Newcastle's coastline and civic spaces have been reimagined as vibrant stages for art, performance and community connection ahead of the New Annual festival, which kicks off on Friday.
The opening weekend of City of Newcastle's flagship arts festival features diverse events, activities and performances that invite audiences to rediscover the city through storytelling, from fantastical mini putt-putt at The Station, to immersive theatre at the Newcastle Ocean Baths.
Artist Jen Denzin gives a sneak peek of her Argo Escargot shipping container installation to Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp, New Annual Festival Director Tory Loudon and Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull.
New Annual Festival Director Tory Loudon said this year's program invites audiences to see Newcastle and the places they know best through the eyes of local artists.
"This year, New Annual opens up opportunities for artists to connect with audiences through familiar spaces in new ways as they pay homage to the places that have shaped our city's identity," Ms Loudon said.
"With over 70% of the program featuring local artists, it's Newcastle but not as you know it as they reimagine the spaces we know and love."
Three giant shipping containers have transformed Camp Shortland into a public art trail that invites visitors to listen to a starfish through a sensory sound installation and experience a whole new view of the world via a walk-in camera obscura.
Newcastle artist Jen Denzin has turned the third container into a wild exploration of the storms, shipwrecks and spectral echoes of the past that have shaped her coastal home.
The trail continues down at The Station, where Denzin has collaborated with Sydney-based artist Rosie Deacon to create a whimsical six-hole mini putt-putt course especially for New Annual.
Back on the coastline, the Newcastle Ocean Baths and its bathers provide the backdrop and inspiration for an exhibition by local photographers Lee Illfield and Edwina Richards, as well as the creative reimagining of real-life stories by Newcastle production company Whale Chorus and playwright Ang Collins in their live theatre performance Meet Me at the Baths.
This weekend will also see the Newcastle Ocean Baths make its debut as a live music venue, with the first two of five scheduled 'Soak' sunset sessions by local and globally renowned music talent.
The Soak lineup includes Newcastle post punk band Dust, and a one-night-only collaboration between renowned beatboxer Tom Thum, Filipino and Murrawarri artist DOBBY and leading jazz composer Freyja Garbett.
A memorable musical line-up will also help set the vibe on Laman Street for New Annual's vibrant First Night Art Party with high energy pop sets from Haiku Hands, Kira Puru and Devaura, while roving performances from the awe-inspiring Erth Underwater Divers and free drop-in art workshops will deliver a family-friendly atmosphere.
For one night only, Newcastle Art Gallery's façade will be transformed into a canvas for shared storytelling, with projected animations co-created by Art Thinking with local children inspired by the Gallery's new commissions by First Nations artists.
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp said that New Annual is a fantastic example of how City of Newcastle continues to lead in creative placemaking.
"With support from the NSW Government, the festival is drawing visitors from across the region and beyond, giving them a chance to experience our city's infrastructure in bold, imaginative ways. It's a celebration of place, and a powerful driver of cultural tourism," Mr Crakanthorp said.
Other opening weekend highlights include the uplifting and unpredictable onstage filmmaking experience, POV, at Newcastle Museum, the transcendence of Jonny Hawkins' Dancefloor Conversion Therapy and the chance to join a singing workshop with men's choir sensations Spooky Men's Chorale before experiencing their magnificence live on stage at City Hall.
Deputy Lord Mayor Callum Pull said New Annual continues to showcase the city's commitment to culture, tourism and economic development.
"New Annual is more than just a celebration of creativity; it's a significant investment in our local arts community and a bold statement about Newcastle's identity," Cr Pull said.
"By showcasing the incredible talent we have right here in our city, we not only support our artists, but also drive tourism, boost the local economy, and reimagine Newcastle as a vibrant, cultural destination for both residents and visitors alike."
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.
The University of Newcastle, Equip Multimedia and Newcastle Art Gallery are presenting partners of the 2025 event.
New Annual runs from 26 September until 5 October with 10 days of music, theatre, dance, visual arts and public art. More than 60% of the events are free and family friendly.
Visit https://newannual.com/ for the full program and to download a map of the public art trail.
