Editing Bendigo (section)

==Culture and events==
[[File:BendigoCapitalTheatre.JPG|thumb|[[Capital Theatre (Bendigo)|Capital Theatre]]]]
[[File:SunLoong.jpg|thumb|Bendigo is home to [[Sun Loong]], the world's longest [[dragon dance|imperial dragon]], a symbol of the city's Chinese heritage and a major drawcard of Bendigo's Easter Festival procession. For the remainder of the year, it is on display in the [[Golden Dragon Museum]].]]
The [[Bendigo Art Gallery]] is one of Australia's oldest and largest regional art galleries. In March 2012, it hosted a royal visit from [[Charlene, Princess of Monaco|Princess Charlene]] of Monaco at the opening of an exhibition about [[Grace Kelly]].<ref>{{cite web|author=John Elder |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-fairytale-in-bendigo-as-charlene-enters-with-grace-20120310-1urgh.html |title=A fairytale in Bendigo as Charlene enters with grace |work=The Age |date=10 March 2012 |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>

The [[Capital Theatre (Bendigo)|Capital Theatre]], originally the Masonic temple, is located next to the art gallery in View Street and hosts [[performing arts]] and live music. It also hosts the annual Bendigo Writers Festival which was founded in 2012.

The [[Ulumbarra Theatre]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulumbarratheatre.com.au/Home |title=Home |publisher=Ulumbarra Theatre |access-date=2016-01-20}}</ref> was opened on 16 April 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pedler |first=Chris |url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3019282/ulumbarra-theatre-grand-opening-kicks-a-goal/ |title=Ulumbarra Theatre: Grand opening kicks a goal |newspaper=Bendigo Advertiser |date=2015-04-17 |access-date=2016-01-20}}</ref> It was originally the Sandhurst/Old Bendigo Gaol. The new theatre which seats nearly 1,000 people sits within the walls and structure of the gaol and retains some original architectural features of the gaol.<ref>{{cite web|last=Parker |first=Fiona |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/old-meets-new-as-sandhurst-gaol-becomes-ulumbarra-theatre/6022058 |title=Old meets new in Bendigo as Sandhurst Gaol becomes Ulumbarra Theatre – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2015-01-19 |access-date=2016-01-20}}</ref> The venue hosts performing arts and live music. It also acts as a ceremonial and teaching space for local secondary schools and universities.

The city hosts the Bendigo National [[Flea market|Swap Meet]] for car parts every year in early November. It is regarded{{By whom|date=April 2011}} as the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts people from all over Australia and the world.

The city hosts the Victorian leg of the annual [[Groovin' the Moo]] music festival. It is held at the Bendigo Showgrounds and is usually held in late April or early May. The festival regularly sells out and brings many Australian and international acts to the city. It also attracts thousands of people from around Victoria to the city for the weekend.

The [[Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival]] has been taking place each November since 2011. With over 80 artists from all over Australia, the not-for-profit festival is hosted in many of the venues around Bendigo, and is headlined by a large, family-friendly, free concert held in [[Rosalind Park]].

The [[Bendigo Easter Festival]] is held each year and attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the city over the Easter long weekend. Attractions include parades, exhibitions, and a street carnival.

The Bendigo Queer Film Festival (BQFF) is one of Australia's few regional annual festivals celebrating the [[Queer]] film genre. The BQFF started in 2004 and takes place in the second half of April.

The Festival of Light is a multicultural celebration of peace and harmony inspired by the Buddha's birthday held in May each year since 2013 at the Great Stupa. The festival's program includes dancing and musical acts followed by a fireworks display at night.

In November 2019 Bendigo was recognised as a United Nations' City of Gastronomy.

Bendigo is home to a number of amateur theatre groups including the Bendigo Theatre Company, Tribe Youth Theatre and Nexus Youth Theatre.

===Media===
Bendigo is served by two newspapers, the ''[[Bendigo Advertiser]]'' and the ''[[Bendigo Weekly]]'', although in October 2019 the ''Bendigo Weekly'' was incorporated into the ''Bendigo Advertiser'' and now features as an insert in the Saturday edition of the ''Advertiser''.

Eight locally based radio stations are active; 105.1 Life FM, Gold 1071am and 98.3FM, [[Hit91.9 Bendigo|Hit 91.9]], [[3BO FM]] (broadcasting as Triple M) and [[ABC Central Victoria]] located on Napier Street, as well as the community radio stations Radio KLFM 96.5, [[Phoenix FM (Central Victoria)|Phoenix FM]], [[Fresh FM (Bendigo)|Fresh FM]] and Vision Australia Radio 3BPH Bendigo 88.7 FM.

Network television is broadcast in the Bendigo region by the [[Seven Network]], [[WIN Television]] (affiliated with the [[Nine Network]]), [[Network 10]], the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) and the [[Special Broadcasting Service]] (SBS).

Of the three commercial networks, WIN Television airs a half-hour ''[[WIN News]]'' bulletin each weeknight at 5.30 pm, produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in [[Wollongong]].

Short local news updates and weather updates are broadcast by Network 10 throughout the day, produced and broadcast from its [[Hobart]] studios. The Seven Network airs short local news and weather updates throughout the day, produced and broadcast from its [[Canberra]] studios.

On 5 May 2011, analogue television transmissions ceased in most areas of regional Victoria and some border regions including Bendigo and surrounding areas. All local free-to-air television services are now being broadcast in digital transmission only. This was done as part of the federal government's plan for [[digital terrestrial television in Australia]], where all analogue television transmission were being gradually switched off and replaced with [[DVB-T]] transmission.

===Music===
[[File:BendigoTownHall2.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Bendigo Town Hall]], a popular venue for music concerts]]
A number of live music venues offer local independent bands and artists performing on a regular basis. The [[Bendigo Town Hall]] also hosts music concerts and is a primary venue for the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival. Several adult choirs and the Bendigo Youth Choir often perform overseas; the [[Bendigo Symphony Orchestra]], the Bendigo Symphonic Band, the Bendigo and District Concert Band, several brass bands and three pipe bands perform as well.<ref>{{cite web
 | title = Arts Register
 | publisher=[[City of Greater Bendigo]]
 | year = 2010
 | url = http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Directory/s2.asp?S1Key=5&S2key=36&S3Key=212&Show=y&h=0
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008033032/http://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Directory/s2.asp?S1Key=5&S2key=36&S3Key=212&Show=y&h=0
 | archive-date = 2009-10-08
 | access-date =6 June 2010}}</ref>
Musicians originally from Bendigo include [[Patrick Savage (composer/musician)|Patrick Savage]] – film composer<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8187970/no-strings-attached-violin-virtuoso-returns-home-to-bendigo/ | title=No strings attached: Violin virtuoso returns home to Bendigo | date=8 May 2023 }}</ref> and former principal first violin of the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] in London. ''Australian Idol'' winner [[Kate DeAraugo]] grew up in Bendigo where her family still live.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musictheatreaustralia.com.au/component/entertainers/kate_dearaugo/4670 |title=Celebrity – Book Kate Dearaugo at MTA – Entertainment Booking Agency Australia – MTA Entertainment and Events |publisher=Musictheatreaustralia.com.au |date=5 November 1985 |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Kate-DeAraugo-Biography/DC9B1CC6447CA544482570ED0010B24E |title=Kate Dearaugo Biography |publisher=Sing365.com |access-date=31 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141936/http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Kate-DeAraugo-Biography/DC9B1CC6447CA544482570ED0010B24E |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>