Regional Songwriting Contest
The Regional Songwriting Contest returns for another year and we are looking to unearth new and exciting talent from the Central West of NSW. Entries are about to open for the next competition in November 2023.
Local Stages supports the development of the performing arts in the Bathurst Region and the Central West of NSW. The program was initiated to “unlock” access to BMEC’s facilities and resources for the development of contemporary and innovative performing arts practice. There was a realisation that as regional theatre companies were disappearing regional performing arts centres were arising and that these could become hubs for a diverse range of regional contemporary performing arts development.
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About Local Stages
In 2007 Local Stages was funded as a three-year pilot project by the Theatre Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts NSW and Bathurst Regional Council (BRC). Sixteen years later Local Stages has firmly established itself as a vital regional program and funding is obtained from a range of sources with core funding continuing from Arts NSW and BRC.
Local Stages has developed a proud local, regional and national reputation as an incubator of new work and is often cited as an example of regional best practice. It is now part of the heart of BMEC and is intertwined with every element of BMEC performing arts activity.
Compareo
Compareo is BMECs’ inclusive arts program, providing an exciting opportunity for people with disabilities to explore performance skills. BMEC has partnered with local artist Catherine McNamara, who is a Performing Arts Facilitator for people with disabilities, to deliver a mixed abilities performing arts program for young people living in the Central West. The program consists of weekly group classes and an ensemble workshop each week in Bathurst.
The Man in the Park Monologue Writing Competition
Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) is planning on creating a new touring theatre production of a small series of monologues under the title The Man in The Park. We are looking for regional playwrights to script a monologue somewhere between 5-10 minutes in length. The monologue is to be performed by only one actor.