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| Wishing you Happy Holidays from Eastern Riverina Arts!
As computers shut down for the last time this year, notebooks close, and paintbrushes are put down, the team at Eastern Riverina Arts would like to wish our community the merriest of holiday seasons. 🎄✨
May you enjoy time with loved ones, some well-deserved rest, and a little creative inspiration along the way. We can’t wait to connect with you all in 2026!
Eastern Riverina Arts + The Station Creative Workspace Closure Period The ERA office and Station Creative Workspace will be closed from December 19 - Jan 5, 2026. |
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Are you a creative looking to level up your creative practice in 2026? Are you a group, collective or company with a bold creative project in the works?
There are multiple streams available through the Eastern Riverina Arts Country Arts Support Program and the Eastern Riverina Writers Grant to support proposals for 2026: For Individuals, max $750 – for professional development or the realisation/presentation of an ambitious artistic outcome, or For Projects, max $3000 – for original creative projects and collaborations that meet the eligibility criteria.
CASP and Eastern Riverina Writers Grant information sessions will be taking place across the region in December and January. Find an information session near you >
Applications close Monday 2nd February, 2026 at 9am. Apply here.
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| Stay Cool Writing Workshops
Begin the new year with a resolution to develop your writing. A series of workshops early in the year will introduce various styles of short, Japanese-inspired prose and establish an international collaboration that will see selected work exhibited in Griffith and interpreted by musicians.
🗓 Zoom sessions at 7pm on Tuesdays from 27 January to 23 February 2026. 🔗 More info > |
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| Wagga Weekender Music Festival
The Wagga Weekender Music Festival is a brand new celebration of eclectic music. It's made for curious ears and open hearts, from Persian experimentalism to Baul infused jazz to the goosebumps of voices in perfect harmony.
🗓 17-19 April 2026. 📍 Wagga and Ganmain
🔗 More Info |
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| The Bald Archy Prize
The 2026 Bald Archy Prize is officially underway, celebrating 30 years of sharp wit, bold satire and unapologetically funny portraiture. A cheeky counterpoint to the Archibalds, the Bald Archies invite artists to take aim at Australia’s most recognisable figures across art, politics, sport, media and more.
👉 Entries are now open. 🔗 More info>
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| Rare Trades Weekends Summer Session - Leathercrafting
As part of a two day event leather artisan Cassie Goding of CG Creations will lead 4 different leathercrafting workshops along with live presentations. Sale of goods and a drop-in leather stamping activity will be available both days.
🗓 Saturday Jan 17: 10am-4pm Sunday Jan 18: 10am-2pm 📍 Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens Site 🔗 More info> |
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| Christian Thompson AO’s House of Gold
A multimedia exhibition exploring the artist’s Bidjara and Chinese heritage. Inspired by a Song Dynasty poetic line, the works span photography, performance, sculpture, moving image and sound, tracing personal and cultural identity in evocative visual narratives. Presented with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and key partners.
🗓 Exhibition open until Jan 25, 2026 📍 Wagga Wagga Art Gallery 🔗 More info>
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| Under The Moon Painting Workshop
Unleash your creativity at Under The Moon painting workshop at The Studio, Coolamon. Guided acrylic painting, all materials, morning tea & light lunch included. Beginners welcome! Learn to create glowing moons, starry skies, and magical nocturnal landscapes.
🗓 3-4 Jan | 9am-3pm Sunday Jan 18: 10am-2pm 📍 The Studio, Coolamon 🔗 More info> |
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| National Photography Prize- MAMA
Australia’s longest running acquisitive photographic award, now offering a $40,000 acquisitive prize to the winner, named in honour of Dr Audray Banfield AM. Every two years, the prize brings together artists from across Australia who are developing and challenging photographic language and techniques in contemporary art. It’s free to enter, and all artists working with photography, including emerging artists, are encouraged to apply.
🗓 Applications close February 20, 2026. 🔗 More info> |
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| Harden Art Prize
The Harden Art Prize is a prestigious national acquisitive award recognising excellence in Australian landscape painting. Open to artists across the country, the Harden Art Prize offers $15,000 in prize money and the opportunity for national exposure. Accepted mediums include watercolour, acrylic, and oils.
🗓 Applications close March 1, 2026.
🔗 More info >
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| | | 🌟 The 2026 World of WearableArt (WOW) Competition is now open! From Kinetic to Bizarre Bra and Avant-garde, unleash your imagination and push the boundaries of wearable art. More info>
📺 The Mona Brand Award celebrates Australian women and non-binary writers for stage and screen. Early career writers can enter the $10,000 State Library of NSW award. More info & apply >
✍️ Kickstart Your Writing is a six-session, exercise-driven masterclass for writers of any genre. Receive group feedback, one-on-one guidance from Ashley Hay, and prompts to spark creativity and momentum. More Info > |
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🏛️ The Napier Waller Art Prize honours artistic excellence of current and former Australian Defence Force personnel. Win $15,000, National Collection acquisition, and People’s Choice prize. More info >
🎨 The 2026 Joblink Plus First Nations Art Competition is open to NSW First Nations artists. Entries close 20 March 2026. Exhibitions in Tamworth 2–10 May, with an online gallery to follow. More info>
📚 Magabala Books is calling for short romance fiction by First Nations writers for a world‑first anthology celebrating love in diverse voices, settings and genres within the romance framework. More info> |
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| | | Introducing Culture Club, where the ERA team are spilling the beans on what’s making us think, laugh, groove, and dream this month.
To Read:
“I just started Burning Questions by Margaret Atwood - well, technically I’ve been listening to it on my drive to and from work. Each essay sparks curiosity and reflection. And did you know you can borrow audiobooks straight from the library to your device? So good!” - Brittany Hefren, Acting Executive Director (Maternity Leave Cover)
To Listen To:
“I came across a young Swedish singer-songwriter, Sarah Klang, who combines a stream of conscious storytelling with a killer voice and ethereal sounds- definitely recommend checking her out!” - Maryanne Gray, Program & Partnerships Manager
To Watch:
“I recently started reading Wuthering Heights, in anticipation for the movie adaptation!” - Sarah Keane, Programs Assistant
To Do/Try:
“I finally found line-dancing in Wagga! Its fun and social and a good work-out while you are at it! The Bandits hold line dancing classes once a month at Thirsty Crow. All skill levels welcome!” - Ashleigh Pengelly, Communications & Engagement Coordinator
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| | ⭐️ Friendly reminder, if you’re looking for Eastern Riverina Arts to auspice your grant application, you’ll need to fill in an auspicing enquiry no later than 14 days from the due date of your funding application. |
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| Creative Riverina: Explore the Directory
Creative Riverina is your go-to directory for finding and supporting artists, designers, musicians, writers, creative services and more across the Riverina.
Whether you're looking to commission artwork, hire a performer, or find a unique handmade gift, you’ll discover incredible talent right here in our region.
If you're a creative, making a listing is free—promote your work, find new opportunities, and be part of a thriving arts community.
⭐️ Visit Creative Riverina now! |
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