Newcastle

Newcastle Arts

Newcastle’s creative life stretches from community singing and contemporary dance to pottery, printmaking, photography, writing and multidisciplinary practice. You can learn an instrument, join a non-auditioned choir, make theatre, work with clay, explore photographic processes or encounter artists in studios, galleries and residencies. The region also has practical places for rehearsal, exhibition, recording and professional development, with opportunities for young people, adults, emerging artists, experienced makers and community participants.

Here is a varied selection of organisations and creative spaces across Newcastle, Newcastle West, Charlestown, Lambton, Islington, Hamilton North and the wider Hunter. Each offers a different way to make, share, study or support the arts.

🎶 Music & Singing

Newcastle Conservatorium

The University of Newcastle’s community music service offers individual tuition in instruments, voice and music production for people of all ages and experience levels. Its wider program includes ensembles, community choirs, early-childhood music and school programs, bringing one-to-one learning together with shared music-making.

Newcastle

Newcastle University Choir

This non-auditioned community choir welcomes students, staff and local singers. Its repertoire moves across sacred works, musical theatre, jazz, gospel and contemporary music, with performances and collaborations involving local ensembles. It offers a group-singing option for people who want to learn and perform together without an audition.

Newcastle

Newcastle Chamber Choir

Newcastle Chamber Choir is an auditioned chamber choir with enquiries and auditions handled through its secretary. The group suits singers interested in chamber-choir repertoire and a more selective ensemble setting.

Newcastle · ☎ 0451042490 — general enquiries and auditions

🩰 Dance & Choreography

Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub

Based in Newcastle West, Catapult works across contemporary dance and multi-arts practice with mid-career and emerging choreographers, multidisciplinary artists, young people and community participants. Its programs include classes, workshops, masterclasses, intensives, inclusive workshops and school or community options, connecting choreographic practice with participation.

880 Hunter Street, Newcastle West NSW 2302

🎭 Theatre & Performance

Tantrum Youth Arts

This not-for-profit youth arts organisation offers creative arts and drama participation from age five, along with youth-led theatre and performance-making workshops for ages 8–17. Early-career artists aged 18 and over can access professional-development opportunities, while the Accelerate Ensemble is a disability arts program for young adults.

The Place Charlestown Community Centre, Charlestown Square, Cnr Frederick and Pearson Streets, Charlestown NSW 2290 · ☎ (02) 4929 7279 — general enquiries

Newcastle Theatre Company

Newcastle Theatre Company is an independent not-for-profit company producing mainstage and independent-season work. Members aged 18 and over can take part in productions, workshops and volunteering, with membership providing access to audition opportunities. Its Lambton theatre also supports rehearsals, play readings, set construction and technical work.

90 De Vitre Street, Lambton NSW 2299 · ☎ (02) 4952 4958 — theatre enquiries, office hours Monday to Friday, 3pm–6pm

🎨 Visual Artists & Studios

Newcastle Art Space

Newcastle Art Space is a community arts space in Islington with more than 20 artist studios, exhibitions, art prizes, mentorship and creative programs. Membership is open to individuals and organisations. Studio vacancies are offered to artists committed to professional practice and active engagement with the hub, making the space both a working base and a place for creative exchange.

91 Chinchen Street, Islington NSW 2296 · ☎ 0490 801 630 — office phone

The Creator Incubator

This Hamilton North creative hub houses resident artists, designers, makers and thinkers. Its Big and Little gallery spaces add presentation opportunities to the shared base for creative practice, giving residents and visitors a place to encounter work across several creative disciplines.

Shed 15A/50 Clyde Street, Hamilton North NSW 2292 · ☎ 0492 491 109 — general enquiries

Lighthouse Arts

Lighthouse Arts, an initiative of the Hunter Writers’ Centre, offers artist and writer residencies, exhibitions, events and an arts store featuring work by local creatives and residents. Its location on Whibayganba-Nobbys headland connects creative production, public presentation and support for artists and writers.

Whibayganba-Nobbys headland, 41 Nobbys Road, Newcastle NSW 2300

🏺 Craft & Making

Make Space

Make Space is an artist-run collective with a shopfront at Newcastle Train Station representing makers from Newcastle and surrounding areas. Alongside handmade and limited-run work, it presents workshops, special events and visiting-artist activities, giving audiences ways to buy, meet and learn from local creative practice.

Newcastle Train Station, corner of Scott Street and Watt Street, Newcastle NSW 2300

The Art Department

This Newcastle pottery studio runs wheel-throwing and hand-building workshops, children’s classes, Clay & Sip sessions and longer workshops. Experienced potters can use the open-studio option, while private group bookings provide a separate way to work with clay together.

Unit 1, 133 King Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 · ☎ +61 493 753 055 — general enquiries

VIA Studio Newcastle

VIA Studio offers guided beginner hand-building pottery workshops with clay, tools, firing and glazing included. Its creative program also includes junk-journalling workshops, pairing tactile making with paper-based personal expression.

Newcastle

Newcastle Printmakers Workshop

This artist-run printmaking workshop supports members with workshop facilities and discounts on workshops and classes. Its processes include etching, drypoint, relief printing and collograph, offering a focused setting for people developing print-based work and skills.

Newcastle

📷 Photography, Film & Digital Arts

Newcastle Art Space Photographic Studio

The Newcastle Art Space photographic and video studio is available for hire with painted-wall backdrops, backdrop paper, a makeup mirror, C-stands and sandbags. Video and strobe lighting can also be hired. Bookings are arranged through the studio agreement and contact process, making it suitable for planned photographic and video sessions.

91 Chinchen Street, Islington NSW 2296 · ☎ 0490 801 630 — studio booking enquiries

PLI Photography School

PLI Photography School teaches basic, intermediate and professional digital SLR courses across Newcastle and the Hunter. Its offerings include model and wedding photography workshops, school-holiday courses and planned subjects in imaging software, supporting learners from first camera skills through to more specialised practice.

Newcastle and Hunter · ☎ (02) 4072 1461 — course information

Newcastle Photography Group

This learning group runs practical two-hour themed sessions and photo walks around Newcastle, as well as beginner and occasional specialist classes. Sessions are open to all skill levels, and compact cameras and smartphones are welcome alongside more advanced equipment.

Newcastle

TAFE NSW Newcastle, Hunter Street

The Hunter Street campus houses Newcastle Art School and Newcastle Film School. Specialist facilities include ceramics and visual-arts studios, a film and television studio, a radio and podcasting studio, and gallery and exhibition space, bringing formal creative study into a working arts environment.

Newcastle · ☎ 131 601 — TAFE NSW general enquiries

✍️ Writing & Storytelling

Hunter Writers’ Centre

Hunter Writers’ Centre is a registered charity serving writers, stories and storytellers across the Hunter region. Its literary initiatives include the Newcastle Poetry Prize, Newcastle Short Story Award, Grieve Project and a craft-focused book club for members, creating several ways to read, write and engage with contemporary storytelling.

Hunter region

🏛️ Galleries, Learning & Arts Connections

The Lock-Up

The Lock-Up is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts space in a historic building, presenting artist residencies, exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances and community-engagement activity. Its program crosses visual art, writing, music and other practices, so audiences can encounter both finished work and the conversations and making around it.

Newcastle

Watt Space Gallery

Watt Space Gallery offers school visits, guided tours and professional-practice workshops for Years 11 and 12. Workshops cover exhibition development, installation, press releases and marketing. Bookings are required in advance, and workshops are subject to availability, making this a specifically structured option for senior secondary art students.

Watt Space Gallery, Northumberland House, Cnr King and Auckland Streets, Newcastle NSW 2300 · ☎ +61 2 4921 5255 — gallery enquiries

Whether you are looking for a choir, a class, a studio, a rehearsal connection or a way to encounter local work, Newcastle’s arts community offers plenty of practical ways to take part. Follow the creative thread that interests you: sing with others, shape clay, learn a camera, develop a performance or spend time with artists in residence.

Local artists, makers, teachers, companies, groups and arts-support businesses are warmly invited to add or update their listing so this regional guide can continue to reflect Newcastle’s changing creative life.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on newcastle.guide.