Arts & culture

Arts & culture

Learn to write plays, scripts and escape to Bundanon

Applications close 15 December, apply here and read feedback from 2024 attendees

Elizabeth Heffernan

November 2024

Arts & culture

5 fun podcasts for when you need a break from the news

Playing down her smarts (she’s written for Vogue, Vanity Fair and more), McKinney goes for an enthusiastic/empathetic tone that allows us to vicariously enjoy the show’s vast array of predicaments, from the vagaries of upscale dog grooming to...

The Conversation

November 2024

Arts & culture

Flautist Annabel Wouters wins Pascoe Award

The Highlands Music Collective was founded in 2019 by Myee Clohessy, a professional violinist who is now the HMCollective’s Artistic Director. The chamber music ensemble was formed during Myee’s 9-year stint as Artistic Director of the Bowral...

Lesley Roulston

November 2024

Arts & culture

What a celebration! SPAT stages spectacular 50th birthday party

By SPAT president Sonia Westwood SPAT (Stanwell Park Arts Theatre) marked their 50th anniversary with a spectacular weekend of short performances, music, dancing, singing, food, laughter and friendship. Surrounded by nostalgia and memories in the...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Arts & culture

Attention and Devotion: A workshop with Ailsa Piper

With each step around the room there’s a squelching exhale from her shoes as she insists, “Keep writing. Keep writing. Keep writing”. The sterile room is filled with people I won’t say much to; artists, a teacher, writers of various ilk...

Amanda De George

November 2024

Arts & culture

Jodi Edwards launches 6 Dharawal language books

On Saturday November 2nd, community gathered on Dharawal country at The Point Preschool in Oyster Bay to see the launch of Ezy Books. Written by Dr. Jodi Edwards and Illustrated by Amy-Lea Hill-Trindall, the six children’s books feature Ezy the dog...

Tyneesha Williams

November 2024

Arts & culture

True Story: Literary detective Michael Visontay to share quest for lost pages of rare book

By Melissa Burns Michael Visontay has worked for more than 30 years as a journalist, author and lecturer. He was a former assistant editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and deputy editor of the Sun-Herald, and is currently commissioning editor of The...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Arts & culture

Merrigong Season 2025: From Love Stories to Strangeways

Want a gift to bring joy to your world? Merrigong Theatre Company recently announced its biggest ever season for 2025 and artistic director Simon Hinton has a hot tip for Christmas shoppers: Love Stories. “A season ticket makes a really great...

Genevieve Swart

November 2024

Arts & culture

True Story: Q&A with author of Aussie Rock Anthems

Glen Humphries is an award-winning senior journalist at the Illawarra Mercury. In a career spanning more than 20 years, Glen has published several books including Aussie Rock Anthems (Gelding Street Press, 2024). He combines storytelling uplift with...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Arts & culture

New UOW exhibition ‘Matriarch’ honours ‘beautiful, strong black women’

A new exhibition, Matriarch, has opened at the University of Wollongong’s Gallery, honouring eight remarkable Aboriginal women from the region. The impressive display of charcoal drawings, was the culmination of 18-months of highly detailed...

Jeremy Lasek

November 2024

Arts & culture

Barefoot Boho Queen: Gina Chick comes to Coledale book festival

The Alone Australia star features on the cover of the Flame’s November 2024 print edition. To read the magazine layout, click here, download a program here or find the text version below Even people who did not watch Alone Australia on SBS know Gin...

Caroline Baum

November 2024

Arts & culture

True Story: Historian Jo Oliver to give biography writing workshop

True Story Festival will return to Coledale Community Hall on November 15-17 with a star-studded line-up of authors, including Rick Morton, Bruce Pascoe, Rosie Batty and Gina Chick. Find the full program at the South Coast Writers Centre website

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Arts & culture

We Are Kin: Portraits celebrate Wollongong’s diverse community

By photographer Ruth Barbato My new photography exhibition, We are Kin, will be on display at the Wollongong Art Gallery throughout November. It explores how the simple act of starting a conversation with a stranger can foster a sense of connection...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Arts & culture

Extra Murals: Artist Sarah Rowan has left her mark on the 2508 district

Artist Sarah Rowan shot to fame locally after she painted a mural of Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara and her brother Kai with their BMX bikes. The artwork – which brightens up the Short Street exterior of Helensburgh’s pet food store –...

Genevieve Swart

November 2024

Arts & culture

Lilly Pilly Studio opens for Art Trail

Pateena Donnelly is one of 13 local artists inviting visitors to drop into their studios on November 2 and 3. She welcomes visitors to her studio in Stanwell Park. As a multi-disciplined artist, Pateena loves to create richly layered works to form...

The Illawarra Flame

November 2024

Review

‘Good one for the glovebox’: Praise for Batty’s Bush Bible of Australia

This highly entertaining book is an essential resource for anyone who has dreamed of heading ‘out bush’ into the heartland deserts, or along the remote coastlines of Australia to find those magical remote spots where the night sky fills one with...

John Corker

October 2024

Arts & culture

The Cardinal Rules: Rose Maher invites Catholics to come and bear witness

Nearly a year ago, actor Rose Maher was preparing to leap all over the lawns of Wollongong Botanic Gardens, spouting lines written 430 years ago. This weekend, she appears at IPAC, interpreting a show stemming very much from her own experience...

Brian Kelly

October 2024

Arts & culture

The Northern Illawarra Art Trail is on again!

By NIAT president Pateena Donnelly-Gorissen From 10am-3pm on 2 and 3 November, 13 artists will open their studios to the public including a mix of new participants and returning studios. The trail gives artists the opportunity to showcase their...

The Illawarra Flame

October 2024

Arts & culture

Behind the score with Damien Lane of Screen Illawarra

Screen Illawarra is hosting a Composing for Screen workshop this Saturday, the 26th, from 10am to 1pm at Wollongong Town Hall’s Music Lounge. Featuring guest speakers like award-winning composer Damien Lane, the event will explore the powerful role...

Zachary Houtenville

October 2024

Arts & culture

Trent Jansen to open his Thirroul studio for Festival of Architecture and Design

As a co-curator of this weekend’s Illawarra Festival of Architecture and Design, he will be opening his Thirroul studio to visitors. Set in a secluded cul de sac, the studio is made of salvaged materials, its tin roof studded with solar panels.

The Illawarra Flame

October 2024

Arts & culture

True Story: Charmian Clift film and talk to kick off Coledale festival

The author of The Life and Myth of Charmian Clift (HarperCollins 2000), Nadia Wheatley is a distinguished writer with over 40 years of experience in publishing award-winning works across fiction, history, and biography. Her passion for storytelling and historical exploration has led to diverse and impactful work. In the documentary Life Burns High, Nadia captures the charisma and appeal of journalist Charmian Clift. The film delves into what made this outspoken, unconventional free spirit so adored by readers of her weekly column in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Illawarra Flame

October 2024

Arts & culture

Curious Rendition Orchestra celebrated 10th birthday with party at Coledale RSL

By Rod Cawsey The Curious Rendition Orchestra (CROW) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a gala party on the 10th September at the Coledale RSL, which generously hosted the ticketed event. The sold-out event featured performances by the band and...

The Illawarra Flame

October 2024