A unique collection of 1300 photographs, posters, programs and documents relating to the

Orange Festival of Arts has been digitised and added to the Central West Libraries’ Recollect Central West website.

The festival ran for about 20 years between 1965 and 1985 and became one of the largest of its kind to take place outside of an Australian capital city.

Orange Deputy Mayor Gerald Power recently launched the collection at Orange City Library with former festival supporters and members of the Orange Regional Arts Foundation, which

funded the digitisation project to the tune of $10,000.

“Orange these days is a very exciting place where community festivals happen throughout the year, but back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, it was very different,” Cr Power said.

“This collection is a significant addition to the Recollect website and gives a valuable insight into a unique festival and a unique period in Orange’s history.”

The Orange Festival of Arts brought creative arts and cultural events to the region including

experimental theatre, ballet, recitals, one-act plays and opera, and was sometimes

controversial in its social commentary. It raised greater awareness and interest in the creative arts and was a major contributing factor in building Orange’s prominence as a vibrant cultural centre.

Recollect Central West was launched about a year ago to capture and share the history, heritage and stories of the region and is an important resource for the community.

It provides online access to a rich store of heritage material relating to Central West NSW, its

people, places and events and is continually growing as new material is added by Central West Libraries staff and members of the public.

View the Orange Festival of Arts collection at centralwest.recollect.net.au

Recollect Central West