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Arts + Culture Update
March 2025
Griffith l Leeton l Murrumbidgee l Narrandera
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Warangesda Festival: A Powerful Celebration of Culture and Community
The 2025 Warangesda Festival was a momentous occasion, marking 100 years since the forced closure of the Warangesda Mission. The weekend’s events began with the deeply moving Walk onto the Mission, a powerful and emotional experience for all involved. Led predominantly by the families of those who once lived at Warangesda, the opening of the festival set the tone for a weekend of remembrance, cultural celebration, and community connection.
One of the highlights of this year’s event was the impressive showcase of local talent. It was excellent to see such a broad representation of performers from across our region, with standout performances by Lawrence Barlow and Zavier Beauchamp. Their contributions captivated audiences, adding to the festival’s dynamic atmosphere.
Dance was another standout element, with a diverse range of performances that showcased both traditional and contemporary styles. Burundi Theatre delivered an exceptional display, demonstrating the strength and beauty of cultural storytelling through movement.
The Yindyamarra Talks, hosted by Lowanna Grant, provided an important space for dialogue and reflection. Among the many compelling discussions, the conversations with Reverend Canon Shanon Smith and Gary Currey stood out, delving into themes of healing, identity, and community resilience. Their insights left a lasting impact on those in attendance.
The Gospel Tent was a powerful place of passionate faith sharing, featuring both local and visiting preachers who delivered messages of hope, resilience, and community spirit. Stunning examples of gospel music filled the space, creating an atmosphere of deep reflection and connection for all who attended.
Throughout the festival, official photographer Elijah Ingram captured incredible moments from the event, preserving the energy, emotion, and significance of the weekend. We encourage readers to enjoy a selection of these stunning images, which beautifully reflect the spirit of Warangesda.
For those who could not attend in person, Western Riverina Arts provided live coverage throughout the weekend on our Facebook page, ensuring the broader community could share in the experience.
Looking ahead, the next Warangesda Festival is set for 2027, and we can not wait to see the community come together once again to celebrate culture, history, and resilience.
Warangesda Festival continues to be a powerful gathering place, fostering cultural exchange, storytelling, and community pride. This year’s event was a testament to the resilience and vibrancy of First Nations communities, and we look forward to the next chapter in this incredible journey.
Photo: Care of Western Riverina Arts - Elijah Ingram. Taken at Warangesda Festival 2025.
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The Flamenco For Everybody tour set the Western Riverina alight with electrifying performances and engaging workshops, immersing local communities in the passion and artistry of Flamenco music and dance. Led by the acclaimed Annalouise Paul Dance Theatre, the tour brought world-class talent to the region, leaving audiences captivated at every stop.
The tour began with the Grong Grong Sing-a-Long Workshop, an interactive evening at Grong Grong Earth Park, where attendees learned Flamenco rhythms and songs. The With One Voice Riverina community choir opened the night with a moving performance before joining the workshop. The Grong Grong School of Arts added to the atmosphere, serving Spanish-inspired fare fresh from their pizza oven.
The Narrandera Community Dance Workshop gave dance enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the fiery energy and expressive movement of Flamenco firsthand.
The headline performances in Yanco (Leeton) and Jerilderie were the highlight of the tour, with audiences enthralled by the raw emotion, breathtaking footwork, and masterful musicianship of the Flamenco For Everybody troupe. The show seamlessly blended live music, poetry, and contemporary Flamenco dance, creating an unforgettable theatrical experience. Western Riverina Arts Executive Director Aanya Whitehead praised the performances, noting the powerful connection between the artists and the audience.
From Jerilderie, the tour continued into the Outback Arts region, spreading the rhythms, storytelling, and spirit of Flamenco to even more communities.
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This year for International Women’s Day, Western Riverina Arts Chair Oumi Karenga-Hewitt had the privilege of representing our region at a series of events across Sydney.
On Thursday 6 March, Oumi spoke on a panel at Breaking Ground: Women in Arts and Creativity Symposium hosted by Diversity Arts Australia. Speaking on the opportunnity Oumi told us "It was an honour to alongside Dr Anita Heiss, Dr Paula Abood and our wonderful moderator, Anushri Sood to discuss the theme, ‘Things My Aunty Didn’t Teach Me: Lessons in Sustaining a Creative Career’. As one of the few regional attendees, I was able to highlight the challenges faced by those based outside metro regions."
Across the weekend, Oumi also had the chance to experience two powerful productions: MJ The Musical on its final preview night, and Hadestown at the Theatre Royal. Both shows offered world-class performances and reminded her of the power of storytelling through live theatre and music. As Oumi approaches her directing debut with Mamma Mia! at Griffith Regional Theatre, she is even more excited to showcase the talent in our region.
The trip also gave her time to visit recent Horizon participants who are now studying at JMC Academy. "I’m so proud of our young people for taking advantage of local opportunities and using those to further their professional pathways."
The trip ended with the Voices of Women Short Film & Script Festival on Sunday 9 March. Oumi's script was chosen as an official selection with three women selected to read it live in Sydney, Nanyuki - Kenya, and Brooklyn - New York.
We would like to congratulate Oumi on all of her amazing work across the weekend and beyond!
Photo: (supplied) photograph by Isabella Moore
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Gala of Couture
The Couture Collection is the life’s work of fashion designers John Claringbold and Ross Weymouth who spent most of their career in Melbourne, and lived their final years in Darlington Point. Throughout their career, they won numerous fashion awards including Gown of the Year 12 times. A collection of 230 of their gowns was acquired in 2005 by the Griffith Regional Art Gallery.
GRAG Ltd Community Committee, in partnership with the Griffith Regional Art Gallery, are hosting a gala fashion parade showcasing a selection of these exquisite gowns to raise funds for their continued conservation. Due to the fragility of the fabrics, this will be the last time these gowns will be modelled on the runway, so don’t miss the opportunity to see them, and contribute to their preservation.
Saturday 3 May from 6pm | Black Tie
Whitton Malt House
Tickets and more information available here.
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Get Involved with Narrandera Arts and Creative Network in 2025
Narrandera Arts and Creative Network (NACNet) has a big year ahead, offering a range of opportunities for creatives to connect, learn, and be part of a thriving artistic community. Now is the perfect time to get involved.
Makers Space
The Makers Space at the ArtsHub (Narrandera Railway Station) is a welcoming, open space where you can bring your creative projects and enjoy the company of fellow makers. With plenty of tables and room to work, this is an ideal place to share ideas, collaborate, and create in a relaxed environment. Sessions run weekly.
Creative Textile Group with Lindee
Join us as we explore the dynamic world of textiles in a space designed for creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you are an experienced textile artist or just starting out, this group offers the chance to learn new skills, share techniques, and be inspired. Contact NACNet for more information.
Become a NACNet Member
Membership for 2025 is now open, and for just $10 per calendar year, you can be part of a vibrant creative network. By joining or renewing your membership, you are:
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Supporting the arts in your local community
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Connecting with like-minded creatives
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Developing new skills and expanding your artistic practice
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Accessing discounts on most fee-based activities
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Helping sustain a not-for-profit organisation, covering essential costs like rent, insurance, and utilities
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Enjoying unlimited tea, coffee, and often, delicious treats!
Membership is due now. Join today via the link below or contact us for bank details.
🔗 Join NACNet Membership
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The Bald Archy Prize
The Bald Archy Prize strikes a chord with the public, and a nerve with the arts establishment! For over 25 years, it has provided an opportunity for artists of all styles and standards to create portrait paintings of humour, dark satire, light comedy or caricature. It encapsulates the irreverent, larrikin Australian spirit in a way that appeals to people from all walks of life.
Location: Griffith Regional Art Gallery, 167 Banna Ave, Griffith, NSW
Exhibition dates: Saturday 29 March - Sunday 27 April 2025
Opening Event: 6pm Friday 28 March 2025
Find out more: Facebook Event
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Turbans4Australia: Our Southwest Sikhs Exhibition Launch
Explore the fascinating history of Sikh immigrants in Australia at Turbans4Australia: Our Southwest Sikhs, an exhibition that traces Sikh migration from 1890 to the present and celebrates their contributions to Australian society and cultural heritage.
Saturday, 15 February 2025, 10 AM
Pioneer Park Museum, 167 Banna Ave, Griffith, NSW
Join the museum team for the official launch on Saturday, 15 February, 12:00 – 2:00 PM, featuring live music and free food.
The exhibition will be open daily from 10 AM – 4 PM.
Free exhibition - Standard admission prices apply.
Join the Pioneer Park Museum team to learn about the Sikh community’s journey and legacy in the region.
Find out more: Pioneer Park Museum Facebook Event
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Exhibitions & Events Beyond the Western Riverina
If you are looking for arts and culture just beyond the region, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery’s autumn exhibition program offers a compelling mix of group and solo exhibitions.
On now and coming soon:
Nuanced: 75 Years of the Wagga Wagga Art Society (4 Feb – 27 Apr) – A celebration of the society’s current members.
Mei Zhao: Remapping Erased Landscapes (15 Feb – 25 May) – A newly commissioned exhibition supported by Create NSW.
Lisa Sammut: Radial Sign (15 Feb – 27 Apr) – A touring exhibition from Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.
Fantastic Forms: Bundanon (14 Feb – 27 Apr) – A dynamic exhibition featuring works from the Bundanon Collection alongside contemporary artists.
For full details, visit: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.
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Last Chance Exhibitions at Leeton Museum and Art Gallery
He Took My Beautiful – Raeleen Pfeiffer
Raeleen Pfeiffer’s powerful solo exhibition He Took My Beautiful is a deeply personal exploration of trauma, resilience, and justice. Through striking linocut prints, Pfeiffer shares her lived experience, challenging societal and legal responses to survivors of sexual violence. This confronting yet important body of work invites reflection and dialogue on issues too often left unspoken.
Closes Saturday 5 April, 3pm
Chelmsford Gallery, Leeton Museum and Art Gallery
Content Warning: This exhibition explores themes of sexual assault and contains adult material and coarse language.
If this exhibition raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available:
A Common Thread – Year 3
Celebrate the artistry of textile and fibre artists in A Common Thread, now in its third year. This community-driven exhibition explores the beauty of texture, light, and storytelling through thread, with each piece reflecting the invisible bonds that unite us all.
Gather with fellow artists and art lovers for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and creativity as we open this much-loved exhibition.
Closes Saturday 5 April, 3pm
Leeton Museum and Art Gallery
Stay tuned to Leeton Museum and Art Gallery’s socials for upcoming events and offerings.
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Penny Paniz Acquisitive Arts Exhibition 2025
The Penny Paniz Acquisitive Arts Exhibition returns in 2025 with a record number of entries, showcasing the incredible talent of our local artists. Held at the Leeton Museum and Art Gallery, this exhibition is a highlight of the arts calendar, celebrating creativity, skill, and artistic excellence.
Join us for the Opening Night on Friday, April 11th, at 6:00 PM and be among the first to experience this stunning display. From bold contemporary works to intricate fine art pieces, this year’s exhibition promises to captivate and inspire.
Do not miss this opportunity to support and celebrate our local artistic community.
Location: Leeton Museum and Art Gallery
Opening Night: Friday, April 11th, 6:00 PM
Exhibit Dates: Saturday April 12 - Saturday May 17
Leeton Art Society Inc. (LASI) members will be welcoming visitors across the Easter Long Weekend between 10am and 3pm to Leeton Museum and Art Gallery.
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Weaving at Waddi
Join Waddi Cultural Centre for a series of free basket weaving workshops on Tuesdays.
Light refreshments provided.
Dates:
Tuesday, 01 April 2025 | 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Tuesday, 08 April 2025 | 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Location: Waddi Cultural Centre, Carrington Street, Darlington Point, New South Wales, Australia, 2706
For more information please contact Waddi Housing and Advancement Corporation.
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Fiesta La Leeton
Fiesta La Leeton is back, bringing a vibrant celebration of culture, cuisine, and community to the streets of Leeton. This multicultural street festival showcases the region’s diversity through an exciting lineup of live performances and delicious street food from around the world.
Enjoy a variety of traditional and fusion cuisines while taking in performances by members of Leeton’s Fijian, Solomon Islander, Filipino, and Zimbabwean communities. Among the entertainment is Sydney based act True Vibenation, returning after a standout performance at a previous Fiesta.
Audiences will be treated to performances from Leeton’s Solomon Island Dancers, talented ambassadors of their culture; Twogether, a Filipino husband-and-wife duo blending Filipino, Western, and Australian influences; Leeton’s P-Pop Dancers, inspired by the rising global phenomenon of Philipino pop, performing to hits by BINI; Widiya Ningish, a captivating artist from East Java, Indonesia; Papapuka Islanders, bringing Pacific Islander rhythms to the festival; and Pastor Emosi and the River of Life Band, a group that has become an integral part of Leeton’s multicultural fabric.
Date: Saturday, 12 April 2025 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Wade Avenue South, Leeton, NSW 2705
Fiesta La Leeton is proudly supported by Leeton Shire Council, The Irrigator, the Leeton Multicultural Support Group, and JBS Leeton.
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PATHWAYS FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES
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Creative Australia – Grant Opportunities Now Open
Creative Australia currently has 14 open grant opportunities available on its Investment and Development page, supporting artists and creative professionals across a range of disciplines. Funding is available for professional development, residencies, and international touring, with grants designed to help artists expand their practice, develop new work, and connect with audiences worldwide.
Some opportunities close in a matter of weeks, while others remain open all year. Do not miss out—take a look today and find the right support for your creative journey.
For more information and to explore available opportunities, visit Creative Australia – Investment and Development.
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Venue Upgrade Grants – Funding for Live Music Spaces
The NSW Government’s Venue Upgrade Grants Program is supporting live music venues with funding of up to $250,000. This grant assists with infrastructure upgrades, sound and lighting improvements, and accessibility enhancements to create better experiences for artists and audiences.
Applications close 14 April 2025.
For more information and to apply, visit: Sound NSW – Venue Upgrade Grants Program.
Photo: Horrorshow performing with Janna Beth at Jams Karaoke in Newcastle, Thursday 16 February 2023. Photo by Playstate.
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Create NSW – Grant Opportunities Now Open
Create NSW currently has a variety of grant opportunities available on its Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) page. Funding opportunities are available for professional artists, arts and cultural workers and organisations across a wide range of artforms and disciplines.
The ACFP 2024/25 Round 2 Project Funding opportunities include:
- Creative Nations – projects for First Nations artists (individuals and organisations)
- small project grants up to $40,000
- large project grants up to $100,000
- Creative Steps – project funding for the development of new work (individuals)
- small project grants up to $40,000
- large project grants up to $100,000
- Next Steps – professional and skills development (individuals only)
- Cultural Access – projects (individuals and organisations) engaging NSW Government strategic priority areas (First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+, disability and d/Deaf communities) and target populations (Western Sydney, regional NSW and young people).
- small project grants up to $40,000
- large project grants up to $100,000
Applications for all project funding programs are open until 30 April 2025. Eligible applications are competitively and independently assessed by Artform Boards.
Visit create.nsw.gov.au for support resources and application details.
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Belco Arts Canberra
Belco Arts in Canberra ACT is currently calling for expressions of interest from artists for two public and community arts projects which will be delivered as part of the build of the new Gungahlin Community and Youth Centre.
Engagement with the local community is a central part of the development of both artworks, creating designs that reflect, represent and celebrate the local community. One work will create an entry statement to the building, utilizing the awnings and high level glass at the front of the centre, while the other will create a feature in the central courtyard through decorative fencing panels, inlays into paths or additions to seating within the courtyard.
Initial EOIs from artists (nationally) close Midnight, Sunday 6 April, and the full briefs can be found on our website here: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/community-centre/
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Mastering the Art of Painting with Isis-Rae Ronan
Does your child love painting? Then book them in to join Isis-Rae Ronan from Tambourine Art Studio for a Mastering the Art of Painting Session. Each session will focus on a different artist/master of art, looking at their style of painting and their process. This session will look at the work of Keith Haring. We will be looking at Haring’s work 'Bunny on the move' for inspiration.
Isis-Rae Ronan is an artist and graphic designer. Tambourine Art Studio was created to inspire community art and facilitate workshops where everyone feels comfortable to create regardless of your experience or exposure to art.
All materials supplied.
6 - 12 YEAR OLDS
Where: Griffith Regional Art Gallery
When: Saturday 12 May - 11am - 12:30pm
Cost: $30
Find out more and register here.
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Uplift: Digital Skills Program - Applications Close Tuesday 1 April
Uplift provides grants of up to $50,000 to support professional development, training, and mentoring in digital capability for First Nations artists and creative workers.
This opportunity is open to First Nations-led organisations and businesses to deliver digital skills training within local communities. Funding can support a range of development activities identified as priority areas for capacity building.
Projects must take place between 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026.
Applicants must submit a detailed proposal outlining planned activities, timeline, and intended outcomes.
Find out more and apply here: Creative Australia – Uplift
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