Community News
Discover what's happening in your local community this September...
CALLING ALL ARTISTS! NEWCASTLE FRINGE FESTIVAL 2025
Newcastle Fringe Festival, Australia’s biggest little fringe, is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025 and has opened its annual artist callout with all artists required to register before 30 September*. The festival has grown from its humble beginnings, to over 9,400 people attending the festival in March 2024 and 499 individual artists earning a record $125,000+.
Newcastle Fringe is an open-access festival that aims to deliver art for its own sake. It is committed to giving emerging artists a professional platform to produce their work and acquire experience and knowledge to take their performances further. It welcomes artists from the Hunter, Australia and the world to give audiences a greater diversity in entertainment and shine a spotlight on Newcastle.
“To remain economically viable for participating artists, the size of the festival in 2025 will be maintained at a similar level to that of the 2024 festival,” said Newcastle Fringe Chair Brooke Twyford.
“We enjoy a reputation for higher average artist earnings and audience numbers than most fringe festivals around the world, and in order to maintain a personal approach, maximum audience numbers, and work within the bounds of volunteer resources and venue capacity, the festival will be capped to 200 shows for the first time in 2025.”
*Artists be warned, it will be ‘first in best dressed’ across all genres, including comedy, cabaret, burlesque, theatre, dance, music, kids’ shows and even choirs. Artist applications will close once that 200 show cap has been reached.
Artist fees apply upon registration. These fees go toward the costs of venue, tech and marketing. Artists determine their own ticket price from a minimum of $10 with a recommendation in the $20 to $35 range and receive 75% of box office takings which is higher than other fringe festivals. Details can be found at www.newcastlefringe.com.au.
Newcastle is gaining a reputation as a cultural hub, and Newcastle Fringe has played a significant role in its development. Aside from that, it’s a fun, vibrant festival enjoyed by artists just as much as the diverse audiences. Don’t miss out on participating in the 10th anniversary year of Newcastle Fringe – and save the dates – 20 to 30 March 2025!
FURTHER FUNDING TO FASHION MORPETH INTO A ‘HIPSTER HERITAGE’ DESTINATION
Maitland City Council will continue its partnership with It Must Be Morpeth (IMBM) Incorporated for a third year, contributing $25,000 to promote the historic Hunter township as a premier ‘hipster heritage’ destination.
The funding agreement will see IMBM undertake various marketing initiatives to drive overnight visitation to Morpeth.
“Delivering on Maitland’s Destination Management Plan 2030, this partnership with IMBM will bring visitors to Morpeth to experience its boutique stores, unique dining experiences, scenic river views and rich history,” said Maitland City Council Coordinator City and Visitor Economy Caroline Booth.
“Now into its third year, this collaborative marketing effort is working in tandem with ongoing Council projects and initiatives to bolster Morpeth’s visitor experiences, destination awareness and appeal.”
IMBM is a volunteer-run business group representing over 25 local businesses. It works to promote Morpeth as a must-see destination for locals and visitors, boost visitor numbers, and support local business owners.
Whether you enjoy a riverside lunch, browsing artisan items in charming stores, uncovering Morpeth’s history on a heritage walk or staying overnight in cosy village accommodation, Morpeth truly has so much to discover. To find out all that Morpeth has to offer, visit www.itmustbemorpeth.com.au.
HUNTER REGION SHOWCASED IN NEW 'REGION READY' INITIATIVE
Newcastle-based Creative Agency and passionate regional advocate Out of the Square has launched the 2024/25 Region
Ready video and website. Region Ready is an ongoing self-funded initiative designed to showcase Newcastle and the Hunter region's natural assets, world-class infrastructure, diverse capabilities and enviable lifestyle.
The campaign was first kicked off in 2019 to assist and empower as many businesses and community groups as possible to promote themselves and the region. This 3rd edition is again offered for free, with the newly created purpose-built website also housing other initiatives in the series, including the collaborations of Innovation Ready, Healthtech Ready and Hunter Energy Evolution.
Offering a one-stop shop celebrating and telling the stories of the Hunter's smarts and ever-evolving potential, it is an excellent asset to those wishing to seek regional investment, attract skilled talent, and encourage national global organisations to branch out here.
"We are incredibly proud of the Region Ready initiative and the positive awareness it generates for the community and organisations at all levels. We tried to take the Swiss approach by showcasing a cross-section of attributes, putting aside individual needs to lift the region as a whole,” said Marty Adnum, Managing Director of Out of the Square.
“By showcasing the region in this userfriendly way, we aim to foster regional pride and inspire further innovation, investment and collaboration."
The Region Ready project is a vital free resource for local businesses, investors, and community members, providing insights into the region's potential and the remarkable achievements of its industries and organisations. The new website is designed to be a hub of information, offering easy access to project details, videos, and downloadable content.
You can find the Out of the Square video at www.regionready.com.au. Check it out today!
CRUISE NEWCASTLE – VOLUNTEER TODAY!
Being a Cruise Welcome Volunteer can be a great choice for people who enjoy meeting new people and want to ensure that cruise ship visitors have a memorable experience in our beautiful city.
The Newcastle Tourism Industry Group manages the Cruise Welcome Volunteer program to ensure that visitors to Newcastle have a memorable time and become advocates and repeat visitors to the city.
Newcastle will receive 13 cruise ship visits between November 2024 and March 2025.
Cruise ships arrive and dock at Channel Birth at Carrington, and a shuttle bus service is provided for passengers travelling to Museum Park in Newcastle CBD.
Cruise Welcome Volunteers share their knowledge about how great Newcastle is with visiting domestic and international cruise ship passengers. Whether this is providing commentary on the short shuttle service to the CBD or being the friendly local that meets and greets on arrival at Museum Park, volunteers assist with directions and information on
transport, shopping, dining and places to explore whilst in Newcastle.
A great Cruise Welcome Volunteer will enjoy meeting new people and have good customer service skills and local knowledge. Scan the QR code today to register your interest in joining the Newcastle Cruise Volunteers Program! For additional information, email info@ntig.org.au
CITY CHARGED UP TO MAKE THE SWITCH TOWARDS NET ZERO
More than 1,500 Novocastrians have plugged into the Hunter's renewable energy future after being given front-row access by City of Newcastle to key thinkers, stakeholders and decision-makers. The three-part Empowering Newcastle event series, which wrapped up late last month was a lightning rod for ideas and dialogue about renewables, electrification and the road to net zero.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the series was a hit with Novocastrians seeking to actively participate in a more sustainable future for their city.
"City of Newcastle has delivered a fantastic series that's put the community into the policy and delivery conversation with all levels of government," she said.
"I was also thrilled to launch City of Newcastle's Empowering Newcastle community climate action program."
This new community climate action program will offer online resources to help participants become more energy efficient, followed by a free Climate Champions training program early next year. Applications for this training program will open soon, with a community information session to be held at City Hall on 19 September.
