Grants help make vibrant city

A sunset symphony by the sea, a multicultural bush dance and an exhibition of student interpretations of time and place in Newcastle have all received help from Council's annual grants and sponsorship program.

Eleven projects aimed at making Newcastle a better place have been awarded financial support under the first round of Newcastle City Council's Make Your Place grants for 2017.

^{University of Newcastle School of Creative Industries students Trude Davidson, Shanae Tuck, Leah Paterson and Samuel Champ with an artwork interpretation of time and place, Crashing Impact, as part of an exhibition sponsored by a council Make Your Place grant.}

"The latest Make Your Place grants are a mix of cultural events and place-improving projects and all are worthy of the help council provides through the Make Your Place program," Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

"From the addition of outdoor furniture on public walkways and an event to promote kayaking to an exhibition recording the history of one of our oldest suburbs, the Make Your Place grants all help community groups and their projects create a better sense of place.

"I'm particularly looking forward to the seaside symphony by students from the Conservatorium of Music as it will make a wonderful addition to our city's cultural calendar."

Musicians from the conservatorium will perform at a yet-to-be-decided coastal venue after successfully applying for a grant to help make chamber music more accessible to the public.

The free evening event during the warmer months will break down stereotypes surrounding orchestral music thanks to a $2,000 Make Your Place grant.

Another grant will help stage a bush dance with a difference at New Lambton Community Hall.

Transcending the conventional Waves of Bondi variety, the colourful bush dance will celebrate Indian classical dance and explosive rhythms of Bollywood, local indigenous dancers and music from a range of other cultures at an event to raise money for The Smith Family.

Students from the University of Newcastle's inaugural Bachelor of Creative Industries degree recently showed off their own creativity spirit thanks in part to a Make Your Place grant.

Some 120 undergraduates exhibited their interpretations of time and place at Newcastle City Hall at the end of their first semester.

^{Schol of Creative Industries students Jennifer Halliburton and Henry Burke with their artwork, Post, depicting time and place in Newcastle.}

The students developed artworks in teams of four after surveying areas of the city's central business district and pitching their idea to course mentors.

Make Your Place Grants were also awarded for:

• Seating and tree planting for West End Park, Adamstown
• A park bench resting place along Stockton Historical Walk
• A revamp of Darby Street Courtyard
• An active walking and cycling festival
• A demonstration to promote kayaking in Throsby Creek
• An eclectic bush dance in New Lambton
• A night time fiesta in Wheeler Place to support Lifeline
• A drive to collect tin food for Soul Café

The latest grants take the total Make Your Place grants awarded by Newcastle City Council to 108 in 10 funding rounds since 2012.

Worth $179,298 in total, they have helped deliver projects, community and creative and cultural events valued at $670, 043.

Applications for the second and final round for 2017 close on Monday 21 August.

To be eligible for consideration, applications must spell out how they intend to activate public space within the Newcastle local government area, be proposed by a group of at least three people and show evidence of matching the value of the grant through either in-kind support or dollar contributions.

To apply, click here