Media releases
Find out about Council decisions, projects and activities by reading the latest media releases.
Media releases are distributed by Council's Communications Unit.
Contact Communications
The Communications Unit can be contacted during office hours on 02 4974 2264 or after hours on 0429 608 590.
The Unit can arrange interviews and provide background information as well as organise photographs.
Final sounds for art venues
19 Nov 2009
The popular Art Sounds series will wrap up this Friday 20 November after 1,100 people saw 18 bands perform at 10 events at seven different venues throughout the civic precinct.
Cultural Development Coordinator MARDI RYAN says Art Sounds has been a great success and both artists and the community have really got involved in each event.
“It has been a really unique experience to see the diversity of performers in the different gallery spaces. Brass bands have shared the stage with punk rockers and Brazilian sounds have transformed normally quiet art spaces.”
“The program isn’t just about activating these spaces, it is about providing opportunity for musicians and investing in these industries. It has also created new audiences for both the galleries and the performers.”
Art Sounds summary
- 10 events – February - November 2009
- 7 venues in the Civic area (Front Room Gallery TAFE, The Conservatorium of Music, Watt Space Gallery, Octapod Association, The Loft Youth Venue, Newcastle Region Library, Newcastle Region Art Gallery)
- 18 bands involved (97 people gaining professional opportunities)
- 1,100 people attending across the program
- 5 presenting partners – Newcastle City Council, University of Newcastle, Hunter Institute TAFE, Octapod Association, 1233 ABC Newcastle.
The final event will be held tomorrow night at the Front Room Gallery, Hunter Institute of TAFE. Feature musicians are acoustic folk pop artists, The Scout followed by Mark Jackson and SQuidge playing contemporary folk and country.
“This has been a fantastic program and I really hope the community comes out to support the last event.”
- Clean out your chemicals for Christmas! - 19 Nov 2009
Residents of Newcastle and surrounding areas have the opportunity to correctly and safely dispose of any unwanted household chemicals this weekend at a free drop off service.
- Council meeting 17 November 2009 - 18 Nov 2009
Council met on Tuesday 17 November 2009. The following is a summary of the resolutions. of the meeting.
- Community members to be awarded tonight - 16 Nov 2009
Community minded individuals and groups will be awarded at an official ceremony tonight, Monday 16 November, from 6.30pm in City Hall’s Concert Hall.
- The heat is on at Mayfield Swimming Centre - 13 Nov 2009
Mayfield Swimming Centre solar heating system is officially being opened on Saturday 14 November 2009 at 10.30am by the Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate.
- Meet and greet your favourite authors - 12 Nov 2009
Ray Martin fans will be able to meet their idol in person when he visits City Library to talk about his autobiography Stories of My Life on Thursday 19 November at 6.30pm.
- Council moves towards a new agreement - 11 Nov 2009
Newcastle City Council and its employees have begun the process of developing a new industrial agreement.
- Australia’s major cities unite to create better cities - 09 Nov 2009
Australia’s capital cities have joined with major regional cities Newcastle, Geelong and the Gold Coast to form a major city working group that will dedicate itself to ensure a sustainable future for Australia’s cities.
- Memorable funding open for young people - 06 Nov 2009
The Dave Arkless Memorial Artistic Encouragement Program is open once more to eligible young people for community and artistic projects.
- An Indian Summer ahead at the Gallery - 05 Nov 2009
Jane Lander is an artist well known to Newcastle audiences through her drawings of the city’s industry, beaches and harbour. Her most recent body of work however, will transport audiences far from Newcastle, to the Indian holy city of Varanasi.
- Illuminated idea for city centre to help boost Christmas shopping - 05 Nov 2009
L!vesites in conjunction with the Newcastle City Centre Committee and GPT are conducting FREE craft workshops in November and an exhibition during December to help encourage creativity while also boosting the city centre’s economy.
- Taking world dance to the streets with L!vesites - 05 Nov 2009
Let dance be your passport as you travel around the nightclubs of the world with L!vesites’ Dancing in the Streets, taking place on three Friday nights in November for free.
- Council update 3 November 2009 - 04 Nov 2009
Council update is a summary of the council meetings held on 3 November 2009. Note: This is not a record of resolutions.
- Testing ready for Bar Beach project - 03 Nov 2009
It will be action stations tomorrow, Wednesday 4 November, at Bar Beach as planning continues for the cliff stabilisation project.
- IT was a success! - 28 Oct 2009
Over 15 tonnes of electrical equipment was dropped off for recycling at the second electronic recycling event held in Newcastle last weekend.
- Who will be Australia’s next poetry slam champion? - 28 Oct 2009
Newcastle Region Library is calling all poets, hip-hop artists and other outspoken wordsmiths to polish their rhymes and lyrics for the Australian Poetry Slam 09, an annual slam contest offering over $20,000 in cash and prizes.
- Timetable for performances and author visits - 21 Aug 2009
Timetable for live performances and author visits during NSW Children's Book Week.
