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Described as ‘Part Conference, Part Festival, All Arts’, ARTLANDS, the biennial conference of Regional Arts Australia, is being held in the inland NSW city of Dubbo from 27th to 30th October.

The first time in 14 years that NSW has hosted the event, ARTLANDS Dubbo is taking as its themes regeneration, connectedness and emergence – three qualities that emphasise the strength of regional arts.

The four day event will feature national and international keynote speakers and panels, facilitated forums, workshops, and discussions surrounding contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities through research, exploration, debate and collaboration.

Complimenting the conference is the ARTLANDS Festival that will feature a line-up of artists and performers never seen together in regional NSW right on the streets of Dubbo.

ARTLANDS Festival Director Greg Pritchard has put together a complementary festival program consisting almost entirely of artists from regional NSW including musicians Heath Cullen, Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, Dave Mason & Brendan Gallagher and Radical Son.

Internationally acclaimed Curator Djon Mundine will curate a new exhibition of work by regional NSW Aboriginal artists, Old Land New Marks, and regional physical theatre companies, FLiNG and Lingua Franca will perform their latest works.

Conference speakers include Jacqui Hemsley, Director at the recently redeveloped Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA); Clive Parkinson, Director of Arts for Health at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK); David Francis, the Executive Director at the Bermagui-based Four Winds Festival; Kalgoorlie based Chair of Regional Arts Australia, Kate Fielding; Director of Opera Queensland and regional arts advocate Lindy Hume; and Wurundjeri artist Georgia MacGuire, based in the central Victorian goldfields.

Hemsley told ArtsHub that the biennial conference is vital to the sector, stating “professional development opportunities, networking, inspiration and collaboration are hard fought for in regional Australia; you have to want it and value the role arts and creativity have to the social and economic wellbeing of regional communities.”

Elizabeth Rogers, Chief Executive of event host Regional Arts NSW stressed the importance of the conference for regional artists and organisations.

Rogers added “these Regional Arts Australia events are very special – all the different arts sectors come together and we want them to be inspired, we want them to start new conversations, we want them to catch up with old friends, make new friends, collaborate and network.”

Presented by peak organisations Regional Arts Australia and Regional Arts NSW and supported by Dubbo City Council, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 is the must-attend event for artists and arts workers living and working in regional Australia.

Early bird registrations for ARTLANDS Dubbo 2016 are available until 1st July.

Click here for event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

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