City of Bendigo highlights its thriving creative industries

Recent Helpmann awards for Bendigo’s Arena Theatre Company and Best Ballet highlight the ongoing success of Bendigo’s creative industries.

Bendigo’s resident theatre company, Arena Theatre Company, was awarded a Helpmann for the category of Best Presentation for Children and Young People for its original piece Robot Song.

Aurum, a contemporary ballet choreographed by Bendigo’s own Alice Topp, also received a Helpmann Award for Best Ballet.

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said it was wonderful to see Bendigo continuing to ride the wave of an amazing cultural resurgence.

Bendigo Art Gallery’s Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits exhibition exceeded the 55,000 expected visitation numbers with visitors enjoying artwork that has never before been displayed in Australia.

The Australian Sheep and Wool Show is returning to Bendigo for its 20th year this weekend. It is Australia’s largest sheep show featuring not only sales and competitions, but it also has a strong focus on celebrating innovative farming practices and the wonderful world of wool craft, fibre and fashion.

From 9th to 11th August, the eighth Bendigo Writers Festival will take place and it’s on track to break all previous box office records with more than 3,500 session attendees expected.

From 17th August, Bendigo Art Gallery will welcome another Australian exclusive exhibition, Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, which explores the 80-year history of the Spanish fashion house.

The 7th Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music has just launched its most ambitious program to date. The September event will showcase artists and composers of new music from around the globe, including: Australia, New Zealand, USA, France, UK, Sweden, Brazil, Canada, Chile and Turkey.

Over the past 12 months more than 150,000 people have attended close to 900 performances and events at Ulumbarra Theatre, The Capital and the Engine Room.

Image courtesy of Arena Theatre Bendigo