Spring has arrived, and the arts calendar across the Blue Mountains and Central West is well and truly waking up.

In this month’s episode of In the Frame, Jenny Ward heads from Katoomba to Kandos and beyond to find out what’s happening in galleries, festivals and exhibitions as we move into the warmer months.

Leading the way is Cementa26, the four-day contemporary arts festival taking over the former cement town of Kandos from 17–20 September. Curator Sebastian Henry-Jones joins Jenny to explain what happens when an entire town becomes part of an arts festival, with around 40 artists bringing painting, sculpture, photography, performance, experimental sound, workshops and some wonderfully unconventional ideas into streets, historic buildings and unexpected spaces.

There’s also news from the Kedumba Drawing Award, where Matthew Kentmann has taken out the 2026 award for his work Benedicta, Lavender Bay, and Gang Gang Gallery is emerging from its winter break with owner Sharon Howard giving us a taste of what’s ahead in Lithgow.

Back in Katoomba, we take a look at Leura artist Ailsa Morgan’s beautiful exhibition at Lost Bear Gallery, and discover how Gallery NWC is bringing artists and the community together for a very special fundraising exhibition.

It’s an episode full of new work, new exhibitions, familiar galleries springing back into action and plenty of reasons to get out and explore.

The opening of ‘Bohemian Katoomba’ at the town’s NWC Gallery, featuring a solo exhibition by Roman Gryg, seems the ideal opportunity to talk about all things street art, murals and grafitti.

While Roman is not a street artist - he is a great painter of streetscapes, especially in and around Katoomba.

He is also classically trained and spent some time honing his skills in Paris. Roman’s solo exhibition will be showing at NWC until August 10, featuring local scenes which capture a sense of place and the artist’s personal connection with Katoomba

Meantime, murals are becoming more mainstream, meandering from the streets to the walls of businesses and restaurants.

Hear Sam McAleer, also known as Smackas, from Inner West Sydney a multi talented muralist, whose work can be seen locally and abroad.

Katoomba is no stranger to street murals…. With Street Art Walk, in Katoomba’s Beverly Place attracting visitors and locals alike.

There are huge murals which include giant butterflies, apes and waterfalls. It displays world standard street art from all aerosol disciplines from international, national and local artists of varying experience. The works are temporary by nature.

The prestigious $20,000 Kedumba Drawing Award takes centre stage, alongside an important new exhibition by acclaimed First Nations artist Blak Douglas. Blackheath author Amanda Knight shares the story of what happened when she discovered her TV heart-throb had never had an official biography written about him. Victorian artist Herman Pekel, currently exhibiting at Lost Bear Gallery, talks about his lifelong passion for painting, while Blackheath artist Kathryn Hope discusses her distinctive use of wax encaustic and oil stick in her landscape works. Meanwhile, katoomba's NWC Gallery is offering a visual feast with its current exhibitions.

A fashion bra design competition, performances of a renowned Australian play— high-stakes art competitions—IN THE FRAME showcases the latest arts events happening across the Blue Mountains and beyond.

Lithgow's Gang Gang Gallery is about to launch Fashion Week - now in its second year - an event not to be missed. Colourful, creative and mesmerising. The spotlight will be on a bra decoration competition called Underpinning Fashion

The Blackheath Theatre Company will perform renowned Australian play Shifting Heart and entries for a $20,000 drawing competition are open.

Don't miss all the latest arts events

We’re kicking off the new year of In the Frame with a program dedicated to women artists in the Blue Mountains, celebrating International Women’s Day.

In this episode, artists talk about the challenges facing female creatives in an increasingly competitive industry. We also speak with Kellie Harrington, organiser of the SHE MEANS BUSINESS International Women’s Day Conference on March 8 at the Fairmont Resort in Leura, Blue Mountains. She discusses the inaugural event, which aims to inspire, empower and equip women in business—from established entrepreneurs to side-hustlers and anyone ready to turn their ideas into action.

Plus, we bring you a rundown of what’s happening in regional galleries.

This is the final edition of in the frame for 2025.

This month we are moving further afield in the NSW Central West.

Hear David Isbester, who has a gallery in Canowindra, as well as his painting companion Peter Larsen.

They've recently had an exhibition where they painted on large pieces of cardboard with house paint!!The works are very effective.As well, Jo Morris from the Orchard Street Gallery in Taralga tells how a tree change put a whole new perspective on their lives.

Meantime, we have a packed show chatting to the winner of the Kedumba $20,000 drawing award, a round up of Christmas art shopping suggestions and an update onexhibitions in and around the Blue Mountains for the next month or so.

First up is Spencer Calveley, who has taken out the prestigious, lucrative award for his piece Rural Eclectic 111.

In the Frame presents an exciting program this month, showcasing a diverse mix of artists; exhibitions and theatre in the Blue Mountains.

Highlights include works by acclaimed Australian artist Wendy Sharpe; a Pulitzer Prize–winning play; a captivating exhibition exploring the Indian sari, and the much-anticipated reopening of the Wentworth Falls School of Arts.

This month offers a diverse range of events, including a sculpture exhibition, a memoir by a Blackheath local, a highly lucrative art prize and an intriguing selection of plays written by local playwrights, all being performed in Blackheath.

IN THE FRAME takes a step beyond traditional art to speak with master glass blower Keith Rowe, uncovering the intricacies of this age-old craft, sculptor Henryk Topolnicki talks about his sculpture garden and the Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum takes on a new direction with the exhibition of award winning artist Wendy Sharpe.

As winter approaches, the area comes alive with a rich variety of artistic events.

The rebirth of the Wentworth Falls School of Arts, the launch of a rich drawing award and a fireside chat with one of the country's best known embroiderers who hit world fame working on the costumes for George Lucas' Star Wars