Newcastle Art Space

Newcastle Art Space is a gallery and working arts hub in Islington, Newcastle, with a long history of supporting the region’s creative community. Established in 1983 as the Newcastle Community Arts Centre, it has since developed into Newcastle Art Space, a venue focused on the production and presentation of art across the Hunter. Its program includes changing exhibitions, art prizes, creative programs, professional development opportunities and more than 20 artist studios.

The space presents opportunities for artists at emerging through to established career stages. Its activities include exhibitions and events, an arts mentorship program, internships and artist call-outs, making it a place to encounter both finished work and the broader practices behind it. The Hunter Emerging Art Prize is a major part of the program, accepting painting, ceramics, works on paper, photo media, sculpture and experimental work from emerging artists living across the Hunter and surrounding local government areas. The prize also includes youth and disability inclusion sections, alongside category awards across several mediums.

For visitors, the changing exhibition program is the main reason to attend, with the gallery open during exhibitions from Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. The gallery is closed when no exhibition is running, so checking the current program before travelling is important. Newcastle Art Space also hosts creative learning and professional development activities, including the named Todd Fuller Drawing Masterclass and its ongoing mentorship program. These offerings make the venue relevant to people wanting to see contemporary local work, learn more about artistic practice or follow the development of Hunter-based artists.

The organisation describes itself as a dynamic community of creatives, and its studio, exhibition and program spaces give the venue a more connected feel than a gallery that only presents finished exhibitions. It is a useful stop for solo visitors, art-focused groups and people looking to engage with Newcastle’s local arts scene. Newcastle Art Space also acknowledges the Awabakal and Worimi peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which it meets and creates, recognising the continuing creative cultures of First Nations people. The venue is located at 91 Chinchen Street, Islington.