Bankstown Arts Centre OPEN DAY 2026
Free workshops, live performances, artist markets and more!
Sat 25 July noon-6pm
Bankstown Arts Centre OPEN DAY returns for 2026!
Save the date for Sat 25 July, noon-6pm. Wander into the arts centre to experience art-making workshops, relish in live performances, meet the creative organisations that call BAC home and browse through the creations of local makers! Enjoy a cozy family day out at Bankstown Arts Centre!
Free Workshops
Roll up your sleeves and try out some clay making under the guidance of artists Machiko Motoi and Yani Guatlo. Contribute to the Under the Sea installation with sea creatures, corals or anything you can imagine. Drop into the session and spend as much time as you like sculpting!
Join us for a playful drop-in collage and zine-making workshop where you’ll create your own fantasy feast. Invent a world, design a menu, collage weird and wonderful dishes, and turn your ideas into a handmade mini zine. From magical meals to futuristic feasts, anything is possible. A creative workshop for curious minds of all ages. Come make, cut, collage and create your own imaginary world.
Open to all experience levels.
About the facilitator
Sophie Willison is an artist, photographer, publisher, and educator working across photography, print, alternative processes, and creative learning. She founded arts magazine, terra firma in 2016 and has spent the past decade building an independent platform for creatives worldwide. Sophie has taught workshops across Australia, the UK, and Europe, sharing creative processes through hands-on learning and collaboration.
Join Ula&HerBrothers for a block-carving and printing workshop inspired by tapa, traditional Sāmoan decorated barkcloths. Learn about traditional Pacific motifs and symbols and make your very own print to take home by carving your own tapa-inspired stamp.
About the facilitator
Ula&HerBrothers is the art practice of Noelle Moa, a Sāmoan printmaker based in Sydney. Inspired by her identity as a Tama’ita’i Sāmoa, Pacific Islander, and mother, she creates linocut prints, textiles, stationery and handcarved works. Noelle also facilitates intergenerational printmaking workshops and founded Maketi Moana: Pasifika Makers Market.
Artist Markets
Crochet ✶ Ceramics ✶ Live Portraits ✶ Accessories ✶ Prints ✶ Illustrations ✶ Glassworks ✶ Zines ✶ Stickers ✶ Jewellery ✶ Embroidery & More!
A Little Drawer ✶ Amanda Langley Ceramics ✶ Belltreeceramics ✶ Creative Clayworks ✶ Croshosh ✶ Cyclone Eddie ✶ Della Made ✶ Drawn by Shirley ✶ EJ Appliedarts ✶ Fish Tank Art ✶ Mari Designs ✶ Nadia Makes ✶ Nice Glass Suncatchers ✶ Pretty Knots ✶ RUI_NOT_REI ✶ sapphicate ✶ si_cerely ✶ SPEAKINGTRUTH ✶ Swallow Wind Art ✶ The Shah Closet ✶ Tinascapturee ✶ Warrada Studios ✶ wrenanthera ✶ Yaninpo Art ✶ Yuan Wan ✶
Live Performances
noon-2pm Putrika
2:30-3:30pm Lucky African Dance, with interactive workshop
4-4:30pm Indi & Narrah
Meet our Resident Organisations!
Our resident organisations are running a series of workshops, stalls and activities!
Come chat with a friendly Utp team member and learn more about our 2026 provocation, Ancestral Portals. We will have our latest publication and various artist-designed merchandise for sale.
With the theme Chirstmas in July, everyone is invited to participate in painting and drawing the still-life display, as well as making bauble and cards! There is also art for display and purchase in their studio space.
At the theatre noon-4pm
Come through to a special backstage visit at BTC! There will be costume displays, photos and collections of previous shows, a workshop of play readings with Arthur Pickering and blocking of scene for the musical production Gypsy led by director Diane Crease and musical director Greg Crease.
Come chat to the team and learn how to get involved in future!
Visit the open studios where there will be demonstrations of gem cutting and beadings. Come chat to the members on how to learn jewelry making!
Venue Hire Tour
4-4:30pm, meet at reception
Join our venue coordinator in a tour of Rehearsal Space 2, Studio 1 and the Blackbox Theatre. Come see the backstage area, AV, dressing rooms close up to see if our venue is right for your next arts event. Ask questions directly about booking processes, availabilities and more!