Community News
- intouch Magazine
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Discover what's happening in your local community this September...
NEWCASTLE FRINGE OPENS DOORS TO ARTISTS FOR 2026 FESTIVAL
Newcastle's most vibrant arts celebration is gearing up for another spectacular year, with artist registrations for the 2026 Newcastle Fringe Festival opening on Monday, 18 August. Running from 14-29 March 2026, Australia's Biggest Little Fringe is expanding to three full weekends of creative chaos.
Following a record-breaking 2025 that saw 94 artist groups (comprising 612 individual artists) perform 203 shows to over 14,000 attendees and generate more than $188,000 in revenue, the festival is raising the bar even higher.
"Fringe is about creative freedom, bold risks, and giving audiences the chance to see something they'll never forget," says Chairperson Brooke Twyford. The 2026 theme promises to be "unleashed, uncut, unforgettable."
What sets Newcastle Fringe apart is its open access philosophy – no curators, no gatekeepers. Whether you're a seasoned stand-up comedian, cabaret performer, physical theatre innovator, spoken word artist, or someone with a gloriously weird idea brewing in your lounge room, there's a place for you.
The festival's three distinct hubs return for 2026: Hamilton CBD (featuring The Exchange, The Kent, and Hamilton Uniting Church), Newcastle Precinct (The Grand Hotel, The Royal Exchange, and Bernies), and Beach & 'Burbs (Souths at Merewether, The Dungeon at Adamstown, and Flamingos at Lambton). Highlights include the massive free FEAST opening event in Hamilton – a family favourite – as well as the return of popular events like Choir Day. The festival's reputation for artist support continues to grow, with many performers extending their Adelaide Fringe tours to include Newcastle.
Registration closes on 30 September (or earlier if full), with places capped at 100 artist groups and 200 shows. Artists will be notified by 18 November, and the full program will go on sale on 1 February 2026.
As part of a 300+ strong global network of creative freedom, Newcastle Fringe connects local artists to the world while celebrating the raw, real, and unapologetically diverse talent that makes Newcastle special. Visit www.newcastlefringe.com.au.
A FIRST LOOK | NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE FUTURE
After years of anticipation and a transformative $40 million expansion, Newcastle Art Gallery is set to offer the community its first glimpse inside the reimagined cultural landmark this month. The gallery will partially reopen during the New Annual festival, providing timed entry and free guided tours each Friday to Sunday from 26 September.
The expansion represents more than just additional space – it's a complete reimagining of Newcastle's premier cultural institution. An additional 1,600 square metres of exhibition space has been added to Newcastle Art Gallery, effectively increasing exhibition space by 250%. When fully operational, the gallery will showcase significantly more of its nationally significant $145 million collection to locals and visitors alike.
The partial reopening centres on First Nations voices and creativity, with Director Lauretta Morton OAM emphasising the gallery's commitment to a "First Nations First ethos, embedding the culture and creativity of Indigenous communities into the architectural and artistic fabric of the expanded Art Gallery."
Visitors will experience powerful new commissions that embed Indigenous culture into the gallery's very foundation. Wiradjuri and Wongaibon artist Renae Lamb's striking work Dabuyarra murun: A story of life, legacy, and connection has been fabricated in steel and permanently installed in the concrete floor of the central atrium, creating a meaningful meeting point between the original 1977 building and the new expansion.
"The rivers and songlines are the threads that bind us together, reminding us that no matter where we go, we are always connected - to each other, to the land and to the wisdom of the women who guide us," says Lamb.
Meanwhile, Adam Manning's "A Sonic Acknowledgment of Country" unfolds as a journey through five distinct soundscapes, drawn from Newcastle, Awabakal Country, and surrounding areas.
Born on Awabakal/Worimi Country with Kamilaroi kinship, Manning describes it as his "most expansive creative work to date", where "each natural sound shapes the musical narrative that follows." He hopes visitors will "feel a sense of calm and connection to the land", whether experiencing "the pulse of the clapsticks or the quiet breath of the forest."
Adding to this cultural celebration are suspended sculptures by Awabakal artist Shellie Smith and acclaimed Quandamooka artist Megan Cope, ensuring "the work of First Nations artists is grounded in the heart of Newcastle Art Gallery now and for generations to come."
While September's first look will showcase the central atrium and three new gallery spaces, along with a new Gallery shop and Learning Studio featuring an inaugural window commission by Newcastle artist Maggie Hensel-Brown, a grand reopening of the entire Gallery will be held in February 2026. This will coincide with a major exhibition of works from the collection and the unveiling of a commission by internationally renowned artist Fayen d'Evie.
This phased approach enables the gallery team to properly prepare the remaining spaces for the return of the collection, ensuring that the strict environmental conditions required for preserving significant artworks are maintained. The project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. The Foundation continues to seek a further $1 million through its public fundraising campaign. The expansion will transform the Newcastle Art Gallery into a seven-day operation, featuring modern facilities including a permanent café, retail space, and state-of-the-art education facilities.
For Newcastle's arts community and culture enthusiasts, September's first look represents the beginning of a new chapter – one that honours the gallery's 47-year history while embracing an ambitious future as a nationally significant cultural destination.
