bentART was established in the Blue Mountains in 2005 to celebrate works in the visual arts of Australian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (“LGBT”) artists.

Each year over the June long weekend, the annual 4-day bentART exhibition is held in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

The inspiration of three Blue Mountains women, bentART has evolved into the largest LGBT art event in Australia. Initially for LGBT artists living in (or with a strong association with) the Blue Mountains, bentART is now open to LGBT artists resident in Australia.

The 2009 exhibition saw 48 artists participate, displaying over 100 pieces of work, including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures and alternative media. The artists drew from a diversity of ideas, experiences and creative talents to create an exhibition that stimulated its audience.

bentART has become a highlight of the Queens Birthday weekend of activities in the Blue Mountains for the lesbian and gay community in New South Wales and beyond. There are two major prizes associated with bentART:

-   The bentART Prize
-    Peoples’ Choice Prize (nominated by the public).

In addition, there are four Category Awards for: painting, sculpture, photography and alternative media.

The show is curated and judged by recognised experts from within the Australian arts community. Previous curators and judges have included Professor Amanda Lawson (Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts - University of Wollongong, Director of Bathurst Regional Art Gallery) Richard Perram (Bathurst Regional Art Gallery), John Kirkman (CEO, Penrith Regional Gallery) and Ingrid Hayden (well-known Sydney painter).

In 2009, former Archibald and Sulman Prize winner, Euan MacLeod, judged bentART.

bentART was again auspiced by the Mountains Community Resource Network in 2009.