Page-turning start to City of Newcastle’s Youth Week festivities
- intouch Magazine
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
City of Newcastle will kick off its annual Youth Week program by celebrating an initiative that has been bringing people together through their love of Young Adult fiction for the past five years.
Avid readers are invited to join award-winning author Gary Lonesborough tonight at a special event acknowledging the fifth anniversary of Newcastle Libraries’ Young Adult Book Club.
The author talk will mark the start of City of Newcastle’s 2026 Youth Week activities, which include free workshops and performances delivered in partnership with young people and local community organisations.
Youth Council Standing Committee member Councillor Paige Johnson said Youth Week is about recognising young people and the important role they play in our city.
“City of Newcastle supports young people all year round, from creative programs like the Young Adult Book Club, leadership opportunities with the Youth Council and grant funding for youth-led climate action projects, to the annual program of Youth Week events and activities,” Cr Johnson said.
“We’re committed to creating spaces where young Novocastrians feel safe to connect, create and be themselves.”
The Young Adult Book Club was established in 2021 and meets monthly at Newcastle City Library, attracting between 10-15 people online and in-person each session.
It is open to people of all ages with a love of Young Adult fiction, although the majority of participants are high school and university students from the Newcastle area.
Club founder and Library Customer Service Officer Danielle Hilliard said the program has become an important space for young people to feel connected and supported.
“The club is deliberately relaxed and welcoming, people can talk, listen or just enjoy being there,” Mrs Hilliard said.
“What makes it special is the sense of trust and community that’s developed. Seeing friendships form and knowing people have found a safe space where they feel comfortable and included has been incredibly rewarding.
“It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate this milestone moment for the book club ahead of the wider program of Youth Week events.”
NSW Youth Week 2026 is a statewide initiative that runs from 16 to 26 April with the theme Dream, Dare, Do.
City of Newcastle’s Youth Week celebrations, which are supported by a grant from the NSW Office of Youth, will continue on Thursday 17 April with the Future Makers event at Newcastle Museum.
The free event will showcase youth-led live music, hands-on creative workshops, skateboard demonstrations and opportunities for young people to make, write and design together.
Live performances will be delivered by emerging young artists Rose White, Evan Worgan and Filthy E and the Clean Teens, alongside creative activities including badge-making, blackout poetry, origami, upcycled fashion and a collaborative art installation led by local artist Ken O'Regan, which will be displayed at Wallsend Library.
The Future Makers program will also include a creative writing workshop, Surviving Dystopia, inspired by the Museum’s Model Newcastle exhibition, as well as a switch gaming workshop for video game enthusiasts.
Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning Julie Baird said the Youth Week program reflects City of Newcastle’s focus on access, participation and youth led cultural spaces.
“Youth Week allows us to deliver free activities, workshops and performances developed in collaboration with young people,” Ms Baird said.
“By activating places like libraries and Newcastle Museum, we’re creating welcoming cultural spaces that support youth creativity, connection and wellbeing, while highlighting the diversity and innovation of youth culture in Newcastle.”
The Youth Week program will wrap up with a free skate competition at Wallsend Park on Saturday 25 April featuring multiple divisions including girls, young entrants and non-binary skaters. Grundy’s Skate Store will be facilitating workshops and will partner with Globe to give away $2000 worth of prizes on the day.
In addition to the official Youth Week events, City of Newcastle will also be helping school-aged youth shift into a higher gear when it comes to cycling skills, bike safety and creative expression, with nine free hands-on workshops on offer next week.
The DIY Maintenance workshop on 14 April focuses on practical skills to keep bikes in safe working order. Students will learn how to complete basic safety checks, repair punctures, maintain tyres and chains, and identify when professional servicing is required.
The City Riding workshops (16 and 19 April) provide real-world riding experience, helping students build confidence on local streets. Participants will learn about road rules, route planning, safe positioning and how to ride predictably in shared environments.
Students can also take part in creative workshops delivered by local artists Yvette Ten-Bohmer, Jane Lander, and Aksara Harriram (April 14-16), which invite participants to reflect on movement, place and personal experience, transforming everyday travel into meaningful artworks.
Registrations for the cycling workshops are essential, with more details available on City of Newcastle’s website. The sessions are being delivered with support from the NSW Government through the Holiday Break Program.
For more information about City of Newcastle’s Youth Week program visit Youth Week 2026 and the Young Adult Book Club.
