ATURA LIVE: Sing and Sketch to Your Heart's Content - Atura Blacktown Fosters the Local Community's Creative Spirit

As the sun sets on the work week, the tempo changes at Atura Blacktown in preparation for a weekend of art and music. Born out of supporting a talent quest and art competition at the local agricultural show the Atura Blacktown team was struck by the breadth and standard of local talent.

Edgy, art-inspired design and connecting with local communities is at the heart of the Atura philosophy. Designed with hotel guests and locals in mind, the vision is always to create a comfy and ultimately inspiring place to relax and unwind in. The dynamic spaces and hip styling contribute to the high-energy hotel's quirky yet inviting feel.

The launch of ATURA LIVE which currently comprises two activities (Open Mic and Sketch Club) provides a platform for local performance and visual artists to be seen and heard using the high-energy hotel spaces as the backdrop.

“Fostering creativity and nurturing the arts is fundamental to the Atura brand. Atura Live provides us with a platform to connect with local artists and musicians while engaging and inspiring our guests with something that is really unique and special. We look forward to introducing Atura Live concepts through all our hotel communities as they launch.” said Geoff York, Director of Operations of Atura Hotels & Resorts.

On Saturday afternoons, emerging performance artists liven up the lobby as part of ATURA OPEN MIC. Ensuring local musicians feel supported, Atura Blacktown has partnered with local Bam Bam Music School and Kirk Burgess from 'The Big Foozle' who specialises in developing performance skills of emerging artists.

“I believe music should be fun and entertaining and getting valuable onstage experience while connecting with other musicians and singers helps to take the fear out of live performance. Atura Blacktown's investment in the local music scene through ATURA OPEN MIC provides emerging artists with an opportunity to really develop their performance skills” said Kirk Burgess from The Big Foozle.

Musicians performing on the day go in the draw to win prizes including vouchers for Atura Blacktown's Roadhouse Bar & Grill and Bam Bam Music Store.

On Sunday the microphones and amp make way for easels and charcoal as artists meet in the lobby for Sunday afternoon Sketch Club thanks to a partnership with the Blacktown Arts Centre. Hotel and restaurant guests become witness to art in creation as artists connected to Blacktown Art Centre immerse themselves in their craft.

The urban-industrial styling of Atura Blacktown combined with contemporary art from Martin Mischkulnig's photographic exhibition 'Regarding Retro' commissioned by Blacktown Art Centre in 2005 offers a stimulating, creative environment for artists. In a break from the norm, models in Atura Blacktown's sessions are clothed allowing artists to explore alternative ways of translating the human body.

ATURA OPEN MIC is free and runs from 3pm - 6pm every Saturday afternoon. Artists can simply turn up on the day or email song choice to kirk@thebigfoozle.com if assistance with back-up music is required. For more information visit bit.ly/AturaOpenMic.

Atura Blacktown's Sunday afternoon Sketch Club starts at 2pm on Sunday afternoon and artists can book for the classes on line via bit.ly/AturaSketchClub. All proceeds go directly to the Blacktown Arts Centre.

For more information visit - www.aturahotels.com.au