blueBanksia art directory lists art short courses and events

If you’d like to get away from the city, have some fun, meet new people and develop your art, the Mitchell School of Arts at Bathurst is what you are looking for.

Held biannually in Bathurst, the Mitchell School of Arts is an incredibly valuable resource for the arts community across Australia. Organised by The Art Scene and set in the idyllic grounds of the Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, it boasts a choice of over 30 different workshops with a wide cast of tutors.

The styles taught range from both the traditional to contemporary in oils, acrylics, watercolour, pastels, mixed media, printmaking, drawing and much more! With classes suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced artists, there is sure to be something that you’ll love!

by Catherine Hale

I’ve just built a studio in my backyard. Painting for several years, I have been working out of an old mill in the historic working precinct of Bathurst. I was paying $20 a week. While the warehouse space was beautiful, it was also freezing and away from home; I was unable to have visitors, and besides, the owner wanted it back for his own business.

I looked at my options: $50-$100 a week for a mediocre room, or as my children are too young to be kicked out of their bedrooms: build my own. I live on a regular sized town block so space was limited. The chickens had to be relocated (they had the best spot on the block with views to the hills, plus good light), and an area of the vegetable garden sacrificed. A well built space would hold its value, so I enlisted two builder/carpenters and took out a small loan.