News
Lonely Planet has just released their annual guide to “the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit in 2011” in the world. Their Best in Travel in 2011 has quite astonishingly recognised this great city’s unique charms. No, you didn’t misread that, coming in right there at number 9 is Newcastle, Australia (behind New York which is number 1 but ahead of provincial cities in this part of the world like Sydney and Melbourne).
The good folks at Lonely Planet – and who are we to question their judgement – have recognised that “Today’s new Newcastle is a unique blend of imagination, sophistication and laid-back surf culture.” We couldn’t agree more!
Newcastle has become the first Australian city in years to make the “hottest cities” list. According to the folks at Lonely Planet “Australia’s most underrated city” has transformed itself “from ‘steel city’ to creative hub” and has now has “an explosion of artists” – has more artists per capita than any other Australian city, great galleries and “dozens of disused city-centre buildings occupied by photographers, fashion designers, digital artists and more as part of the inner-city regeneration scheme, Renew Newcastle.”
Not to mention the great restaurants, cafes, and all the natural charms to be found in this part of the world. Thanks Lonely Planet. How good is this town?
If you’re an excited lonely planet reader and trying to track down some of that inner city creative action check out our projects page or keep visiting back here to keep track of regular events. If you’re a journalist wanting to know more about Newcastle’s recent transformation and its charms check out our media section or feel free to contact us or check out Renew Newcastle’s Marcus Westbury’s thoughts on his personal blog.
Get along to these new shows in Renew Newcastle shops and galleries over the coming month.
If you are keen to see all the shows then your best chance is on the First Friday of the month – 5th November – when Arthive, Odditorium and Gallery Raw are opening on the same night – so you and your gang can trawl the streets on a gallery crawl, enjoying the hospitality and the live entertainment!
//Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour. Basement 14 Thorn St.
Fog Art – a 3D broken hearted wonderland of cardboard pop-out painted minatures by Kristian Glynn.
Exhibition Dates: 5-28 November. Opening Night: 5 November @ 6pm. LIKE the Odditorium on their Facebook group page.
//Before It Began. Upstairs, 14 Thorn St
Almost Famous – because “you can only run the street so long” Binary Creative are exhibiting indoors: a collaborative exhibition of aerosol art mural and canvas works. Check out the youtube promo clip. Exhibition Dates: 6-28 November. Opening Night: 6 November @ 6-9pm. RSVP to the Facebook event page
//Arthive. Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (off Morgan St).
I Louvre Rock & Roll – the collected masterworks of Mike Foxall. A collection of illustrations, rock posters, cd covers and comic art dating back to the mid 90s, some of which are now in a book to be launched at the opening. Exhibition Dates: 3-13 November. Opening Night: 5 November @ 6pm. RSVP to the Facebook event page
The V&A Exhibition by Amelia Filmer-Sankey & Venetia Sieveking
Exhibition Dates: 19-27 November Opening Night: Friday 19 November @ 6pm.
RSVP to the Facebook event page.
Arthive hosts the YOUNG AND BAROQUE Artist Market – this boutique market boasts a bounty of unique and hand crafted items from regional artists and crafters: you’ll find one-offs not knock-offs here! Stallholders contact Sarah or Rose at subjecthive@gmail.com Date: Sunday 7 November Time: 11am – 5pm. RSVP to the Facebook event page.
//Gallery Raw. 202 King St.
Refracted Light: Marine Photography – a “jawdropping, National Geographic quality” exhibition of photographs by Justin Gilligan
Exhibition Dates: 6-28 November. Opening Night: 5 November @ 7pm. LIKE Gallery Raw on their Facebook group page.
L-R Petra Hilsen, Amanda Pieriboni, David Sleet, Marcus Westbury, Rod Smith, Marni Jackson
Renew Newcastle and The GPT Group won Australia’s highest award for a partnership between a business and an arts organisation on Thursday 21 October 2010. Their partnership beat out some of Australia’s largest companies and arts organisations as winners of both the Toyota Community Partnerships award and the overall Partnership of the Year at the 10th annual Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) national awards dinner.
After being announced NSW winners in the community partnership category in early September, the Renew Newcastle / GPT partnership was a national finalist at the function before an audience of hundreds of major business leaders and leading arts figures at Randwick Racecourse Pavilion. The award recognises a partnership between a business and an arts organisation which provides benefit to the community, and AbaF’s Gabby Talmadge described the partnership and the initiative as “truly exceptional”.
As National winners in their nominated category, Renew Newcastle and The GPT Group were then considered against the winners of eight other awards categories, to be declared the overall AbaF Partnership of the Year for 2010. The award was presented by Senator Kate Lundy on behalf of Federal Minister for the Arts Simon Crean.
Renew Newcastle Founder and Creative Director Marcus Westbury was proud of the award, which took him by surprise “The winning partnerships in all the other categories were between high profile companies, fantastic arts organisations and some of which involved very large sums of cash. I was shocked that our partnership – which has been done very much on the cheap by providing spaces for more than 60 groups of artists, brought life back to a once dead Hunter Street Mall and reactivated dozens of once empty buildings – could even be in the running.”
While GPT have recently withdrawn their plans for a redevelopment in the Hunter St Mall area, they continue to work comprehensively with Renew Newcastle to actively manage their properties around the site. According to Marcus Westbury although their development is not proceeding they have been “exemplary property owners in the city – they have not let their property’s sit empty and become derelict and instead have used them to incubate new creative enterprises. I hope many other property owners continue to take their lead.”
GPT representative at the awards, David Sleet, Development Manager, was pleased to be acknowledged for the partnership, which involved a leap of faith at the outset, “The GPT / Renew Newcastle partnership has delivered real benefit to the community of Newcastle as the process of CBD revitalisation continues. The initiative works on all levels – culturally, socially, financially and environmentally. GPT is incredibly proud of its association with Renew Newcastle and what we have collectively achieved in building social and cultural capital in Newcastle. There has been a real and positive improvement in this regard. "
We’ve also collected another gong this week – the Newcastle Business Club named us Organisation of the Year in its Annual Awards, for an organisation which has contributed most to what they call the Commonweal of Newcastle. Thank you NBC!
DIY transforming a dying city from Marcus Westbury on Vimeo.
As many Novocastrians might have noticed Renew Newcastle has already planted many seeds in Newcastle – about 60 or more of them at last count – now it’s planning on germinating a few more seeds around the country and the world.
Renew Newcastle founder, ex-Novocastrian and now Melbournian Marcus Westbury has been selected as part of The Crunch – a Victorian based scheme to nurture new social enterprises. Over the next four or so months they will invest $10,000 and serious mentorship, Melbourne University Business School support and other assistance towards the establishment of Renew Australia.
At the end of that first stage of support Renew Australia will be one of 9 organisations with an opportunity to put in a bid for a share of ONE MILLION DOLLARS (that deserves all caps) in seed funding early in 2011. Renew Australia is aimed to be a national scheme based on the Renew Newcastle model – making the best possible uses of otherwise empty spaces by making them available to artists, creative projects and community groups.
Unusually for a scheme of this type, the application form was a video. We thought it might be worth sharing here as its a great reminder of what Renew Newcastle has been doing already and exactly how the model works here and might work elsewhere.
Renew Australia has no dedicated web site yet but if you like the idea please become a fan on Facebook and follow Renew Australia on Twitter
You can follow Marcus’s efforts over at his personal web site.
@ ARThive – Upstairs, 111 Hunter St, off Morgan St
22 September – 3 October. Sticky Fingers
is a group exhibition showcasing imaginative local artists and illustrators including Trevor Dickinson, Carli Hyland, Daniel Smith, Ben Soedradjit, Nicholas French, Emily Mitchell, Ben Kenning, Grant Hunter, Sarah Mould, Rose Turner, and Tobius Miller. Opening night: Friday 24 September RSVP to the Facebook event
6-16 October. SATELLITE
is a photography and installation collaboration between local artists
Lance Johnson and Brenton Brooker
20-30 October. Spook House
is a solo exhibition by Steven Nuttall Opening Night: Wed 20 Oct you will see your average neighborhood gallery opening Closing Night: Sat 30 Oct – for the final night of SPOOK HOUSE we are looking at a grand closing night Halloween Ball!!!
A night of illustration, sculpture, masks, face painting, and a line up of the most evil and erotic entertainment from the very depths of the netherworld to shake your booty and chill you to the bone!!! Come along to the closing night party In spooky costume and you will receive a limited edition SPOOK HOUSE spooky face mask to party the night away in.
@ Suite 40, Level 1, above the Food Court, Hunter St Mall
21-30 October. Bounce Back
The Carousel Gallery presents a pop-up exhibition space. In conjunction with Mental Health Month, the Bounce Back exhibition showcases metal sculpture, paintings, drawings, ceramic and mosaic produced by clients of mental health services from the Hunter and Central Coast. Opening Night: Thurs 21 Oct
@ Gallery Raw – 202 King St
Figuratively Raw is Gallery RAW’s first fine art nude group photography exhibition and it’s BIG! A selection of extra large prints will dominate the walls during the month. For those of you who haven’t visited Newcastle’s only photo dedicated gallery’s new location or if you are a regular visitor, this controversial new show is a must see. Opening Night: 7pm, Friday 1 Oct
@ Before It Began – 14 Thorn St
From Russia With Love a show celebrating their transient gypsy lifestyle ie. 3rd new shop location! The girls show off their new decor and a re-opening exhibition of art music and fashion by Christian Kauter, Trine Deans & Kelly Sharpe. Opening Night: Friday 1 Oct, 6-9pm
@ Odditorium – Basement, 14 Thorn St
A treasure trove of curiosities and installations, curated by Naomi Saunders. Including Very dear to me a collection of all things doe and deer, featuring Bambi on screen and in a rug. Opening Night: Friday 1 Oct, 6-9pm
On the First Friday of each month the Renew Newcastle shops and galleries stay open late and put on something special to tempt you into the city.
Its an extra special First Friday of the month on 1st October, coinciding as it is with the This Is Not Art festival weekend. Which means there’s lots happening across the city and lots of visitors coming for some R & R in Newcastle – including Marcus Westbury (and his new little baby) who will lead a soap-box style launch of what’s new in the Renew Newcastle spaces.
Meet up at 6pm outside the newest RN property 14 Thorn St – home to Before It Began and Odditorium – where Marcus will give you the lowdown on all that’s happened with RN over the past year, a guide to all the special events happening on the night, and send you on your way for your own self-guided tour of any of the spaces that take your fancy.
Here are some reasons to come along:
1. Your last chance to catch the Sticky Fingers illustration exhibition at ARThive.
Featuring works on paper and walls, from 11 local artists and illustrators. (Upstairs, 111 Hunter St, off Morgan St)
2. Mad Hatter Millinery are hosting a special soiree from 6-8pm, and invite you to Leave Your Hat On…
They are welcoming their newest local hat designers to the studio. Wear a hat & dress elegantly to make the most of their hospitality… (Shop 18/19 Market Square)
3. Run Amok Dance Clothing are presenting their first runway show, featuring lycra costume creations by Kerrie Fletcher as well as rockabilly & swing fashions by their newest local designer Lesley’s Little Shop and a vintage inspired swimwear launch. 6-8pm (Shop 16/17 Market Square)
4. A shop opening party from 6-9pm for our newest project, the Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour.
Transforming an old jewellers into an installation of curiosities. (Basement, 14 Thorn St)
5. A shop re-opening party from 6-9pm for our most mobile project, Before It Began fashion/art/studio.
They have just moved into their 3rd temporary Renew Newcastle space, and are celebrating From Russia With Love feat. Trine Deans, Christian Kauter & Kelly Sharpe (14 Thorn St)
6. Catch the Makespace ladies staying up late for bubbles and cake from 5-7pm.
A trove of handmade kids clothes, womens clothes, homewares, jewellery, cards and bags all by local designers. Makespace…where art and craft spoon. (19 Wolfe St)
7. Opening night of Figuratively Raw, an exhibition of large scale photographic nudes, at Newcastle’s only dedicated photography gallery. 7pm
Gallery Raw Newcastle House of Photography. (202 King St)
If you finish your tour at Gallery Raw, its just a hop, skip and a jump over to the This Is Not Art festival club on King St, where you can retire for a Ginger Beer!
The Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour has been a long time coming for collector Naomi Saunders, but time is relative to her passion for vintage and collectable charms.
Her idea for this galleria of found objects, curiosities and vintage installations was proposed to Renew Newcastle way back in March 2009, and we thought that we had found the perfect project to occupy an empty basement shop which was on our To Do list.
The shop was previously home to a jeweller, decked out with deep brown wooden panelling, rich red walls and secreting an antique safe. But unfortunately the space was found to be unsuitable to occupy until the property owner could do some minor works and secure a Fire Safety Certificate for the space.
Thanks to GPT 18 months later the property has been made available to the Renew Newcastle initiative and we tracked down Naomi to see if her proposal was still on the cards. Testimony to her patience and enthusiasm for her art, in just 3 weeks she has moved into the space, refreshed it with some juicy mustard yellow paint, and installed a bower of knick-knacks and curiosities.
The Odditorium sells vintage flavoured art, fashion, homewares and jewellery lovingly crafted by local artists – such as prints by antique train spotter David Hampton.
Or, you can feature in your own installation and have your picture taken in the Portrait Parlour.
See the Odditorium profile for location, shop opening hours and more details.
Join Naomi and some of the featured artists at the shop opening party on Friday 1 October from 6pm.
With Renew Newcastle now looking to expand our operations in response to the latest developments in Newcastle, now might be a good time to look back at just how far we’ve come in the short period since the beginning of last year.
The images below are of some of the nearly 30 once vacant buildings that are no longer empty in Newcastle after Renew Newcastle’s got into them, cleaned them out, fixed them up and brought them back to life again. Some still have Renew Newcastle tenants in them but many now have new commercial tenants that have been attracted to the life and activity that has come to the city.
These are only some of our sites and success stories. Visit our project page for many more projects, maps and stories of what have happened in these spaces..
This building was home to Surfhouse photography – which is now a full commercial business operating nearby in Hunter Street. The building itself now has a new commercial tenant.
This store was the original location for Make Space – which continues around the corner in Wolfe St. The space now has a new commercial tenant.
These buildings had literally never been used until Renew Newcastle came along. We used them to run several projects including Biami Miara, Upcycling and Silk House Art Projects. They have recently been commercially tenanted for the first time.
This building has been used to house Loop Space gallery which has recently moved on and made way for a new commercial tenant.
This building has been used to house several Renew Newcastle projects including Ciao Meow – now operating commercially in King Street and Before it Began which is currently relocating to make way for another new commercial tenant.
This building has been cleaned up and fixed up and now houses Vox Cyclops records.
This building has been cleaned up and is the new home to Gallery Raw.
This building houses several projects including Arthive.
Join us this coming First Friday of the month as we lead a free walking tour of some of the Renew Newcastle gallery spaces which are enlivening the city centre. The spaces are hosting opening night celebrations for their latest exhibitions and creations. When: Friday 3 September Meet: 6.00pm outside Before It Began, Shop 2, 111 Hunter St Mall. We will walk to ARThive , Makespace, Gallery Raw and The Black Chandelier.
Or if you can’t make it on Friday night, show your support by visiting the spaces some time in September:
She & Her is a mixed media exploration of the female form, in Tabbatha Gallen’s first solo exhibition. Painting, illustration and digital photography by a local emerging artist. Exhibition Period: 3-13 Sept Opening Night: Friday 3 Sept, 6.00 – 9.00pm
Feat. music by Container, A-Catt’s Revenge & Glenza RSVP on the Before It Began Facebook event page Location: Before It Began, Shop 2, 111 Hunter St Mall
Sneaky September is a 15 artist collaboration. A variety of styles and mediums explored on the perfect wearable canvas: the shoe. 30 Pairs of Shoes. 15 Artists. Exhibition Period: 1-11 Sept Opening Night: Friday 3 Sept, 6.30pm Special Event: Wednesday 1 Sept – an open art show with all artists in the Gallery customising furiously on 30 pairs of shoes! RSVP on the ARThive Facebook event page Location: ARThive, Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (off Morgan St)
Followed by Sticky Fingers a fun group exhibition showcasing some of the Newcastle region’s finest illustration talents, featuring the work of Carli Hyland, Daniel Smith, Sarah Mould, Ben Soedradjit, Rose Turner, Grant Hunter, Trevor Dickinson, plus more Exhibition Period: 22 Sept – 03 Oct Opening Night: Friday 24 Sept Location: ARThive, Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (off Morgan St)
Eclectic is a group show featuring new works from the Gallery Raw collective of local photographers: Sarah Norton (image), Sue Walker, Renee Moore, Naomi Frost, Mark St Clair & more.Exhibition Period: 3 – 30 Sept Opening Night: Friday 3 Sept, 7.00pm
Location: Gallery Raw, 202 King St
Nibbles & notes A laid back spring evening, with new works & artist celebration. Bring a song. Or a poem.
Opening Night: Friday 3 Sept, 7.00pm Location: The Black Chandelier, Shop 8, cnr Merewether St & Centennial Rd, Honeysuckle (opposite Crown Plaza)
A Fascination with Process: artists in residence at Watt Space, featuring Renew Newcastle studio artists David Hampton & Rebecca Holmes. Five Artists in residence in take over the gallery for 3 weeks. Watch them at work and talk to them about their practice. Exhibition Period: Wed 22 Sept – Sun 10 Oct Opening Night: Thurs 23 Sept, 6.30pm Location: Watt Space Student Gallery of the University of Newcastle, cnr Auckland St & King St
The 1st Sea-iennale of Newcastle, curated by Rebecca Holmes Newcastle’s largest and most exciting local exhibition of contemporary art about the sea. Featuring a tidal wave of local emerging artists such as David Hampton, Trine Deans, Christian Kauter, Chris Brown, Nicole Chaffey, Rebecca Holmes & more. Feat. Music by Soul Shakedown Party DJ’s
Opening: Sunday 5 Sept, 3.00pm Location: View Factory, 64 Scott St
RSVP on the event Facebook page
Renew Newcastle has been inundated by people wanting to know our views on GPT’s decision to withdraw from Newcastle. Like many Novocastrians we are surprised and disappointed but we’re certainly not deterred. We will be redoubling our efforts and we are convinced that our proven low cost, bottom-up approach to revitalising the city is needed now more than ever.
We are particularly disappointed because GPT have been an excellent partner for Renew Newcastle. Over the last 18 months we’ve worked together to bring life back to the mall. It has gone from more than 20 empty shops to almost none in that time. From our point of view GPT have been an exemplary property owner in the city. They have not let the city go to seed while they made their decisions and instead have seen the value in seeding the small-scale creative activity that has led to such a dramatic turn around. Newcastle now desperately needs other property owners to follow their lead.
What does this mean for our current projects?
Currently there are 20 Renew Newcastle projects occupying 15 spaces owned by GPT in and around the Hunter Street mall area. GPT are Renew Newcastle’s largest but not our only property partner – we have expanded from the mall to sites across the city, Newcastle West and Honeysuckle and we are continuing to expand into new properties and new partnerships all the time.
For Renew Newcastle’s projects there is no change. Renew projects will continue to occupy their spaces for the foreseeable future. At this stage GPT’s exit plan hasn’t been detailed but it won’t happen immediately. They will continue to manage and develop the Hunter Street Outlets with business as usual for their existing retailers. Renew Newcastle projects have been a key factor in the revitalisation of the mall and we think we’ve got a strong case to continue with new owners while they consider their plans.
What does it mean for Renew Newcastle?
While GPT’s announcement has been disappointing it is also exactly why Renew Newcastle exists. Renew Newcastle is not about any particular big development but rather about getting away from relying on any one thing in particular to provide Newcastle’s transformation. Renew Newcastle is always a “meantime” strategy designed to take periods of uncertainty and turn them into opportunities to seed new businesses, creative projects and initiatives.
We are keen and available to clean up, fix up and activate any sites in the city that owners want to improve.
In the near future, we will redouble our efforts to get other property owners on board across the city. We will be working with the Property Council, real estate agents and a large cross section of the community to open up new empty spaces for kind of revitalisation strategy that has already resuscitated the mall. Newcastle needs it now more than ever.
