Armidale Culture

Armidale has a truly international flavour. Its educational facilities have attracted students, academics and their families from all over the world adding a multicultural dimension to the city and events hosted by different ethnic groups add vitality, spice and colour, making life in Armidale and enriching experience. 

For artists, musicians and those who are otherwise culturally inclined, Armidale offers unique opportunities. The New England Regional Art Museum, one of ten museums, houses the acclaimed Hinton and Coventry collections and regularly exhibits the works of promising up and coming artists. The Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place is just a short walk away. The Newling Centre provides a focus for performing arts and the resident New England Theatre Company tours regularly with professional productions. Numerous other theatres represent quality live performances, which have included in the recent past:  Les Miserable, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Chicago, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz, Pirate of Penzance, Music Man and Plague and the Moonflower, which performed at Woodford 2003.  The Armidale Playhouse and UNE have regular performances throughout the year.

There is a cinema complex and craft centres. Jazz, modern and classical music are provided by the Armidale Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra, the New England Symphonia, Musica Viva, New England Singers, New England Music Academy, ADMS (Armidale District Musical Society) and an assortment of bands and visiting ensembles. Highlights of the year include the annual carnivals such as " Wool Expo " with the excitement of the TAWFA "The Australian Wool Fashion Awards" which attracts entries from all round the South Pacific. There is a Poetry and Music Festival and the Autumn Festival amongst others. Armidale boasts a month long Eisteddfod and Dance Festival