Newcastle’s newest cultural festival New Annual is starting to take shape with the first details of the program being revealed this week.
The flagship event will run from 12 – 21 February 2021 and showcase a diverse lineup of more than 100 visual and performing artists and 50 events.
The program features five festival-specific works commissioned from local artists and companies as part of a $86,096 grant from the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program.
These include a new contemporary dance piece by Catapult Choreographic Hub inspired by and performed in the iconic Civic Park fountain and a shipping container turned cabaret theatre, bar and festival hub for local performances including an anchor show by Fingers Crossed Creative.
The invited artist program will include everything from the world premiere of two new compositions performed by Omega Ensemble, to a football-inspired new urban movement form founded by Feras the Shield and Maestro Ahil, while the Civic Theatre, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle Libraries and Newcastle Museum will also present a range of performances, exhibitions and podcasts.
“City of Newcastle is proud to invest in the arts, with the New Annual celebrating the depth of talent in our thriving cultural sector and providing a platform for national artists to showcase their work in our city,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Our long-term goal is to position New Annual as a leading arts festival on the national events calendar, sitting alongside Sydney Festival, Vivid Sydney and Adelaide Fringe.”
Councillor Carol Duncan added: “New Annual will provide Newcastle’s thriving independent arts sector with an opportunity to present work on a larger scale while attracting leading artists and audiences to share in this landmark arts event.”
Head here to find out more about New Annual. The full program and tickets will be released in early January 2021.
