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Armidale mirrors a metropolitan city in the diversity and depth of its arts and cultural activities. Historically, it has been fortunate with its leaders and philanthropists and their determination to forge a multicultural and sophisticated centre in the inland.

From its early days the city took on a distinctive character with its public and private buildings through the work of noted colonial architects Horbury Hunt (St Peters Cathedral and Booloomimbah) and Sir John Sulman (The Armidale School) and others. Another was added in 1929 when the first teachers college outside Sydney was built in Armidale, a magnificent Italianate structure overlooking the city.

Between 1929 and 1948, Sydney philanthropist Howard Hinton bestowed more than 1,000 works by Australia's best known painters to the Teachers College. That collection now valued at $40 million is housed in the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) along with the Coventry and NERAM collections. NERAM is recognised as one of the leading regional art galleries in Australia, just as Hinton intended.

Growth of the University of New England from a college of Sydney University in 1938 altered Armidale's demographic. Academics and students merged with the local population to engage in music, theatre, ar t and writing. This impetus generated the cultural riches the city has today.

The Teachers College is now the base for the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM), the TAFE Film & Television School, UNE Partnerships and the UNE Department of Music. The musical community is closely linked through the Armidale Symphony Orchestra, an Armidale Youth Orchestra, the New England Guitar Ensemble, Fiori Musicali and many choral and other musical groups. There are also the biennial New England Bach Festival, Musica Viva concerts, jazz concerts and many local and other recitals.

Each year the Armidale Drama & Musical Society stages a major musical. "Sweeney Todd" and "Titanic" were recent productions. The Armidale Playhouse and UNE Theatre Studies stage regular performances as do other groups including local schools and colleges. Oz Opera performs in Armidale every two years. Stage One conducts drama, dance and circus classes for young people.

Armidale has a twin cinema with a mixed program of art house and mainstream movie programs. An International Film Festival is held annually at the cinema. The New England Writers Centre has an annual schedule of events including tours and workshops from notable writers and poets as well as promoting regular interaction between local writers. Poetzinc meets regularly for local poets to share their work and UNE holds many public lectures both on campus and in the city.

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TESTIMONIAL

After moving to Armidale in 1965, Dr Arthur Rickards, Managing Director of the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) has helped to change the face of the Australian and International Beef Industry. As the world leader in Livestock Information Systems, the Institute is an example of a successful global business operating from Armidale which has become one of the largest employers in the city outside government.

ABRI conducts research and consults to public and private organisations and provides managerial services and information to primary producers, with special emphasis on the needs of livestock industries. It offers a wide range of agribusiness information services including comprehensive breed register software that meets the needs of modern livestock producers. The ABRI register is used by 100 breed associations worldwide with over 35 million animals recorded on its database covering 8 different animal species.

"Whether you run a small or large international business, Armidale offers the necessary business infrastructure together with an enviable lifestyle that many people long for," Dr Rickards says.

He ...