NERAM-New England Regional Art Museum

WINTER BLOOMING WORKSHOP: TINY CLAY HOUSES 🏠

Be inspired by new exhibition, Boundaries: Transcended, and try your hand at creating your own miniature clay house in this hands-on workshop.

After exploring the exhibition and reflecting on the many meanings of home, attendees will hand-build a unique clay structure that expresses their own memories, identity or sense of belonging.

Suitable for all ages and abilities, this workshop celebrates the power of art to tell personal stories and contribute to a collective vision of community 💚

Date: Sat 22 August
Session1: 2pm - 2.30pm
Session 2: 2.30pm - 3pm
Session 3: 3pm - 3.30pm
Session 4: 3.30pm - 4pm
Location: New England Regional Art Museum
Cost: $5

Book via www.neram.com.au/event/build-your-story-tiny-clay-houses-workshop




Winter Blooming has been Produced in collaboration with Armidale Regional Council, University of New England, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, and ACON.

CALLING ALL LOCAL MAKERS 📣

Planning and organising for this year's Black Gully Festival is well underway, and we're now looking for passionate makers to sell their wonderful wares, amazing art, and quirky creations!

Whether you're a potter, printmaker, photographer, jeweller, painter, metalsmith, cobbler, florist, crocheter, seamstress, or anything else creative, we'd love you to apply for a stall with us.

🔨📸✂️🖌️

Please note: stall priority is given to local handmade creations, as we want to uplift our talented local creative community.

Visit www.neram.com.au/event/black-gully-festival-2026 for more information & to apply for a stall!

THIS WEEKEND: WINTER BLOOMING FESTIVAL 🌈💖💐

Our 2026 Winter Blooming Festival is coming up this weekend! This festival is THE weekend of the year, forming an incredible opportunity to celebrate First Nations, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ culture, communities, and allies across our region.

From talks, performances, exhibitions, live music, dancing, and social gatherings, our 2026 Winter Blooming Festival will be a weekend of learning, creativity, and celebrating diversity in all its forms!

FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST
🎤 Artist Talk with Side Gallery
✨ Exhibition Opening Night & Festival Launch

SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST
👂 You Weren't Meant to Hear This: Dr Todd Fernando
🏫 A Conversation with Professor Peter J Anderson and Dr Christina Kenny
🎤 Speaking Truth: Art Identity & the Power of Voice Panel Discussion
🌻 Budget Backyard Homesteading & Urban Foraging Workshop
🏠 Build Your Story: Tiny Clay Houses Workshop
💪 NEW: Life Drawing Workshop with Studio Maverik
🌈NEW: Rainbow Village Workshop with ACON
💃 Winter Blooming Ball ft. DJ Betty Bilby, Amber Rosé, and Luci Dream

SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST
🏳️‍🌈 Q***r Brunch

For the full program & tickets visit www.neram.com.au/event/winter-blooming-festival-2026

We can't wait to celebrate with you!




Winter Blooming has been produced in collaboration with Armidale Regional Council, University of New England, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, and ACON.

***rArt

This Friday 21st August, NERAM opens two exciting new exhibitions!

🚗ROADTRIP: A RESIDENCY
Roadtrip brings together a group of artists invited by Side Gallery to immerse themselves in Armidale over an intensive weekend encounter. Designed as both a creative experiment and a site-responsive experience, the project asked what happens when artists step outside their familiar routines and studio environments to engage with a new place.

🏠BOUNDARIES: TRANSCENDED
Boundaries: Transcended celebrates the work of hundreds of people who came together to build tiny ceramic homes celebrating the resettlement of refugees in the Hunter Valley.

The opening night event will open at 5:30pm with an artist talk from Side Gallery artists Col Mac, Rhianna Phillips, Jessica Mc Nicol and Samuel Kiernan; followed by a brief introduction to the exhibitions by NERAM Director, Rachael Parsons.

Light refreshments will be available throughout the evening.

📅Fri 21st Aug
🕚5:30pm - 8pm
📍New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale
🎟 FREE - RSVP via www.neram.com.au/event/opening-night-13

⭐NEW ADDITION TO WINTER BLOOMING PROGRAM⭐

While you explore your personal understanding of what home means to you as part of the Boundaries: Transcended exhibition, the ACON Team would love to share their perspectives on the concept of belonging and what it can mean for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The session will talk about the importance of place in community, discussions on found and chosen family, highlighting their significance for LGBTQ+ individuals and the importance of social connections throughout history and the lifesaving role these can play.

This FREE session is for all people aged 18+, with all materials provided, we are going to build a village of support and inclusion.

Whether you identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, are an ally, or are simply curious about perspectives of other people, you are welcome to join us.

📆 Saturday 22nd August
🕚 2:30pm - 4:30pm
📍 New England Regional Art Museum
🎟 FREE

Visit www.neram.com.au/event/winter-blooming-festival-2026 for more information about the Winter Blooming Festival.

THIS SATURDAY: WINTER BLOOMING BALL 🎶💃

Grab your friends and loved ones and come down to NERAM for the prom you always dreamed of 🤩

DJ Betty Bilby will be pumping the tunes, drag performances by Amber Rosé and Luci Dream will be running throughout the night, and the dancefloor will be ready for all your best moves!

PLUS, we'll be crowning our 2026 Winter Blooming King, Queen, and Monarch, so put your best face forward for your chance to be royalty for the night 👑

We can't wait to see you there! grab your tickets at www.neram.com.au/event/2026-winter-blooming-ball/

📆 Saturday 22nd August
🕚 7pm - 10pm
📍 New England Regional Art Museum
🎟 $15 - $20 entry

This event is a 16+ event. Drinks will be available for over 18s and food pre-orders are being taken until 11:59pm on Wednesday 19th Aug.

Photos 2 & 3 by Mike Terry.

Are you (or do you know of) a talented emerging artist or maker under 40 years old in the New England area? 👩‍🎨🎨

At the end of this year, NERAM is running a 40 Under 40 exhibition where we’ll be showcasing works from emerging artists and artisans from around New England who are under 40 years old, and we're on the hunt for creatives to feature in the exhibition.

Be sure to share this post or tag anyone you think should apply!

Visit www.neram.com.au/event/40-under-40-emerging-artist-and-artisan-exhibition-new-england for more information & to apply.

LAST CHANCE TO GET FOOD ORDERS IN FOR THE WINTER BLOOMING BALL!

Our good friends at Six Counties Restaurant will be pre-preparing some delicious snacks to keep you dancing all night long at our Winter Blooming Ball 💃

Be sure to get your orders in before 11:59pm on Wednesday 19th August to ensure your energy levels are high and your spirits even higher ✨❤

Visit www.neram.com.au/event/2026-winter-blooming-ball to book your ticket & pre-order food.

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

The Winter Blooming Ball is almost here!

Get ready to dress to the nines, hit the dance floor and celebrate in true Winter Blooming style. Whether you’re coming with your crew, your date or flying solo, this is a night for LGBTIQ+ communities, allies and anyone who loves a great party!

💃 Dance the night away
🎧 DJ Bilby is taking over the tunes
👠 Performances by Amber Rosé and Luci Dream
👑 Crown the Winter Blooming King, Queen & Monarch
✨ Come dressed to impress — the more fabulous, the better (or just be comfy, we don't care)!

It’s joyful, inclusive, gloriously over-the-top and guaranteed to be one of the highlights of the festival.

📅 Saturday 22 August
📍 NERAM
🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!

Don’t miss the party. Get your tickets here!
https://www.neram.com.au/event/2026-winter-blooming-ball/

Winter Blooming has been Produced in collaboration with Armidale Regional Council, University of New England, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, and ACON.

Our 2026 Winter Blooming Festival is coming up this weekend! 🌈💖💐 This festival is THE weekend of the year, forming an incredible opportunity to celebrate First Nations, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ culture, communities, and allies across our region.

From talks, performances, exhibitions, live music, dancing, and social gatherings, our 2026 Winter Blooming Festival will be a weekend of learning, creativity, and celebrating diversity in all its forms!

FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST
✨ Exhibition Opening Night & Festival Launch

SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST
👂 You Weren't Meant to Hear This: Dr Todd Fernando
🏫 A Conversation with Professor Peter J Anderson and Dr Christina Kenny
🎤 Speaking Truth: Art Identity & the Power of Voice Panel Discussion
🌻 Budget Backyard Homesteading & Urban Foraging Workshop
🏠 Build Your Story: Tiny Clay Houses Workshop
💪 Life Drawing Workshop with Studio Maverik
💃 Winter Blooming Ball ft. DJ Bilby

SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST
🏳️‍🌈 Q***r Brunch

For more information & to get your tickets, visit www.neram.com.au/event/winter-blooming-festival-2026

We can't wait to celebrate with you!




Winter Blooming has been produced in collaboration with Armidale Regional Council, University of New England, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council, and ACON.