Artists, musicians and creative workers across the NSW Central West are invited to attend two free professional development workshops in Orange this July, aimed at supporting wellbeing, resilience and mental health within the arts sector.
Arts OutWest has partnered with JAM Orange to bring the national music industry charity Support Act to the region. While Support Act is best known for assisting musicians, its programs are open to anyone working in the broader creative industries who may be facing ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or another crisis.
Workshops will be held on Wednesday, 8 July, and Thursday, 9 July, at Orange City Bowling Club.The first workshop, Creative Minds: Sustainable Wellbeing for Creative Work, is on Wednesday, 8 July, from 4:15 pm to 7pm.
This interactive session is designed to help creatives build a more sustainable relationship with their work, their wellbeing and themselves. Drawing on psychology and lived experience, the workshop explores creative identity, goal-setting, focus, recovery, and long-term productivity. Attendees will gain practical tools to support both their mental health and creative output in a demanding and often unpredictable sector.
The second workshop, Hearing the Hard Stuff, is on Thursday, 9 July from 9:45 am to 2 pm. This session focuses on navigating difficult conversations in creative environments, where informal and emotionally charged situations are common. Participants will learn practical listening skills, how to respond with empathy and clarity, and how to maintain appropriate boundaries while supporting others through issues such as stress, burnout, conflict and personal crisis.
Light refreshments will be provided at both events, along with opportunities to connect and network with peers and representatives from Arts OutWest and Support Act. These workshops are presented by Support Act and supported by Arts OutWest, JAM Orange and Orange City Bowling Club, with support from Creative Workplaces.
Both workshops are free; register via the artsoutwest.org.au website or contact Arts OutWest for more information on 02 6338 4657.
Arts OutWest is the regional arts development organisation for the NSW Central West.
