Regional Arts Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s Regional Centre of Culture program and is delighted to announce that Artlands 2018 – one of Australia’s biggest arts event, will be centred on Bendigo and Castlemaine, as well as presenting arts experiences all across Victoria.
“Once again Regional Arts Victoria will rethink what it means for artists to come together,” said Director of Regional Arts Victoria, Esther Anatolitis. “Artlands Victoria will stimulate new thinking on how we develop, critique and power creative practice across Australia’s regions. We’re thrilled that the Victorian Government is investing in an ongoing Regional Centre of Culture program – an impactful way to showcase our state of the arts.”
Artlands is the Regional Arts Australia biennial, held regionally in a different Australian state every other year. Artlands Victoria follows past events in Dubbo (NSW), Kalgoorlie (WA), Goolwa (SA), Launceston (TAS), Alice Springs (NT), Mackay (QLD), Horsham (VIC), Albury (NSW), Esperance (QLD) and Mt Gambier (SA).
In 2018, Regional Arts Victoria is presenting Artlands for the first time in 14 years, following the great success of Meeting Place in Horsham in 2004, an event that redefined the arts gathering model.
“Artlands is a celebration of regional arts and the Victorian Government is proud to support it as a key event of our first Regional Centre for Culture program,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley. “The conference and festival will be an opportunity to showcase the strength of Victoria’s regional arts sector and will once again demonstrate why Victoria is the creative state.”
“The Australian Government is pleased to continue its support for Artlands through the Regional Arts Fund,” said Federal Minister for the Arts, Mitch Fifield. “This important regional arts gathering is a highlight in our national arts calendar.”
Artlands Victoria will be held on 5 – 9 September 2018. More announcements will be made throughout 2017. For more information, visit: www.rav.net.au for details.
Image: Arts and Culture in Bendigo – courtesy of Bendigo Tourism