The countdown is on to this year's New Annual festival, with City of Newcastle revealing the final additions to the 2025 program three weeks out from the opening weekend.
The expanded Newcastle Art Gallery will welcome visitors for the first time as part of the New Annual program, with pre-booked free guided sessions opening for registrations tomorrow.
Otherworldly deep sea divers, created by renowned puppetry-based theatrical producers Erth Visual & Physical Inc, will delight audiences with roving performances on Laman Street during the First Night Art Party.
First Nations artist talks, drop-in art sessions and guided tours will be among the highlights as the community takes its first look inside the building.
The Gallery will also celebrate a pre-sale preview of its inaugural book featuring 165 works of art from the $145 million collection, with insights provided by art historians, academics and curators alongside contributions by poet Jazz Money, climate scientist Joëlle Gergis, historian Santilla Chingaipe and futurist Ana Tiquia.
Tickets for these free events are expected to be snapped up by art lovers keen to explore three of the new gallery spaces and experience the significant new First Nations commissions and acquisitions.
There will be plenty to see outside the Gallery as well, as New Annual kicks off with the First Night Art Party on 26 September featuring free, family-friendly entertainment for all ages.
Towering underwater divers will bring a sense of otherworldly excitement with roving performances along Laman Street, while drop-in workshops will allow families to create their own unique fish necklace inspired by the vibrant and colourful world of artist Rosie Deacon.
Jellyfish-themed light installations will illuminate Laman Street's fabulous fig trees while the Gallery's façade will come to life with immersive digital art projections co-created by Art Thinking and local school students, inspired by the saltwater stories of the First Nations commissions.
The free night of music, movement and art will also feature high-energy pop sets from Haiku Hands, Kira Puru and Devaura, while families can enjoy a range of hands-on ocean-themed creative activities inside Newcastle City Library.
Councillor Jenny Barrie, Chair of City of Newcastle's Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee, said New Annual is a festival for the entire community.
"City of Newcastle is committed to ensuring everyone in our community can access free, family-friendly arts and cultural experiences," Cr Barrie said.
"Events like New Annual play a vital role in strengthening community pride and celebrating local identity.
"With a strong focus on free and low-cost programming, the festival makes art and culture more inclusive and accessible, giving families and individuals from all walks of life the chance to connect, participate, enjoy and have fun."
New Annual Festival Director Tory Loudon said there was so much to see and do during New Annual.
"These finishing touches round out a really exciting and diverse program, which features the best of international and Australian live music, theatre and art, and champions local stories and talent," Ms Loudon said.
"We want people to find a new artist they love, explore the city in new and unexpected ways and celebrate our incredible local artists and performers. I can't wait for it to begin."
University of Newcastle Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Equity, Nathan Towney said the University was proud to be a presenting partner of the New Annual festival and looked forward to experiencing its diverse program later this month.
"We're proud to be a presenting partner for the New Annual festival and help to bring art, culture and creativity to our region," Mr Towney said.
"New Annual is also a great opportunity for our students to gain unique behind the scenes experience, whether that be as performers or through our career-ready placement program and volunteering experiences in the arts, tourism and event management sector."
While the 10-day festival doesn't kick off until 26 September, Novocastrians will get an early taste of its program with popular touring productions starting their extended seasons this weekend.
The highly acclaimed multi-sensory collection, DARKFIELD, will make its Newcastle debut tomorrow in specially designed shipping containers set up in Wheeler Place.
Its most popular experiences SÉANCE and FLIGHT will engulf audiences in immersive 360-degree audio experiences from 5 September and run through until 12 October.
Novocastrians will also welcome the return of the Spiegeltent to Civic Park, where its new circus sensation La Ronde will dazzle audiences from 5 September and run throughout the New Annual festival until 5 October.
New Annual is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Transport for NSW Open Streets and Permit/Plug/Play Pilot programs, Multicultural NSW Stronger Together grant, Create NSW and the Destination NSW Regional Event Fund.
This includes an additional funding allocation of $130,000 each year for two years from the NSW Government's Create NSW program, which was announced last week.
The University of Newcastle, Equip Multimedia and Newcastle Art Gallery are presenting partners of the 2025 event.
