Council cultural funds to support music, dance and art projects across Newcastle

Young classical musicians will be performing at events across the Hunter, including a children's concert for this year's Newcastle Writers Festival, as part of a grant received from Newcastle City Council.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes today announced Newcastle Youth Orchestra (NYO), Catapult Dance and The Lock-Up as the recipients of the first round of grants under Council's Support for Arts and Cultural Organisations program.

"The project based funding is designed to support the growth and vitality of Newcastle's arts and cultural sector through programming partnerships that build capacity for the recipient organisations while bringing new cultural experiences to local audiences," said the Lord Mayor.

NYO's project includes over a dozen public performances over the course of its two-year grant period, professional development opportunities for its musicians, expanding its performances beyond Newcastle to Singleton and the Central Coast, and the purchase of new music.

Orchestra Manager Sally Ebert said the organisation is grateful to be partnering with Council on this project.

"NYO is a relatively new organisation, we're entering our sixth year, and this support will help us take our performances to the next level and cement our reputation in the region," said Ms Ebert.

While the first round projects are getting underway, other Newcastle based arts and cultural organisations are invited to apply for the second round of funding, with expressions of interest now open.

"This grant program aims to grow the sustainability of our arts and cultural sector through support for the development of new work," said Ms Burcham. "The diversity in projects and organisations involved in the first round of proposals was quite remarkable, and it was a robust and competitive process."

"The applications were successful because they involve collaboration, offer growth opportunities for both the organisation and audiences, and have rigour in the development process."

The next round of funding will seek up to two eligible organisations for projects to commence in the 2018-19 financial year. A total of $100,000 is available, subject to final adoption of Council's annual budget for 2018-19. An organisation may apply for up to $70,000 per year for up to three years.

The application deadline is Monday 26 March, 5pm.

More information on the funding program and the application process is available on our website.

A workshop is also scheduled to assist potential applicants.

Date and Time: 5.30-7pm, Tuesday 27 February
Place: Newcastle Room, City Hall
RSVP: Mardi Ryan at mryan@ncc.nsw.gov.au by Monday 26 February

Currently Funded Projects

Catapult Dance

Propel: Choreographic and Multi-Disciplinary Performance Program

Through Catapult's three-year program of choreographic and multi-disciplinary artist residencies, inbound and local artists will collaborate to develop new works for public presentation, culminating in a triple bill season. The project includes partnerships with

Force Majeure, Critical Path, Heat Marketing, Ausdance NSW, Create NSW and Council.

Newcastle Youth Orchestra

Newcastle Youth Orchestra (NYO) Ensembles Season

NYO's two-year program of concerts by three ensembles will be presented in Newcastle and the lower Hunter. Partners involved with the project include Newcastle Writers Festival, National School of Dance, Creative Partnerships Plus One Grant and Council. The first concert of the project will be in April 2018 as part of the Newcastle Writers Festival free family fun day, where the NYO musicians will perform Peter and the Wolf.

The Lock-Up

The Contemporary Performance Project

The Lock-Up's three-year multi-arts project will bring culturally and linguistically diverse communities and artists together to create new work. The project involves research, community and arts sector workshops, collaborative making, showings and a major performance and exhibition. Partner organisations include Tantrum Youth Arts, Create NSW, Newcastle Herald, Headjam and Council.