Fourteen talented groups are now bound to hit the right note, thanks to much-needed financial support from City of Newcastle (CN).
The organisations, including Tantrum Youth Arts, National Young Writers Festival and Newcastle Youth Orchestra, recently received a share of $115,000 as part of council’s annual grants and sponsorship program.
Community and Culture Advisory Committee chair Jenny Barrie said the assistance would help bolster several cultural projects in the LGA.
“This funding demonstrates our commitment to nurturing grassroots creative talent and preserving our city’s rich cultural heritage,” she explained.
“These grants will provide valuable support to a range of local projects, spanning everything from filmmaking, dance acts and music festivals to preserving artefacts at Stockton and multi-disciplinary arts performances hosted at our newly-upgraded Newcastle Art Gallery.”
For the Newcastle Youth Orchestra, it’ll use the money to deliver a series of workshop-based collaborations between emerging and established musicians.
Spokesperson Capree Gaul admitted the funding was essential to delivering an enhanced experience for young musos.
“This support will help alleviate costs such as tuition fees and music purchases so we can focus on presenting four exciting, themed concerts next year,” she said.
“They’ll feature collaborations between our young musicians and established local choirs and orchestras such as the award-winning dementia choir, the Unforgettables.
“Our goal through this project is to deliver exciting workshops and performances that help develop the skills and inspire the next generation of musicians.”
Concert highlights consist of a kids’ classics program, a concerto of music from around the world and a composition developed in partnership with First Nations artists, which will be performed at the University of Newcastle’s Wollotuka Institute.
Other ventures inspiring young creators that received funding from CN include Tantrum Youth Arts’ Cartwheel program, now in its second year.
The initiative supports 10 emerging artists through a year-long schedule of professional development, including tailored masterclasses, business skills workshops and invitations to industry events.
Meanwhile, Newcastle & Hunter Jazz Club will collaborate with Newcastle Improvised Music Association to involve younger musicians in its 36th annual three-day festival at City Hall in 2026, which features more than 50 bands and 240 individuals.
Other funded projects include Catapult Dance Company, who’ll bring together six Newcastle choreographers and six visual artists from the Creator Incubator to produce a range of new collaborative works leading to a site-specific performance event at Newcastle Art Gallery in 2026.
Applications for the next round of grants will open in 2026.
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