Artstate Tamworth

Regional Arts NSW will present Artstate Tamworth, a four-day event that will transform Tamworth into a bustling arts hub.

Artstate is a four-year program which aims to shine a light on excellence in regional arts practice and to explore the exciting possibilities for arts and cultural development across the state. The event was held in Lismore in 2017 and Bathurst in 2018.

Artstate delegates will be able to enjoy a two-day conference program discussing the themes of ‘On Country – In Country’ and ‘Arts in the Age of Uncertainty’. The program includes keynote speakers from across Australia and overseas including Emma Hogg (UK) of WildWorks, specialists in landscape-based theatre; artist and storyteller of Haida ancestry Patrick Shannon (CAN) who tackles important First Nations topics; and CEO of the Australia Council Adrian Collette.

Artstate Tamworth’s exciting arts program is open to the public and will include an amazing open-air concert, Girrabul Murris (talented Murris), featuring country music legend Roger Knox (aka the Koori King of Country, or “Black Elvis”) alongside local musicians; an eclectic mix of contemporary musicians; and Pulitzer-Prize winning play I Am My Own Wife performed by Tamworth actor Daniel Gillet.

The visual arts program contains three new exhibitions at the Tamworth Regional Gallery, in addition to ‘Light – Art – The Night’ which will feature five local artists projecting work onto buildings across Tamworth, including work by renowned Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie.