What's On in July... Songwriting Workshops will be held at the Yarradamarra Centre at Dubbo TAFE on 26 July with renowned songwriters Allan Caswell and Drew McAlister. A Songwriters Quest will be hosted by the Dubbo Railway Bowling Club for people to enjoy a great night of entertainment with all original songs! Western Student Connections is holding a Careers Showcase for students interested in a career in the entertainment or media industries on 31 July at the Dubbo PCYC from 10am. Speakers include the Brent Street Black Box Dancers and digital video effects company Animal Logic who worked on Happy Feet and The Matrix What's On in August... The Sydney Male Choir will visit the region with two performances in Dubbo at St. Brigids from 2pm and Dunedoo at the Central School Hall from 7pm on August 2 Book NOW for Museums Connect 2008! This is a professional development day for Museum and Gallery volunteers and staff to be held in Narromine on August 7. Download your registration form here. Contact Orana Arts for more details on 02 6817 8705 Speak Up: An Arts & Disability Action Strategy will be held at the Western Plains Cultural Centre from 11am-3pm on 9 August. Please book your place today! The Friends of the Western Plains Cultural Centre will host a History Makers evening of entertainment on 9 August at St. Brigid Hall. For tickets contact the WPCC on 02 6801 4444.

We need regional artists to apply for a show at the Western Plains Cultural Centre Regional Art Space. Application forms can be downloaded here! Orana Arts is available to help any artist with their application - we love to see artists from our region exhibiting in this space! Applications close Friday 24 October 2008 for shows in 2009 - so you have heaps of time to put a show together! ARTstreet (see projects) a circus skills workshop in Tooraweenah ARTstreet facepainting workshop in Narromine

Opportunities! The Regional Arts Fund is now open! Closing date is 14 August 2008 for projects after 1 January 2009. Categories include New Initiatives, Partnerships, and Residencies & Mentorships and funding is available for one, two & three year projects. Download an application form here Art Unlimited is a competition embracing hanging art, photography and ceramics. The theme is "landscape" - but there are no limits on the interpretation of this theme. Entry forms are available here - closing date 29 September. First prize is $2,000 and judging takes place in Dunedoo at an exhibition on 24-26 October. The Cooee Festival Poetry Competition is now open. There are 6 sections: Cooee March, Outback, Humorous, Open, Open High School, and Open Primary School. Entries close Friday 15 August 2008. Post to P.O. Box 171 Gilgandra 2827. The Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards are open until 19 September. Send entries to The Convener, Rolf Boldrewood Literary Awards, P.O. Box 1042 Dubbo NSW 2830.