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.

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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Winter 2024

Have your morning tea with First Nations Elders at Elders in Residence every Friday.

Traverse a new outer space themed Makers Space with HOSSEI, then explore the depths of Hell with Jess Bradford and Louise Zhang.

Fly through out of this world workshops with Elizabeth Jigalin, Samantha Relihan, Anney Bounprasueth and NIDA, and secure a spot at the Blacktown Shorts Film Festival premiere at the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Check out the full program today!

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Elders In Residence

Elders in Residence

Elders In Residence

Fridays, until 13 December 2024

Acknowledging our place on Dharug Land, Elders in Residence connects all members of the community with First Nations culture and knowledge in an engaging community experience.

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!

See You in Hell

See You in Hell

9 July to 21 September

A collection of playful and subversive works by artists Louise Zhang and Jess Bradford exploring Chinese concepts of the afterlife.

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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.

Digital

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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Venture into the depths of ‘See You in Hell’!

Experience the collaborative artistry of @louise_zhang and @jessbradord.artist through their colourful and subversive works exploring Chinese mythology.

Journey through hell encountering works inspired by Diyu, where souls traverse a multileveled maze to atone for their sins.

Get to know the artists with our Afternoon Tea this Saturday! Alongside Makers Space artist, HOSSEI.

Open until 21 September.

More info and registration via link in bio.

@blacktowncitycouncil @creatensw @louise_zhang @jessbradford.artist @heelingfeeling

#BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #SeeYouInHell #Exhibition #LouiseZhang #JessBradford

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Video: See You in Hell exhibition by Louise Zhang and Jessica Bradford, courtesy of Blacktown Arts
ID’s: A series of short videos that showcase an art exhibition in a light blue gallery space. There are artworks that are detailed paintings using bright pastels and ceramic cups on a stand in the middle of the space.

‘We are excited to showcase the next generation

‘We are excited to showcase the next generation of talent taking over the Australian filmmaking scene’ as said by Festival Director, @vonnepat. Since the beginning, the Blacktown Shorts Film Festival has been celebrating, uplifting, and creating a platform for local voices. The newly commissioned films will be ‘exploring taboo subjects within closed communities, testing the limits of sisterhood, igniting the fighting spirit of our ambitious youth and honouring Blacktown’s migrant history’. Join us in enjoying locally made stories at the @sydneyoperahouse Grab your tickets and more info via link in bio. @blacktowncitycouncil @creatensw @sydneyoperahouse @vonnepat @fezshaheen @thepelesasadream @joshuasanerive @eliorahm @miskitto @abhiparasher @bagalrooni @h.k.leota @jonnytaouk @chi.thecreative @marcoalexiadis @vonnepat @esky.esk @regxazr @augusto_mak @daisy.montalvo @omightyseb #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #BlacktownShorts #SydneyOperaHouse #ShortFilm #FilmFestival #Filmmaker #WesternSydneyArtist --- Image: ‘A Blacktown Ballad’ by Herbert Leota and Jonny Taouk, courtesy of artists, ‘The Whispering Glass’ by Taofia Tauiliili Pelesasa, Joshua Sanerive and Eliorah Malifa, photography by Shalamah Tauaiolefue, ‘Humanising’ by Feras Shaheen, courtesy of artist, ‘This Town Talks’ by Abhishek Parasher, Chidiebube Uba and Marco Alexiadis, ‘Button Pusher’ by Miski Omar, Arundati Thandur and Farazbanu Anarwala, courtesy of artists IDs: Image 1 is black and white, shows a person sitting in dimly lit room looking down at their hands. Image 2 shows person in warmly lit room, opening up a box on the floor. Image 3 is black and white, shows perspective through camera of person sitting at a table. Image 4 shows person person looking out towards scenery with a sports post in the background. Image 5 shows dimly lit space with person in close up range, getting their hair done and looking towards camera.

Check out all the space themed creations brought t

Check out all the space themed creations brought to life by young creatives during the Winter School Holidays! We made space dioramas of make-believe planets, created music with self-made instruments and designed sparkly costumes all inspired by HOSSEI’s fantastical Makers Space. Everyone had a blast with amazing workshop artists, @samantha_relihan, @lizjig and @anney_bounpraseuth. Can’t wait for Spring School Holidays program, stay tuned. @blacktowncitycouncil @heelingfeeling @creatensw #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #SchoolHolidays #SchoolHolidayWorkshops #Hossei #ElizabethJigalin #SamanthaRelihan #KidsArtWorkshop --
Images: Winter School Holiday workshops with Anney Bounpraseuth, photography by Garry Trinh. (@garrytrinhphotography @garrytrinh), Space Dioramas with Samantha Relihan and Cosmic Orchestra with Elizabeth Jigalin, courtesy of Blacktown Arts
ID’s: A series of images that show children creating art using card and cutouts using scissors.

Have you noticed the public art at the Max Webber

Have you noticed the public art at the Max Webber Library? Check out ‘From the Collection: Portraits of Afghan Women’, 4 large photographic portraits featuring 3 generations of Afghan women! The photographs were taken by Gerrie Mifsud for the 2018 exhibition ‘Daneha (Seeds)’, at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. The exhibition explored the displacement of Afghan communities. To learn more about the project, visit the public art link in our bio. @blacktowncitycouncil @creatensw @maryamzahidpopal @blacktowncitylibraries @afghanwomenonthemove #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #PublicArt #AfghanWomenOnTheMove #MaxWebberLibrary #BlacktownArt —
Video: Courtesy of Blacktown Arts
Video Descriptions: A series of videos of photographed portraits on the glass windows of a large library building. The faces are photographed in black and white.

We are thrilled to announce the full line-up for t

We are thrilled to announce the full line-up for the 2024 Blacktown Shorts Film Festival! Grab your tickets to see these newly commissioned short films premiere at the Sydney Opera House. You’ll also get a chance to watch short films from the Festival Director, Vonne Patiag and some of the 2023 alumni! ‘Humanising’ by Feras Shaheen ‘The Whispering Glass’ by Taofia Tauiliili Pelesasa, Joshua Sanerive and Eliorah Malifa ‘Button Pusher’ by Miski Omar, Arundati Thandur and Farazbanu Anarwala ‘A Blacktown Ballad’ by Herbert Leota and Jonny Taouk ‘This Town Talks’ by Abhishek Parasher, Chidiebube Uba and Marco Alexiadis ‘Tomgirl’ (2019) by Vonne Patiag ‘Tony’s Dream’ (2023) by Augusto Garcia, Daisy Montalvo and Sebastian Chan ‘In Search of the White Deer’ (2023) by Esky Escandor and Reg Azwar For more info visit the link via bio. @blacktowncitycouncil @sydneyoperahouse @vonnepat @fezshaheen @thepelesasadream @joshuasanerive @eliorahm @miskitto @abhiparasher @bagalrooni @h.k.leota @jonnytaouk @chi.thecreative @marcoalexiadis @vonnepat @esky.esk @regxazr @augusto_mak @daisy.montalvo @omightyseb

Join us for Afternoon Tea with the Artists of ‘S

Join us for Afternoon Tea with the Artists of ‘See You in Hell’ and the ‘Makers Space’. Hear from Louise Zhang, Jess Bradford and HOSSEI and get the opportunity to chat with them over tea! Gain insights about Chinese mythology and concepts of the afterlife and unearth the secrets of outer space. Saturday, 27 July
1 pm to 3 pm
Free Register here via link in bio. @blacktowncitycouncil @creatensw @louise__zhang @jessbradford.artist @heelingfeeling #BlacktownCityCouncil #BlacktownArts #SeeYouinHell #LouiseZhang #JessBradford #Depths #Hell #Mythology #Chinese #Afterlife #MakersSpace #HOSSEI #UFO #OuterSpace #Cosmic #SpaceArt #UncontrolableFeelingsOccasionally #AfternoonTea #ArtistTalk -- Images: Louise Zhang and Jess Bradford in studio, 2024, photography by @garrytrinh, HOSSEI at Verge Gallery, 2024, photography by @garrytrinh IDs: Image 1 showcases 2 artists standing in brightly lit studio with colourful artworks around them and a silver storage stand to the right. Image 2 showcases artist covered in and throwing around boldly coloured fabrics

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 $20,000.

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