Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Arts And Cultural Trail Begins This Weekend

The annual arts and cultural trail across the Hilltops region, Hilltops Off The Beaten Track is running for the next 3 weekends and 2 weeks.

Hilltops Off The Beaten Track showcases the creativity and diversity in the Hilltops region through a variety of events and activities including workshops, exhibitions, performances, demonstrations, museums, open studios and craft shops.

The arts and cultural trail kicks off this Friday with the official opening night taking place at Southern Cross Cinema & Arts Complex.

Southern Cross Cinema & Arts Complex has been the heart of film and arts in the Hilltops for years, celebrating 20 years this year.

The opening night will commence at 6.30pm with wine and refreshments on arrival before an exclusive artist talk from Kev Greaves from Reload Productions Australia.

Following the artist talk, there will be a world premiere of a documentary produced by Kev himself and featuring three Hilltops artists. Tickets are available on Humanitix.

Another highlight is bound to be the charity concert held on Sunday the 16th of March at 2pm.

The regional Hilltops Choir is joining forces with organist David Powell to present an exciting concert of choral items and organ solos.

The Hilltops Choir draws singers from the towns of the Hilltops LGA and beyond. It is under the musical direction of Murrumburrah local Stewart Bruce, with Young-based accompanist Susan Rolfe.

“The choir will be singing a wide variety of pieces including songs from the musicals, negro spirituals, some African tunes and two inspiring songs from the animated movie Prince of Egypt,” said musical director, Stewart Bruce.

“Susan will use the wonderful Yamaha S6X grand piano for choir accompaniments throughout the program.”

“A local identity on African drum will also be a surprise artist!”“Interspersed with the choral items will be organ works with Sydney-based organist David Powell.”

“David grew up in Murrumburrah and learned his craft on the historic Dodd pipe organ in the church.”

“He is a master at weaving his magic on this fully restored instrument.”

Following the concert everyone is encouraged to stay for the afternoon tea and friendly gathering in the church hall.

“Come along and support local talent and have a little bit of post-hailstorm music therapy!” said Mr Bruce.

For further information on the charity concert, contact Stewart on 0423 090 912.

Young Camera Club features in two exhibitions across the trail, with one incorporating an Open House to their club room.

The Open House will feature a photography exhibition, including the Brian Hargraves Memorial Award, with this year’s winner Maree Myhill and her photo ‘Horses Rearing’.

Brian was a founding member of Young Camera Club and the award was judged by his good friend Ray Bloor.

“Come and enjoy our photography exhibition, learn some photography tips and ask questions,” said Young Camera Club Publicity Officer Narelle Howard.

“Find out about Young Camera Club, including our 2025 events.”

The Open House will take place next weekend, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of March in their club room at 2 Campbell Street.

The second exhibition featuring the Young Camera Club is the Photography, Pyrography and Porcelain exhibition which includes photos by Young Camera Club members and works by the Young Society of Artists.

The exhibition is currently running at the Burrangong Gallery at the Visitor’s Information Centre in Young and runs until Saturday the 12th of April.

Over in Boorowa, local artists Denise Scholz-Wulfing and Kirsten Griffiths have created an exhibition featuring the local vulnerable flora and fauna.

Denise has chosen the local birdlife as her subject and has combined her drawing and etching skills to create large

scale drypoint images of vulnerable birds with a letterpress type printed using the original Boorowa News printing press.

Kirsten has a soft spot for frogs and the smaller vulnerable plants and creatures of the Hilltops region, her coloured drypoint etchings involve the inking of a drypoint plate with more than one colour, then printing the plate using an etching press to produce a final colourful image.

Demonstrations of these and other printmaking techniques will take place at the Boorowa Museum Print Studio on Saturday the 8th, 15th and 22nd of March at 11am and 2pm.

Entry is by gold coin donation and includes access to the Museum’s collection and goes towards the upkeep of the Museum.

The exhibition is open Saturdays 10am to 3pm on the 8th, 15th and 22nd of March and Thursday the 13th and 20th of March from 10am to 1pm.

There will also be a special free event for anyone interested in birds on Sunday the 16th of March, meeting 8.30am outside the Museum, then proceeding on a birdwatching walk and talk down the Boorowa River with members of the Hilltops Bird Observers.

This will be followed by a private viewing of the Vulnerable exhibition with a discussion of the vulnerable birds highlighted in the exhibition and the work of the Hilltops Bird Observers.

There are numerous events running as part of the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Arts and Cultural Trail, so there is definitely something for everyone.

Whether you prefer hands-on action, viewing the creative process taking place or simply buying the completed work, HOBTRACK has them all.

For full details on all the events running as part of HOBTRACK, visit https://hobtrack.hilltopsarts.org/

IMAGE: The Hilltops Choir will perform at the charity concert on Sunday the 16th of March as part of the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Arts and Cultural Trail.

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