Early career artists given sold-out platform at New Annual
- intouch Magazine
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Presented by Tantrum Youth Arts, 20 early career artists will perform to a booked-out audience at Newcastle’s flagship arts and cultural festival New Annual on 3 October, taking over Newcastle Museum with high-voltage arts party SURGE.
All SURGE performers are early career artists under 30 or in the first five years of their practice, with the program representing a unique opportunity to develop and showcase their work on a scale otherwise unavailable on a local stage.
The program includes dance, live music, installation, puppetry, film and theatre, with Newcastle Museum offering Tantrum’s artists the opportunity to be inspired by and transform the museum’s spaces in fresh and dynamic ways.
Multi-disciplinary artist Shaana-Anne Crisp said, “I love the energy New Annual brings to the city of Newcastle each year and its ability to support and promote artists in their craft and culture. To be included as an artist in SURGE has inspired me to push the boundaries of my practice.”
Musician Bethany O’Sullivan said SURGE has also offered the valuable opportunity to connect with other artists.
“Programs like SURGE are important to me because I’ve come from a background where the arts haven’t always been visible or supported, so being a part of a program that uplifts creativity means a lot.
“It offers a chance to connect with a community of emerging artists in the Hunter, grow together, and feel seen in a space that encourages expression and collaboration.”
SURGE is supported by New Annual through the Made New program, which provides funding for local Newcastle artists to present their work at the festival.
New Annual Festival Director Tory Loudon said, “New Annual this year is about celebrating local talent and taking art out into the Baths, streets and parks of Newcastle. SURGE is the perfect example of taking over the Museum for a night and turning into a high energy art party. I am thrilled that we can support local talent through New Annual and proud to support Tantrum.”
As part of the program, Tantrum also employed two early career Associate Artists to produce the event, Alana McGaughey and Phoebe Turnbull.
Phoebe and Alana said, “The role has been a gamechanger for us, in so many ways, at this stage in our respective creative careers.
“SURGE being programmed in New Annual is an amazing opportunity for us to engage with industry professionals and platform the electric early career artists of the Hunter region.”
SURGE forms part of Tantrum’s broader early career artist initiative called Cartwheel, which is supported by the New South Wales government through Create NSW and provides a 12-month program of training and professional development.
Applications for Cartwheel 25/26 will be open again soon. Visit www.tantrum.org.au and sign up to Tantrum’s e news to find out more.
