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June-July 2026 Arts News

from Bellingen and Beyond

Nexus Gallery Facebook		BCAC Website		Nexus Gallery Instagram

In this issue:

Bellingen Shire Arts Trail - call for artists
Nexus Gallery Exhibitions
2006 Women's Walk cancelled
Urunga Small Sculpture Prize and Winter Exhibition
Akabella and the Sydney Male Choir at the Mem Hall
Movember Mens Art Exhibition
Sawtell's 38th Annual Art Exhibition
Uncle Allan exhibits at YAM

Vale David Hockney

BELLINGEN SHIRE ARTS TRAIL WEEKEND

INVITING ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE

For the 4th year, another exciting weekend event of open studios, shared spaces, galleries and workshops throughout Bellingen Shire is planned for Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2026. This weekend will also be the 2026 Australian Ceramics Open Studio Weekend.

The event will be well publicised and will attract and support artists and tourists alike.

If you live in Bellingen Shire, or nearby, and can have a venue in Bellingen Shire to show your work, did not participate last year but would like to this year, please email soonest:

[email protected]

with your name, contact details and brief description of yourself/your work. You will be sent an application form to complete and return.

New Bellingen Shire Arts Trail website is COMING SOON!

2026 Nexus Community Gallery Schedule

24 May to 18 June

Main Gallery
Cynthia Miller - Reimagined

This exhibition, REIMAGINED is a celebration of colour and exuberance and reflects my abiding interest in larger than life images with a slightly naive twist. My works are always from my imagination which gives me excellent scope for a semi-abstract style and allows the freedom of expression which offers constant surprises and endless pleasure.

Studio
John Biggart - John's Folly

This exhibition is a culmination of ideas from many trips around the country. I think it’s very important for an artist to travel, to see different landscapes, and to meet other artists. Due to health reasons, I can no longer travel, but continue to use sketches, watercolours, and photographs from past travels.

21 June to 16 July - Opening 12pm Sun 21 June

Main Gallery and Studio
Winter Members' Show

Time to bring out those new works and exhibit them in the Winter Members' Show. Entry forms available online or at the Nexus Gallery from Monday 18 May in the afternoon. Dates for your diary:

ENTRIES CLOSED: Friday 12 June by 4pm

DELIVER WORK: Friday 19 June between 10am – 12noon

OPENING: Sunday 21 June at 12noon

COLLECT WORK: Friday 17 July between 10am – 12noon

19 July to 13 August - Opening 12pm Sun 19 July

Main Gallery
Dubravka Sabljak - Encountering The Self

After months of clay, colour, creativity, exploding kilns, broken pieces, unexpected surprises and a whole lot of imagination, I’m excited to share my upcoming solo exhibition, “Encountering The Self”.

This collection is a journey through the many characters, emotions and ideas that emerge through art and life. Some pieces arrived exactly as planned. Most had other ideas.

Loud, messy, curious, strange and beautifully imperfect, this exhibition is a celebration of individuality and embracing the things that make us uniquely ourselves.

Studio
Leonie Harrison - Painting with Papers

Painting with Papers represents my journey from textiles to paper and now to canvas. It combines my love of colour and texture, the bedrock of all my work.

Find out more about our other BCAC Activities

WOMEN’S WALK PROJECT 2026

https://www.womenswalkproject.com

With regret, we have had to cancel the Women's Walk until 2027

Bellingen and Beyond
More Events and News for your artistic pleasure

Bellingen's Akabella choir joins the Sydney Male Choir for an evening of joyous harmonies

7pm Mon 15 June

Bellingen Memorial Hall

Bookings

Around and About

The Arts Council of the Dorrigo

Art Space Urunga

7-30 May
Then and Now

25 Jun - 8 Aug
Winter Exhibition

The Winter Show is a celebration of the colder months. Ti is a time for reflection, keeping warm and exploring creativity.
Artists will exhibit a range of works including painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, ceramics and perhaps some surprises!
Come to our open morning from 10:30am to 12 noon on Sat 27 Jun.

13 Bonville Street Urunga. Open every day from 10am till 3pm.

more info…

The Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery
Movember Mens Art Exhibition 2026

2-12 July
more info...

Sawtell Art Gallery

38th ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION 2026

Official Opening Event Saturday 27 June at 5pm.
$4,800 Prize Pool.
Admission to view exhibition is free Gallery open Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 3pm (closed Mondays)

More Info...

Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM)

Coffs Harbour

26 May- 29 Aug

Uncle Allan Phillips Solo Exhibition

A powerful new exhibition at The Gallery. Join us for the opening of “Your Story, My Story, Our Story – One Mob Dreaming”, a deeply personal solo exhibition by Uncle Allan Phillips — his first public exhibition since 2017. Through vibrant and heartfelt works, Uncle Allan shares stories of family, identity, connection, and community, inviting us all to reflect on the journeys that shape who we are. Opening 5:30-7:30pm Fri 29 May.

Learn More

Just Do It

Bellingen Life Drawing Group
10am every Thursday Contact Sue Gorrell at 80443622 for further details.

The Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery
Movember Mens Art Exhibition 2026

2-12 July
more info...

Sawtell Art Gallery

38th ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION 2026

Opening Event Saturday 27 June at 5pm.
$4,800 Prize Pool. More Info....

The Stables

More info….

Tamasin Pepper - Ceramic Classes for Adults
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10.00am-1pm. $250 for a block of 5 classes or $55 casual. Includes firing and glazing pieces made in class. Phone 0400 986 655, email [email protected]

Urunga Small Sculpture Prize 2026

see digital flier above

Entries Close: 9 August

More Info.....

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The monthly BCAC Newsletter highlights activities of its member groups as well as art news from around the district; it is published one week prior to Nexus Community Gallery exhibition openings. Occasionally, and as required, shorter news items may also be sent to our email list.

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Members can submit arts news for the monthly newsletter. Space is allocated first to BCAC Activities, followed by other arts news in the Bellingen Shire and then to arts news from the surrounding district.

The newsletter can be viewed and downloaded from the BCAC website.

For further information about the newsletter and how to contribute you can contact the BCAC Newsletter Editor at: [email protected]

The next BCAC Newsletter will be published on 12 July

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