Hit Factory 2025

Building on 2024’s amazing residency, performance and gigs for two new ensembles in Western Sydney. In 2025 we are also heading south as well!!

2 opportunities to create cross cultural music in Western Sydney and Shellharbour

2024 Residency Film Clip by OneSix

2025, what we have done so far…

South Coast

South Coast Hit Factory Residency and Launch

What do you get when you mix a Colombian soprano, a First Nations hip hop artist, a classically trained pianist, and a drummer who's played from Darwin to Dapto?


We came together for 4 sessions in Albion Park and created 5
new songs, a music video and a great new band ‘Exploring South’

The concert at El Hourses in Nowra was filled iwth music lovers, family and friends. a great night showcasing the artsits seperatly and coming together for the first time asx Exploring South!
Thanks to South Coast Arts and El Horses Nowra

Photos Stephen Mifsud

Western Sydney Hit Factory 2025 Concert

What happens when you bring together 4 musicians from different cultural backgrounds in Western Sydney and spend 16 hours together to create new music? Find out at the Launch of our 2025 Hit Factory Western Sydney Residency.

Featuring:

  • Yacou Mbaye - Senegalese drummer & dancer

  • Rose Ramiz - Syriac Vocalist

  • Joseph Tabua - Fijian Australian Guitarist

  • Simon Kong - Chinese Australian Bass and Oud player

TICKETS

Thanks to Bankstown Arts Centre

Western Sydney

CLOSED FOR 2025

The EOI Opportunity X 2

Sacred Currents Inc in partnership with Bankstown Arts Centre, South Coast Arts and Cultural Arts Collective are looking to connect with 4 artists (x 2)
Who are interested in collaboration and creating new music, in:

  • Western Sydney &

  • South Coast Region

This is a PAID opportunity for artists to work with Music Producer Richard Petkovic to create a song (or three?) that crosses genres and cultures and demonstrates the innovative new music coming out of Western Sydney and Regional NSW.

(See Richard’s work here).

The artists will recieve:

  • professional development support including promotional photos and a BIO for their personal use

  • the chance play at Culture X Festival in September 2025

  • payment to be part of the Residency

  • create at least one new track and film clip with the EOI artists

  • paid performance at the Residency song launches at either Bankstown Arts Centre or El Horses Nowra

So if you sing or rap (in any language), play an instrument (from Yudaki to Indian Tabla to Piano) or produce Beats or Content. Fill out the form below to be considered for these TWO exciting opportunities.

  • The Hit Factory Residency Western Sydney, is from 5 - 8 June 2025 for 4 days/or nights at Bankstown Arts Centre with performance on Friday 1 August 2025 at Bankstown Arts Centre

  • The Hit Factory Shellharbour is from Thursday 8 May to Sunday 11 May 2025 with performance at El Horses Nowra Saturday 21 June 2025

Applications close Friday 18 April

Any questions email: info@culturalartscollective.com.au


This project is a Sacred Currents Inc initiated project and is funded by Create NSW

Our Partners:

Bankstown Arts Centre (BAC) is a vibrant contemporary multi-arts organisation that advocates for diverse and accessible art.

South Coast Arts provide services for the creative communities of Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven

Cultural Arts Collective is committed to producing contemporary music that represents the multicultural Western Sydney neighbourhoods where they grew up, live and work in. They create a sound that is ‘place based’ and combines diverse music practices and genres into a new contemporary Australian sound…The Western Sydney Sound.

Photos - Gerrie Mifsud

LAST YEAR

2024 Hit Factory Music Residency

6 - 9 June 2024 Bankstown Arts Centre

The Sound of Western Sydney

We had a such a great response to the EOI’s we created TWO oportunities for artists to come together and create new music cross cultures.

The launch event on 5 July 6pm Bankstown Arts Centre featured

solo performances and our two new groups performing their new music.

Performers:
Behzad Ansari (Tar, Oud), Isabella Rahme (Soprano vocals and Harp), Imad-eddine Dably (Trad. Morrocan Bass and Vocals), Charnel Rizk (Rnb, Hip Hop vocals), Vivien Vu (vocals, Piano), Gem Kret-Nealand (Producer, Piano)

What we created. The Outcome

Two new ensembles

and

Morocco Blue music video - by our newly formed Hit Factory Ensemble ‘OneSix’

The 2024 Residency

What can you do in 16 hrs with people you have just met? When the stars align...

Create and record 5 songs and 1 music video that include Persian, Morrocan, Western Classical culture.

Thanks to our project partners Outloud and Cultural Arts Collective who made this beautiful collaboration happen!

Launching the single on the 5 July at 6pm at Bankstown Arts Centre with a special performance of this (unnamed) ensemble and more…Then onto Culture X Festival in September.

Produced and facilitated by Cultural Arts Collective

Funded by Create NSW