Are train sets Art? They are certainly creative, theatrical, intricate, often artisanal and aesthetically engrossing. And there’ll be three different ones to visit at the Murrurundi Rail 150th anniversary event on April 2 and 3. It’s a big weekend for the township, with much happening – you can even choo-choo up from Maitland (steam Picnic Train on the Saturday, historic diesel on the Sunday) and back.
Murrurundi doesn’t need a festival to offer lots to do, art, heritage, people. But the advantage of visiting any town on a big weekend is the extra activities and the guarantee that things will be open. Oh and those few little added details that appear about the place, like home-made train displays. Fun! One aspect of the arts, after all, is entertainment.
And if you’re a busker and you’d like to join in the fun, email the 150th Anniversary people to book a spot (see below).
Meanwhile in Singleton, NSW’s new arts minister Ben Franklin opened the new Arts & Cultural Centre last week. Pop along to see two great shows. They are also very cleverly programmed shows, astutely devised to bring in people who maybe don’t hit a gallery very often. You’ll see what I mean when you get there! The Centre’s director, Faye Neilson, has plenty of energy and plans. Great times beckon.
Events are now well and truly returning. The Muswellbrook Art Prize winners have been announced and the exhibition is always a zinger. Top gigs are back at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium in Muswellbrook, at Dashville, and at a couple of singular venues in Dungog. Warbirds Over Scone (are military fly-pasts Art?) is back.
Do you have an event coming up? Do you have a photo, a branding, a snappy description? Don’t forget to get it to us, as early as possible, so we can promote it to our network, who tend to have their own networks they pass things on to. The bigger the reach, the better your chances.
John O’Brien, Executive Director
Images: Photo & train set courtesy Gus O’Brien Cavanough