New Annual on a budget

Want the biggest bang for your buck? Here's how to do New Annual on a budget.

Art. Dance.  Performance.  With so many intriguing experiences on offer, where do you start if you don't want to break the bank? 

Throughout the ten days there are numerous budget friendly options ranging from free to $25 and under to immerse yourself in. Take a walk along the Big Picture Fest mural trail, delve into cultural practice and performance at the Pavilion of Sand, or get hands on and be creative yourself in one of the colourful workshops available.  Take your pick and plan your New Annual adventure. 

TITAN ARUM : Justin Shoulder

What: A sensory ceremony of dance, light and sound in a garden of imagined ‘exotic’, medicinal and dangerous species. TITAN ARUM is an exhibition and performance that explores themes of evolution, hybridity, and ambiguity through a spectacular inflatable habitat.

When: 24-25 Sept + 29 Sept - 01 Oct
10:00-5:00pm exhibition
6:00pm + 7:30pm performance

Where: 164 Hunter St, Newcastle 

Book your FREE performance spot here. No bookings required for the exhibition.

Lightyears from Home Sci Fi Extended Universe Pt II

What: A sci-fi party with highly skilled physical performances and projection mapping performances on a real-life spaceship.

When: Thursday 29 and Friday 30 September at 7:30pm 

Where: Civic Park 

Cost: $25 - Purchase tickets here. 

This Land 

What: A celebration of First Nations sound, soul and spirit, telling stories of Australia’s land, water and sky. Come and go during the 5hr musical journey of amazing acclaimed and emerging artists spanning rap, pop, rock, hip-hop and country music. For more info on the artists, see our First Nations guide to New Annual here. 
This Land is brought to you by University of Newcastle’s School of Creative Industries and Wollotuka Institute.

When: Wednesday 28 September at 5pm 

Where: Civic Park

Cost: $25 For more info and to purchase tickets click here.

Well : Whale Chorus & Curious Legends

What: An immersive fairy-tale taking children through a world of make-believe where they encounter puppets, characters, and riddles. Young audiences ages 6-11 are taken on a journey down an imaginary well, with a story told through games and challenges. Well invites children to use creative problem-solving and compassion to navigate the world beyond the theatre. 

When: 23-25 September at 10:00am +11:00am +1:00pm + 2:00pm 

Where: The Playhouse, Civic Theatre 

Cost: $15 - Purchase tickets here. 

Pavilion of Sand 

What: A cultural space for dance, performance and conversations inspired by Awabakal Country. Local First Nations artists have gathered to construct a pavilion from sand, a simple but ever-changing material. Stories about our Salt Water Country are shared through dance, cultural practice, conversation, and performance through daily workshops in art, canoe making, language, bush tucker, dance and more.

When: Daily from 24 Sept - 02 Oct

Where: Wheeler Place 

See the full schedule and book into a FREE workshop here.

Menagerie : Curious Legends

What: An interactive community performance that invites everyone to come along to a puppetry workshop. Throughout the festival, participants will help create the Gentle Giant, a towering, illuminated puppet with a pulsating heart. On the final day, The Gentle Giant will close the festival with a celebration of colourful chaos. 

When: 24-27 September from 10am-1pm,
Final workshop 2 October 5:00pm followed by the finale performance at 7:00pm

Where: Civic Park  

Cost: $10-$15 Purchase tickets here 

RADIAL : Back to Back Theatre

What: A collaborative film-making process capturing a portrait of a community in motion. Using a circular camera track, RADIAL films the community and professional performers through a process of live improvisation. It can capture up to 30 participants at a time, exploring the individualities of each person and community. Join the public screening of the final film before it’s published online. 

When: Sunday 2 October at 4pm 

Where: Civic Theatre 

Cost: Free - to book your tickets click here.

CREATION Exhibition & Performance : Deborah Kelly & Collaborators

What: A queer, science fiction, climate changed-based religion. This exhibition explores art, politics, and ritual through moving and static imagery, a transcendent soundscape and intimate encounters. It brings ceremonial, communal climate action to life with regalia, chanting, banners, movement and (ir)reverence. The exhibition is FREE and the performance is our glorious closing gala for the festival.

When: Exhibition open on Friday 23, Saturday 24, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29, Friday 30 September, and Saturday 1 October from 10am – 4pm, Sunday 25 September and 2 October from 11am – 3pm. Performance on Sunday 2 October at 7pm. 

Where: Exhibition at The Lock Up. Performance at City Hall 

Cost: Entry to the CREATION exhibition is free.
The closing performance is $25 – purchase tickets here.

Night Galleries Tours : Newcastle Art Gallery

What: A 20-minute tour of a modern play on Stone Henge in three locations featuring some of Newcastle Art Galleries most significant works.  

When: Saturday 24 September and Saturday 1 October from 5 – 6:30pm 

Where: Kuwumi Place, Market Street Steps and Pacific Park 

Cost: Tours are free - book here.

Workshops, exhibition & open studios at Newcastle Art Space

What: A workshop and an exhibition. Make flowers out of paper and upcycled materials to create an organic community garden, then explore the gallery and studio spaces. 

When: Hand Picked is on Saturday 24 September from 10:00am-2:00pm
The diverse group exhibition Clouds is on Saturday & Sunday 12:00am - 4:00pm

Where: Newcastle Arts Space 

For more info click here.