Audience enjoying Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre’s free outdoor arts event The Bells, February 2020. Image supplied.
Creative activity in regional Australia has for years punched well above its weight. Regional towns are often thriving artistic hives with a good number of artists calling them home (1 in 6 at last count by the Australia Council).
But since COVID hit, regional Australia has experienced some notable changes, as city dwellers make moves to live regionally and more domestic tourists visit regional towns.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
