required to create a user account and (once you’ve received a verification email) login to submit an application.  Information on using the online application form is available from the FAQs page of the Arts NSW website.  A series of Briefing Information Se...

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Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, has announced $7,000 in funding for South East Arts (NSW) Inc to help develop local artistic and cultural programs.   Mr Constance said the grant is part of a $98,000 funding boost for NSW’s 14 Regional Arts Boards across rural and regional NSW.   “This funding will help South East Arts (NSW) continue its creative work in the community, providing local residents with access to artistic and cultural resources,” Mr Constance said.   “Creative arts can have many positive effects for regional communities including deve...

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National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated across Australia each year between 27 May and 3 June. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey—the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision. The week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort. May 27 marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history. The 1967 referend...

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The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) will be bring its hugely popular one-day course Running Your Own Creative Business to Merimbula on Wednesday June 6 South East Arts and Bega Valley Council are working in close partnership with AFTRS Open to bring this opportunity to the South East NSW region.  This is an essential course for anyone working in a creative field. Creative practitioners often prefer to concentrate on creative and artistic output, but secured financial viability and success relies on the ability to navigate the world of small business too. Running Yo...

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As part of the River of Art Festival, South East Arts will present a rehearsed reading of a new theatre piece.  Sunshine will be performed at the Narooma Cinema on Sunday 20 May 2012. This performance is part of the development of new theatre piece created by South East Arts and written by Mary Rachel Brown.  Audience will be invited to participate in a discussion with the actors and writer after the performance. About Sunshine:  Alma and Bill are in love….with each other, with dances and balls (Alma) and with big game fishing (Bill).  They juggle their passions a...

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South East Arts will present a free arts funding workshop in Bodalla to assist individuals and community groups to develop skills in accessing arts grant money.  The workshop will focus on the funding rounds coming up in June, July and August, including the ArtsNSW rounds, Australia Council and Regional Arts Fund (RAF). Andrew Gray from South East Arts will cover the ins and out of arts funding and how to find the best ways to seek funding for projects.  “Whether you’re looking for $1000 from CASP for a small community project or up to $20,000 or more for something much ...

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(article from The Canberra Times 3 May) THE Gillard government's long-awaited National Cultural Policy has been postponed because of a lack of funds, a casualty of the tight fiscal environment in the lead-up to the budget. The policy, the first for the culture sector for nearly 20 years, is still expected to be released this year, but hopes it would be published to coincide with the budget have been dashed. The Age understands that while Arts Minister Simon Crean originally hoped to unveil the policy in conjunction with the budget, its release has been shelved because there are no spare f...

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2011 was a big year for South East Arts, celebrating 10 years as a regional arts board supporting arts and cultural development across the region.  The organisation’s name was simplified, a new logo and website were launched, along with a statement of artistic direction and the constitution was reformed. (image: fLiNG perform at the launch event, Sept 2011) In addition, South East Arts welcomed new Board members Bettina Richter and Catherine Andrews, two highly skilled and creative professionals who bring terrific knowledge and experience in the specialist areas of marketing and co...

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At the Board meeting following the Annual General Meeting of Regional Arts NSW Ltd held on Thursday 12 April, the Directors elected Lindy Hume as the new Chair following the retirement from the Board of Meg Larkin. Lindy was re-elected to the Board for a new two year term following her nomination being ratified by the members at the AGM. Lindy is also the Chair of the Regional Arts Board, South East Arts and Artistic Director of Opera Queensland, a position she accepted earlier this year following her stint as the Artistic Director of the Sydney Festival. In accepting the appointment, Lindy...

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Masterchef Julie Goodwin (pictured) will join a stellar line-up of professional chefs for a celebration of south coast produce, culture and artisans at the Narooma Oyster Festival this May. An ideal combination of fresh and tidal water flows means the four million Sydney Rock Oysters sold each year out of this scenic NSW town are of exceptional quality - the inspiration for a weekend of feasting and fun on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May. Julie will be helping some wannabe junior Masterchefs create spectacular dishes in front of the crowds in the main marquee and signing copies of her Heart of ...

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Remembrance Day Concert 11.11.12 – Calling for Expressions of Interest Coordinated by Snowy Monaro Arts Council Inc. instrumentalists and choirs from Cooma-Monaro, Bombala and Snowy River Shires will present a concert at Cooma Ex-Services Club at 3:00pm on 11 November 2012. As well as honouring Remembrance Day, this project aims to further develop and foster connections between performers and audiences across the Snowy-Monaro region. With the support of the Cooma-Monaro Arts & Cultural Activities Committee and South East Arts, we were successful at gaining funding for the project ...

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Announcing our Inspirational Guest Speaker - Dalgety Women’s Day 2012 - Justine Curtis. This year like many years before, over two hundred women from our region will be treated to a whole day of entertainment, friendship and good food at the not-to-be-missed Dalgety Women’s Day on Wednesday 16th May at the Dalgety Hall, starting at 8.30am.  This year, our theme is “Women who have inspired you” and the Friends of Dalgety Women’s Day committee is thrilled to have invited Justine Curtis - a wonderful, dynamic, inspiring young woman - as their main guest speak...

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Kade Brown Trio at Candelo Town Hall Friday 11th May 2012 at 7:30pm Kade Brown Trio present their "Sierra" album launch.  Enjoy the smooth jazz sounds of Kade Brown on paino with Steve Clark on Bass and Ken Vatcher on drums as they launch their new album "Sierra" .  Kade has been playing piano from a very young age and is a seasoned performer forefrontly seen as part of his trio. His ongoing studies and development in a contemporary element to his playing. With special guest Calum MacTaggart. Entry $15/ $10.  Supper available

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Heath Cullen, Friday 25 May at Candelo Town Hall from 7:00pm. Candelo's own, Heath Cullen is heading to Los Angeles this August to record his long awaited second album (with some very exciting musical guests soon to be announced). Before he leaves, Heath is holding a very special "Pre-Release Launch Party" in his beloved Candelo to raise funds for the project. The concert will preview new material from the forthcoming album, and offer you the chance to pre-order a copy of the CD with a personalised note as thanks for your support. And there'll be loads of special guest appearances fro...

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'A Night at the Opera' on Thursday 17 May from 6pm at St Mary's Performing Arts Centre, Moruya.  With a colouful set and a cast of professional singers from Opera Australia's Oz Opera, the much loved fairytale Hansel & Gretel will come to life through this entertaining opera. This production is created with primary school aged children as it's audience, but all members of the family young and old are welcome and will surely enjoy this incredible experience!  This production coincides with the 'River of Art' festival so please invite your friends and purchase yo...

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The next exhibition at Shop7 ArtSpace, Bermagui is 'Reveal Imagery – The Language of Stone' by Francis Keogh.  Francis has a background in pastel and acrylic media.  Seven years ago, in the midst of a creative hiatus, he bought his first digital camera and produced landscapes of the South Coast, which he sold at local markets.  Moving to Sydney in 2006, he continued to hone his skills as a photographer, and to learn the default image editing program of all professionals, Photoshop.  Last year Francis discovered a technique called light painting and undertook some...

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Spectrum goes Travelling North  The next performance for Spectrum Theatre Group Inc will be David Williamson’s classic Aussie tale, Travelling North. It’s a story about an older couple, Frank and Frances, who find love and decide to head for warmer climes. While they want to settle and enjoy the warmth of northern beaches, they end up being grey nomads, travelling back and forth as they get torn between their families and their new love and life together. The balancing act that Frances performs between her own life and those of her family is disrupted when she rediscovers t...

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The River of Art is an annual festival celebrating the rich tapestry of creative practitioners living in and complementing the beautiful environment of the Eurobodalla. The Eurobodalla Shire is located on the South Coast of New South Wales, on the Princes Highway between Durras Lake and Tilba Tilba. The festival grows from the community, presented by volunteers and is focused on promoting, celebrating and providing opportunities to experience local and visiting artists. Residents and visitors will be able to delight in an appetising program of live music, theatre, film, visual arts and poetry...

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The Perisher Valley in NSW's Snowy Mountains will open the 2012 Australian Winter Ski Season with-a-bang with a vibrant 4 day festival packed with live music at the snow over the June long weekend. The 4th Perisher Snowy Mountains of Music will run from Friday 8 June to Monday 11 June 2012 and is presented by the Perisher Resorts Chamber of Commerce and led by veteran musician David De Santi who has been the Artistic Director of the famed Illawarra Folk Festival since 1996 and is a member of one of Australia’s most famous bush bands, Wongawilli. With Dave De Santi at the helm you c...

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Musica da Camera, formed in 1979, is a Canberra-based string chamber orchestra of about 20 players. For over 30 years this group has been delighting Canberra audiences as well as music lovers throughout the region. The concert in Cooma will be directed by the acclaimed musicians, Vincent Edwards and Leonard Weiss. This concert will include works by Saint Saens, Vivaldi, Mozart and Holst. This programme also features the award winning violinist , Jessie Regan. PROGRAMME: SAINT SAENS Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso VIVALDI Concerto for two violins OP3 No5 HOLST S...

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Cooma Harmony Chorus presents: "A Gilbert and Sullivan Extravaganza". This unique production is the brainchild of Robert Shearer and will be presented by the Cooma Harmony Chorus and the Snowy Mountains Ensemble. The performances will also feature local and visiting soloists, including singers from the ANU School of Music. The concept of this Gilbert & Sullivan Extravaganza (everyone is now calling it simply “the G&S”) has grown out of the successes of last year's musical colaborations in Cooma, namely: Gilbert and Sullivan's, “Trial by Jury”, “Sing ...

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The first event in the 2012 Bega Cheese Concert Series, run in association with the Rotary Club of Pambula Inc. features Patrick McMahon, one of Australia’s proudest exports.  Patrick has just returned from a highly successful tour of the USA. Described as the “Superman of Entertainment”, Patrick has been winning over audiences in Aspen, New York, Nashville and Las Vegas. Patrick’s dynamic performances and charismatic Aussie style have been a huge hit in the USA. They call him “The Aussie Cowboy” and American audiences just love him. Asked about...

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An evening of hilarious musicality with Mic Conway and Robbie Long supported by Chris O'Connor. ARIA award-winning Mic Conway is a singer, actor, musician, song writer, fire eater, magician, tap dancer, juggler, latex mask maker, props builder and puppeteer.  A new duo show – “Mic Conway with Robbie Long”.  Stripped back, irreverent and shameless, Mic Conway takes the stage with Robbie Long playing unusual and idiosyncratic tunes that will make your jaw drop, toes tap and sides split. In a circus of comedy, magic and music they will delight audiences with some...

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South Coast Music Society presents Osmosis, an exciting new ensemble based in the Netherlands, consisting of five musicians of international standing who share a love of early wind instruments and their repertoire. The quintet’s focus is the early Romantic period, a time of experimentation and rapid change in wind instrument construction. At that time the  soundscape of the wind section was changing from one decade to the next and expanding in range and dynamic flexibility. Each of the performers in OSMOSIS has their own international performing career. We can expect to hear them...

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Ivy Hill Gallery presents works by Jesse Graham; Stan Squire and Trevor Hyde. Exhibiting 4 May to 11 June 2012 A fun finale to the season with this last exhibition opening on Friday morning, 4 May and running to 11 June.  As well as beautifully drawn and painted scenes on paper,  canvas and even a surfboard, Stan Squire has used colour pencil and linocut for this body of work renamed 'out of my head'  by Stan Squire. Jesse Graham's Swell echoes the surfing theme created by Stan.  This sculpture is made from steel with a styrofoam thought bubble. &nbs...

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Paintings and Ceramics – New Raglan Exhibition On display between 5 to 27 May 2012  “Pigment and Clay”, an exhibition of paintings and ceramics by two well known Cooma artists, Brigitte Mackay and Petra Murphy, opens at the Raglan Gallery Saturday 5 May.  Petra and Brigitte’s previous combined exhibition at the Raglan was “Rustico Italiano” in 2006 which featured ceramics and paintings with an Italian flavour. Their latest exhibition explores the artists’ love of nature and the environment and showcases Brigitte’s iconic...

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Assemblages   Lino Cuts    Paintings 27 April to 11 June  2012 What is immediately obvious when confronted with the work of Mark Ward is his empathy for living things and a poetic, gentle response to his environment. With playfulness, quiet humour and a colloquial vocabulary he is a master of gesture, creating mood conducive to intimacy. Over the past 30 years Ward has been developing a very personal sculptural sensibility stemming from his skilful observation and ability to identify, select and transform unlikely materials into magical forms, still potent w...

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Featuring the work of emerging sculptor Harry Townsend and painter Craig Cameron.  A two-man exhibition showcasing the work of the BVRG’s ANU School of Art’s Emerging Artist Scholarship Scheme (EASS) recipient Harry Townsend alongside highly regarded local artist Craig Cameron. The BVRG patronage of the ANU EASS contributes to a strategic partnership between the BVRG and the ANU School of Art, the closest tertiary art institution to the region. The BVRG became an EASS Patron in 2009 and Harry Townsend is the second recipient of the award. He has strong ties with the area and,...

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Night of Glam being held at the Moruya Golf Club on 2nd June at 7pm. The organisers can’t offer you fashion by Dior or Cardin, but can promise you some very special garments, never seen before in the world. Eve and Isabelle are very excited as they work at designing and making totally original pieces for this collection. The collection includes formal wear and outfits ranging from those for small children right up to old ladies, and also menswear. There is even bridal wear so different you will be amazed. The Night of Glam is being held this year in support of the Moruya Jazz Festival...

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The Sapphire Coast Tourism Board's Cultural Heritage Working Group has been successful in getting Federal Government TQUAL funding to promote our cultural heritage assets.  At present a number of writers/ researchers are putting together 'stories' to use as basic material to develop promotional assets that could be used in a variety of different media and Anne Marshall has been contracted to write the arts 'stories'.  That includes all art forms that might appeal to tourists and make the far South Coast an arts destination. e.g.: photography, video, television and film; visual ar...

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Former fLiNG member, Leif Helland,  has been accepted into the prestigious Melbourne Dance Company Chunky Move this year. The company has a new artistic director, acclaimed choreographer Anouk van Dijk from the Netherlands. (image: Leif pictured above last year in his graduation performance by Stephanie Lake) After applications were screened from 310 applicants, Leif was one of 130 dancers allowed to enter auditions run by Melbourne’s premier contemporary dance company Chunky Move. After five days of strenuous workshops and culling Leif was left as one of twenty dancers at the au...

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The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award is a biennial portrait prize for realistic portraiture.  It is one of the major art prizes for portraiture in Australia, with $50,000 prize money on offer. The standard is very high, with many nationally prominent artists submitting works. This has led to local artists being discouraged from entering.  To support quality local artists, Spiral Gallery in Bega will run a concurrent exhibition to showcase the ‘best of the rest’.  The Spiral Gallery ‘Salon des Refusés’  will be open to any artist living i...

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"Simulacrum" the intriguing work of emerging painter Mathew Heaney at Gallery Bodalla has been extended to run until 20 May.  Mathew Heaney has a fascination in exploring the unseen, the emptiness, nothingness, of which is so deep, so permeable and real, it is almost unreal. He is a natural, quiet artist that is content to explore ideas of solemnity and simplicity within his practice. Gallery Bodalla, Post Office 66a Princes Highway, Bodalla

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The award-winning Australian conductor, writer, former Head of Music of the Aldeburgh Festival and Artistic Director of Wigmore Hall, Paul Kildea,  is to become the new Artistic Director of the Four Winds Festival in Bermagui, NSW.   Based in Berlin, Paul Kildea has worked throughout Australia and Europe. He was Head of Music of the Aldeburgh Festival (1999-2002), co-founded by Benjamin Britten in 1948, which led to his appointment as Artistic Director of London’s Wigmore Hall. From 2004 to 2007 he curated the Perth International Arts Festivals chamber music program. His gue...

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Arts Minister Simon Crean has released the report of the Review of Private Sector Support for the Arts, chaired by Mr Harold Mitchell AC. Mr Crean said the Review was tasked to identify opportunities to broaden and strengthen the base of giving to the arts in Australia. "A strong partnership between the arts and private sectors will be integral to ensuring our arts sector is positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented through the National Cultural Policy," Mr Crean said. Mr Mitchell welcomed the release of the report.  "I am pleased to see the priority the government...

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The Four Winds Sound Shell is nearing completion, in time for the festival at Easter. World renowned architect and Bermagui area resident Philip Cox teamed up with the Far South Coast’s Rankin Builders to construct the new stage structure at the bottom of the amphitheatre at the bushland venue at Barragga Bay south of Bermagui. The builders and architects again wanted to take advantage of the spectacular natural setting and to incorporate elements of the previous structure, such as the lily pad pond in front of the stage. “We wanted to keep the history and not throw out the g...

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With the success of fLiNG’s 2011 program and an expansion of fLiNG’s community classes to include Tathra this year, fLiNG welcomes a new employee to the team. Sarah Taylor will be commencing work in March at fLiNG Physical Theatre. Sarah has been involved in several small-scale productions in 2011 and enjoys being creative and collaborating with others. This year she has completed the Australian Dance Theatre Summer Intensive in Adelaide and Quantum Leaps ‘Soft Landing’ Program in Canberra. She is excited about moving to the Bega Valley and assisting with the further ...

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South East Arts will continue to support the development of the region's museums in 2012 with the Museum Advisors Program.  Through financial support from Museums and Galleries NSW (M&GNSW), two programs will be run in the region, one for the high country and one for the coast. The Museum Advisors Program assists local governments and volunteer museums to develop more effectively operated and vibrant museums leading to greater tourism opportunities for the museums and their towns. The scheme is modelled on the Heritage Advisors Network, which is coordinated by the NSW Heritage Bran...

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