Bathurst Winter Festival: A festival with soul and impact

Studio ESEM have worked with Bathurst Regional Council since 2015 to support the evolution of this important regional festival, through delivery of illumination and projection programs that delight audiences and engage diverse communities.

Now a highlight of the annual events calendar, the Bathurst Winter Festival has brought new benefits to the region each year, from growing awareness of Bathurst as a thriving community and cultural hub, to many tourism, economic development, community engagement and business benefits.

ESEM have established a unique approach to working with the Bathurst community over time, using the Festival to create a canvas for local storytelling projects co-developed with the community, alongside the creation of stunning, large scale projection artworks that never fail to delight and wow audiences.

As part of our Festival delivery for 2024 we invited community leaders and contributors to reflect on their experience of the Bathurst Winter Festival. Listen to what they had to say below.

Thank you to everyone involved!

A platform for sharing and connecting with community

This year, Studio ESEM collaborated closely with Meanjin-based Wiradyuri artist Birrunga Wiradyuri, founder and principal artist of the multi award winning Birrunga Gallery and Dining. Birrunga’s work was featured as the headline projections on the Bathurst Courthouse and 179 George Street building which acted as canvases for the transformation of sixteen of Birrunga’s originals works into enlivened animated stories.

“The feelings that I have had about my work being translated into projections, particularly on home Country, is really humbling.”
— Birrunga Wiradyuri (Artist)

Paramount to the curation of the projection art on the Bathurst Courthouse was the concept of gulgandara yaala dayangun, translating to “In honour of our Elders.” This brought about the reflection on honouring those who came before, those who set the path for those of us now here in the present to walk, for us in turn to set the path for those who will come. 

The Bathurst Winter Festival continues to champion its local creative community by cultivating place-based connection and encouraging contributions across various backgrounds including Indigenous artists, musicians, graffiti artists and school children, ultimately spotlighting their importance within the Bathurst community.

Partnerships with local creatives and storytellers
builds new opportunities

“Putting on an event like the Winter Festival is imperative to the morale of people in Bathurst. Local stories told through a visual medium and a different visual language is a touchpoint for young people.”
— Steven ‘Sven’ Rogers (Artist)

Projection art can transform ordinary spaces into fantastical worlds, combining technology and creativity to offer immersive, emotional, and accessible narratives whilst celebrating the rich history of Bathurst’s iconic architecture. The Festival is a celebration of the Bathurst Region – championing it’s people, place, heritage, culture, past, present and future and ultimately providing a platform for a broad range of creators to showcase their creativity and shared identity to the broader community.

A much-needed boost to the local economy every year

“The injection that Bathurst Winter Festival brings to the local economy is over $11 million. The 75% of accomodation is filled during that time, over 60% of people come from outside of Bathurst and it is also represented on social media with over a million impressions.”
— Dr Jess Jennings (Mayor, Bathurst Regional Council)

As a powerful tool for regional development, cultural enrichment, and fostering community spirit, the Bathurst Winter Festival has been a catalyst for economic growth and placing Bathurst on the map as a creative destination. Through embracing the winter and encouraging visitors to experience the town during the colder periods, the Festival led to increased spending in local businesses and engagement of outdoor activities.