Acknowledgement of Country

Dharug

Bayadyinyang budyari Dharug yiyura Dharug Ngurra.
Bayady’u budyari Dharug Warunggadgu baranyiin barribugu.
Bayady’u budyari wagulgu yiyuragu Ngurra bimalgu Blacktown City. Flannel flowers dyurali bulbuwul.
Yanmannyang mudayi Dharug Ngurrawa. Walama ngyini budbud dali Dharug Ngurra Dharug yiyura baranyiin barribugu.

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English

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this Land, the Dharug people, and their continued connection to Country.
We pay our respects to Elders from yesterday to tomorrow.
We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Blacktown City where the flannel flowers still grow proud and strong.
We will walk softly on this land and open our hearts to Country as the Dharug people have for tens of thousands of years.

Credit to: Dharug woman Rhiannon Wright, daughter of Leanne ‘Mulgo’ Watson Redpath and granddaughter of Aunty Edna Watson

Blacktown Arts is an award-winning leader in the development and presentation of contemporary arts, exploring innovative work that reflects Blacktown and western Sydney.

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Spring 2024

Join the 4ESydney family for the 4Sydney HipHop Festival, as it returns to Blacktown CBD for 2024! Then deep dive into the history of 4ESydney through the exhibition Beyond The Elements.

Spend your Spring School Holidays creating with HOSSEI’s Makers Space inspired workshops.

Learn important Dharug stories and histories through the installation The Naming of Things.

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Makers Space with HOSSEI

Makers Space with HOSSEI

2 July to 14 December

Discover the vibrant and colourful world of HOSSEI in his brand new outer space-themed Makers Space!

Beyond the Elements with 4ESydney

Beyond the Elements with 4ESydney

1 October to 14 December

Celebrate western Sydney’s HipHop scene through the lens of one of its most important organisations, 4ESydney!

From the Collection: Portraits of Afghan Women

From the Collection: Portraits of Afghan Women

4 June to 14 December

A temporary public art display featuring photographic portraits from the Blacktown City’s Art Collection.

2025 Blacktown City Young Artist Prize

Entries are now open for the 2025 Blacktown City Young Artist Prize!

The Blacktown City Young Artist Prize is an environment-themed art prize and exhibition aimed at children and young people aged 3 to 14 years in Blacktown City.

For 2025 we invite children and young people to create an artwork that reflects on the theme Sharing our Skies.

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The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

An innovative multi-arts hub in the heart of Blacktown City.

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Digital

Explore our digital program through a series of digital tours, independent films and screen-based works and digital workshops.

Our Collections

Our Collections

Explore Blacktown City’s rich arts and cultural collections.

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Calling all young artists! If you have an aspiri

Calling all young artists! If you have an aspiring artist aged 3 to 14 years, get your entries in for the 2025 Blacktown City Young Artist Prize! This year’s theme of ‘Sharing our Skies’ asks children and young people to find inspiration all around them, from the warm sun that helps plants grow, to the powerful wind that transports seeds. Entry is free and all artworks will be exhibited at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, with prizes to be won. Submit by Wednesday 11 December, 5 pm
Learn more and enter via link in bio @blacktowncitycouncil #Blacktown #BlacktownArts #YoungArtist #ArtPrize #Environment #SharingOurSkies #Opportunity

Take an interactive tour with We Are Studio artist

Take an interactive tour with We Are Studio artist, Miah Tito-Barratt! Blacktown Arts is celebrating 2024 International Day of People with Disability with Kinaesthetic! an accessible tour for people with disability. Using movement and experimental sound, the tour will support ways of engagement with our current exhibitions ‘Beyond the Elements’ and ‘Makers Space with HOSSEI’. Offering a variety of movement options and accommodating to every individual’s capacity, you don’t want to miss this! Check out our link in bio for more info and to register. @blacktowncitycouncil @wearestudios @miahtbarratts_art #BlacktownArts #WeAreStudios #InternationalDayofPeoplewithDisability #AccessbileTour #AccessibleArt #ArtExhibition ---
Image: Artist, Miah Tito-Barratt photography by Louise Whelan
Please check out Alt text for image details

The 4ESydney HipHop Festival is coming to Blacktow

The 4ESydney HipHop Festival is coming to Blacktown this Saturday! Main Street and Warrick Lane Precinct will come to life with live performances, dance battles, family activities, a live graffiti wall and heaps more! Stop by the free, all ages event and experience all things HipHop. Saturday 23 November
Main Street and Warrick Lane Precinct
2 pm to 10 pm Register now via link in bio. @blacktowncitycouncil @4esydney @vyvent @powerhousemuseum @creatensw #BlacktownArts #4ESydney #HipHop #Festival #FamilyActivity #FreeEvent #4ETurns10 ---
Images: 1 4ESydney HipHop Festival, 2023, photography by Benny Clark, 2, 4ESydney HipHop Festival, 2023, photography by Nico Belasco, 3, 4ESydney HipHop Festival, 2022, Ama Asemaga Please check out Alt text for image details

What could the future of HipHop look like? Join

What could the future of HipHop look like? Join the conversation at ‘Future Thinking’ a night where Western Sydney creatives coming together to discuss their journeys, motivations and thoughts on how HipHop is being shaped. We will be kicking off with a an exclusive pre-event activation by with David Whitehead, Tactical Marketing Manager at Roland, in the Beyond the Elements exhibition home studio from 5 pm.
Then you’ll also have the opportunity to join breakout sessions and gain personal advice from industry experts! Featuring guests such as Jessica Jade, Capital Zee, A.GIRL and more. Register for FREE via link in bio.
Bookings required, limited spaces @blacktowncitycouncil @4esydney @vyvaent @powerhousemuseum @nswgov @creatensw @agirlartist @thejessjade @xcapitalzee @sunsetwithnaztygurl @wupdewup @andpeople_au @rickys.work @nadine.etc.etc @tinocharles #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #FutureThinking #HipHop #Discussion #Breakoutsession #Talk #4ESydney ---
Image: 4ESydney Conference, 2023, courtesy of 4ESydney
David Whitehead, courtesy of artist Please check out Alt text for image details.

Entries for the 2025 Blacktown City Young Artist P

Entries for the 2025 Blacktown City Young Artist Prize are now open! The prize invites children and young people to create an artwork that reflects 2025’s theme of ‘Sharing our Skies’. All artworks will be exhibited in the Blacktown City Young Artist Prize exhibition at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. Do you have a young artist in mind?
Enter for free by Wednesday 11 December, 5 pm More detail can be found via link in bio. @blacktowncitycouncil #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #2025YoungArtistPRize #YoungArtists #Environment #artwork ---
Image: Arushi Sivanathan, Cooler City, 2024 Young Artist Prize
Graphic design: Kim Gregory Please check out Alt text for image details

Hive Festival is returning for 2025! Blacktown A

Hive Festival is returning for 2025! Blacktown Arts, in partnership with Art Gallery of New South Wales for Sydney Festival, are thrilled to announce a free 4-day festival these Summer School Holidays. Explore the magic of kites, flight and daydreaming with Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro’s large-scale installation. Experience a Dharug storytelling performance by Jannawi Dance Clan, paint murals with Sam Absurd, weave with Angela Paikea and join artist Bonnie Huang. Stop by The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre on 16 and 17 January 2025 and then the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 18 and 19 January 2025. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for the full program announcement! @blacktowncitycouncil @artgalleryofnsw @sydney_festival @creatensw @jannawidanceclan @clairehealyandseancordeiro @badboybonnie @samabsurd @angelapaikea #SydFest #FamilyFestival #ArtActivities #Performances #SchoolHolidays ---
Image: Hive Festival, 2023, photography by Garry Trinh @garrytrinhphotography Please check out Alt text for image details

The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre

An innovative multi-arts hub in the heart of Blacktown City.

I’m an Artist

I’m an Artist

Blacktown Arts supports artists through annual opportunities across prizes, exhibitions, funding opportunities, and studio spaces for local creatives.

Our Collections

Our Collections

Explore Blacktown City’s rich arts and cultural collections.

Blacktown City Art Prize

Blacktown City Art Prize

Blacktown City’s annual acquisitive art prize open to artists across Australia, with a prize pool of over $23,500.

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