Program Experience
Over the 2025–2027 period, we will deliver a diverse and strategically designed suite of cultural programs across regional NSW, primarily centred in Dubbo and the Western Plains. These activities are tailored to address community needs, foster creative development, and build long-term cultural capacity. Below we have provided examples of past programs and projects to showcase the organisational experiance in presenting engaging and impactful cultural programs
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Rabbit Control 1080
Exhibition '1080 Rabbit Control', explores the environmental impact of the European Rabbit as an introduced species into the Australian landscape. By the 1950s, rabbits had reached plaque proportions across Australia, and attempts to control the rabbit problem, included experiments conducted by the Dubbo Pastures Protection Board with the poison 1080.
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SCOREBOARD
The Western Plains Cultural Centre’s Scoreboard program is a community arts initiative that connects local artists with groups seeking creative expression and social connection. In its latest project, Indigenous artist Hayden Wood collaborated with young men from the Boys to the Bush mentorship program to create a public artwork now displayed at the WPCC entrance. The program fosters cultural engagement, emotional wellbeing, and community pride through collaborative art.
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UnBoxed Sessions
UNBOXED Creative Sessions offer a mix of workshops, rehearsals, play readings, open mic nights, film screenings, music performances, and more. Each session is unique, driven by the ideas and passion of our local creative community.
UNBOXED Creative Sessions bring Dubbo’s creative community together every Thursday evening at the Black Box Theatre, located at the Western Plains Cultural Centre. Supported by Dubbo Regional Council and Studio 138, this initiative provides a platform for local artists, performers, and creatives to develop, collaborate, and showcase their work.
On the last Thursday of every month, UNBOXED features a public live performance—whether it’s theatre, music, spoken word, or another creative showcase. Presented in partnership with Studio 138
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Dubbo Art Fair
The Dubbo Art Fair, held at the Western Plains Cultural Centre in September, is a dynamic celebration of regional creativity. Featuring over 40 emerging and established visual artists, the fair showcases a wide array of works including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and drawing. The event fosters direct engagement between artists and the public, with opportunities to purchase original artworks. The fair highlights Dubbo’s vibrant arts scene and supports cultural exchange, community connection, and creative growth across the region.
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Autumn Live
Autumn LIVE is a free, youth-focused live music event hosted by the Western Plains Cultural Centre, designed to foster creative expression, social inclusion, and community engagement among young people aged 16–25. Held in a safe, substance-free environment, the event features performances by emerging local bands, free food and non-alcoholic refreshments, and opportunities for youth to connect through music and culture. Supported by local organisations, Autumn LIVE addresses youth wellbeing and access to the arts in regional NSW. The program aligns with broader cultural and social development goals by empowering young people through creative participation and public performance.
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Drawn to the Centre
Drawn to the Centre is an annual community art initiative hosted by the Western Plains Cultural Centre, offering free drawing and sketching workshops across four Sundays in February. Open to all skill levels, the 2025 program explored the theme memento mori, inspired by the exhibition Anatomy Lessons by Michele Beevors. Participants engaged with local artists Catherine Jones, Ruby Davies, Jack Randell, and Jude Fleming, gaining hands-on experience in still life drawing. The program fosters artistic development, cultural engagement, and intergenerational learning, making visual arts accessible while deepening community connection through shared creative exploration. Previous iterations focused on En Plain Air landscape drawing.
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Handmade
Handmade at the Centre is an evolving adult art workshop program hosted by the Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo. Designed to foster creativity, community connection, and lifelong learning, the program offers hands-on workshops in disciplines such as ceramics, bookbinding, and drawing. Led by experienced local artists, each session provides a supportive, inclusive environment for participants of all skill levels. The program encourages creative exploration and skill development while promoting social engagement through shared artistic experiences. Handmade also invites community input and facilitator proposals, ensuring the program remains responsive, diverse, and reflective of local creative interests.
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From the Vault:
A Womans Place
A Woman’s Place" is an exhibition that examines the evolving roles of women in Dubbo throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, spotlighting the lives of three local women from distinct historical periods. As part of WPCC’s "From the Vault" series, the exhibition offers insight into the cultural history of Dubbo. Its title plays on the traditional phrase “A woman’s place is in the home,” challenging the concept of separate spheres and highlighting shifting perceptions of gender roles over time.