Art and about in NSW - hit the road on a regional arts trail!

With over 4 million domestic overnight cultural visitors recorded in New South Wales (NSW) in 2014, art and cultural tourism is showing no sign of slowing down. From east to west, north to south, Regional NSW is home to an incredible selection of Australian art, galleries and exhibitions reflecting the multicultural and unique cultural heritage on offer in NSW. Guaranteed to impress all art enthusiasts, hit the road on a regional arts trail and see the state through new eyes.

Outback NSW: 

For a unique experience in a remote location, first stop on the regional arts trail is situated 10km from Broken Hill, where you’ll find the Living Desert Sculptures at Sundown Hills. Created in 1993 by artists from all over the world, these beautiful 12 sandstone sculptures look spectacular in the desert setting. Back in town explore more than 30 galleries on the Broken Hill Arts Trail including the oldest regional art gallery in NSW, the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery which houses an extensive collection of Australian colonial works and early 20th century Australian paintings.

Snowy Mountains: 

Experience some of the highest art galleries in NSW as the Snowy Mountains region hosts year-round art exhibitions, displays and competitions. The Raglan Gallery and Cultural Centre, inside the historic Lord Raglan Inn, is hosting a NAIDOC exhibition this month. Kunama Snowy Mountains Centre for the Arts on Kosciuszko Rd in Jindabyne features works unique to the region from renowned artists including Alan Grosvenor. The Kosciuszko National Parks Visitor Centre’s exhibition gallery features regular monthly exhibitions of artists from the region and touring shows, while Stewarts Information and Gallery at Adaminaby displays consist of historic photos, newspaper clippings, documents on the history of Adaminaby plus paintings from local artists.

South Coast: 

This historic region offers a fantastic range of art and cultural experiences, with local artists, craft shops, fine paintings and boutique galleries dotted around the coast. A fantastic arts trail is held on the first weekend of the month, starting in Albion Park and concluding in Berry. Encompassing nine award winning artists’ studios, galleries and cafes, the trail is a wonderful way to explore the region through the eyes of its local artists.

North Coast: 

Did you know Newcastle has more artists per capita than anywhere else in Australia? With this statistic, the thriving arts scene of this harbour city is well worth a look in on your arts trail up the coast of NSW. Partly due to the Renew Newcastle initiative, the city is bustling with galleries, exhibitions and street art easily explored through the city, or even better hire a bike using one of the city’s rental bike stations. Home to one of the State’s best regional galleries, the Newcastle Art Gallery features significant Indigenous works of art and hosts around 17 exhibitions annually. Upcoming exhibitions include ‘A gift to the city: the Roland Pope Collection’ from 15 August 2015 and from 28 November, ‘MAMBO: 30 years of shelf-indulgence.’ For one of NSW’s most unusual galleries, The Lock-Up is well worth a visit. A former police station turned cultural centre, you’ll find artwork displayed in old cells, along with events, installations and artist in residence programs.

Tweed: 

Further up the coast, your next stop is The Tweed Area, home to the Tweed River Regional Art Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah. Nestled amongst gardens offering vistas across the stunning Tweed Valley, the gallery boasts six gallery spaces showcasing historic and contemporary works, and art by regional artists depicting the local area. The permanent display of the recreation of Margaret Olley’s home studio provides a fascinating insight into the career and life of one of Australia’s most influential artists.