Petite Suite by Brand X - Artist Call Out

Applications are now open for Petite Suite by Brand X for New Annual 2026

Brand X and New Annual invite artists working across site-responsive, interactive and devised performance to submit an application to Petite Suite, a residency hosted by The Oriental Hotel, Newcastle NSW, as part of New Annual festival, 2026. 

Petite Suite unleashes seven artists at The Oriental Hotel, providing each artist (or group) with a room, to reimagine the suites of the hotel through contemporary performance. On performance nights audiences are invited to discover the secrets held within the walls of Newcastle’s most iconic and locally loved hotel through the interpretation of the region’s hottest artists.

What is Petite Suite? 

Seven artists or groups will occupy seven hotel rooms in a mini-residency to create seven-minute experiences for intimate audiences. The structure of the program is fluid, allowing for the creation of diverse works which may respond to the hotel and its surroundings or a non-literal interpretation of the site. 

Across five one-hour sessions, over 3 nights, audiences are invited to explore the hotel and the stories held behind each door. The audience journey is facilitated by a host (think exuberant stage manager) who supports artists and guides the audience between spaces. The foyer is a high energy conduit between rooms, providing playful reprieve before audiences are encapsulated in the world behind each door.

What is New Annual? 

New Annual festival is a 10 day multi-arts festival that invites audiences and artists to create, play and explore Newcastle, a thriving creative city. New Annual is a platform for new works, unique collaborations and we take art to audiences - upturning some of Newcastle’s most loved locations. In 2026 the festival will continue to program unique, site- specific works that are exciting, ambitious and accessible to diverse audiences. This year the festival dates are 25 September - 4 October.

Key Information: 

• Call Out Opens: Wednesday, 18th March 2026
• Call Out Closes: 10am, Wednesday 15th April 2026
• Outcome Notifications: 30th April, 2026
• Site induction and overnight stay: Friday 14th August, 2026 
• Live-In Residency: 3pm, Wednesday 23rd September - 11am, Monday 28th September, 2026
• Performances: Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September, 2026 (1 x show Friday, 2 x shows Saturday & Sunday)

If you have any questions about the program or application, please contact [email protected].

If you would like to speak to someone regarding Access, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Dean Nash ([email protected] or 02 8029 9068). 

Please read the full guidelines and apply on the Brand X website. FIND OUT MORE