Home to more artists per capita than anywhere else in Australia, Newcastle is an inherently creative city. It is little wonder then that the arts organisations, studios, schools and businesses that populate the city frequently share their talents with locals through creative workshops.
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Here are 20 to explore.
Hudson Street Hum Based in Hamilton, it is a dedicated space for hosting creative workshops, classes and events for adults, teens and kids with all levels of ability.
Hudson Street Hum runs workshops in all forms of art-making, from painting, drawing, clay sketching, through to sewing classes, say founders Suzie Galwey and Aleeta Cliff. They also run kids' writing classes, poetry events and book launches.
Onwards Studio This shared creative space was established almost two years ago by Brett Piva, a curator, designer, and artist. It now operates in a Hamilton warehouse, and includes a gallery and events space.
"That small idea has grown into an evolving ecosystem supporting local artists, designers and makers in Newcastle through a creative co-work space, workshops, exhibitions and events," Piva says.
Workshops see experts share a diverse range of skills, training and discussions that can assist any creative career, alongside topics around health and wellbeing.
"Anyone from a complete beginner to advanced practitioner can get involved in creative drawing, ceramics, lettering, design, art and so much more."
The Creator Incubator "The Creator Incubator (TCI) is a lively creative hub that houses 29 resident artists, designers, makers, and thinkers. We have a diverse range of residents and talents," says TCI founder and director Braddon Snape.
Snape says TCI regularly run short workshops for artists and makers. "Most recently, we've had a jewellery workshop by Oscar & Matilda and an embroidered art workshop by Meredith Woolnough in conjunction with Timeless Textiles."
TCI is home to The Incubator Gallery, a contemporary art space that showcases the work of its residents. The gallery and an event space in TCI's Hamilton North-based creative community are available for hire to host exhibitions, workshops, and classes.
Make Space Make Space began life in Newcastle Mall in 2009 as one of the first Renew Newcastle experiments.
"In its new incarnation in 2019, Make Space at The Station is again an artist-run retail space, gallery, and workshop proudly representing and supporting makers exclusively from Newcastle and the Hunter," says Edwina Richards, a photographer, and one of 10 artists that make up the Make Space community.
Make Space offers classes for adults, workshops for kids, school holiday programs, and mums and bubs workshops. This includes ceramics, photography, screen-printing, felting, jewellery making, design and design-based computer program workshops.
Creative Village Newcastle "Creative Village Newcastle (CVN) was started in late-2016 and we opened our first pop up shop in January 2017," says CVN founder and creative consultant Leah Fawthrop.
CVN has grown to include a collective of 28 Hunter-based artists, creators, makers and designers and a store in Charlestown.
"By coming together as CVN, small scale creativity can put down roots and grow," says Leah. This includes the hosting of creative workshops for adults and children in spaces across Charlestown Square.
"So far, we have organised terrarium, natural dyeing techniques, lino and block fabric printing, dried flower wreaths, and more for adults."
Holiday workshops for kids have included making dream catchers, foraged jewellery making, mini terrariums, flower crowns and self-portraits, and bag decorating. "The younger the child the more enthusiastic they are, and they are always so proud of what they do. It really is a great experience."
Newcastle ArtSpace Established in 1983, Newcastle ArtSpace (NAS) is a not-for-profit multi-arts organisation in Tighes Hill. Home to a variety of resident artists and incorporating an artist-run gallery, NAS offers creative workshops and courses. Catering for the hobbyist through to the professional, life drawing, portraiture, and yoga for creatives are among their educational offerings.
Kara Wood Ceramics Operating out of a space within the Newcastle ArtSpace in Tighes Hill, Kara Wood Ceramics opened four years ago. "There is a real resurgence in ceramics and people wanting to learn how to make their own," Wood says.
The studio currently hosts about 100 students a week, including classes for adults and children for all levels of ability, as well as weekend introductory workshops.
Specialist collaborative sessions with guest artists are also held - the next one is in November with painter, printmaker and textiles designer Julie Paterson.
Regular workshops include making a salad bowl, platter and plate, or succulent pot and learning to throw on the wheel.
Timeless Textiles Gallery Located in Newcastle East, Timeless Textiles is the only commercial gallery in Australia solely dedicated to fibre and textile art. Fibre artist and gallery owner Anne Kempton opened it in 2011.
In addition to showcasing a range of international, national and local fibre art exhibitions, Timeless Textiles Gallery also host workshops and community art programs, including a free Wednesday Makers Group. It caters for all skills and abilities.
Upcoming workshops include weaving a coiled basket from waste with Trudi Nisbet in late-August, and deconstructing and reassembling a finished artwork into a new work with Eira Chidgey in September.
Workshopp Ceramics In addition to creating ceramics for retail and by commission, Workshopp founder Simone Madigan offers pottery and ceramics classes from her studio in Maryville. Catering for adults of mixed skill levels, Madigan offers casual weekly classes and four- or eight-week workshops spanning hand-building ceramics, wheel-throwing, trimming and glazing.
With a focus on process, Madigan aims to provide a creative, meditative and encouraging environment supported by small class sizes.
Melt Jewellery School Located in the rear of the Studio Melt store on Hunter Street, the Melt Jewellery School has been operating since 2012. Workshops and classes run throughout the year, including an eight-week beginner's jewellery making course, and a range of rotating technique and material-based workshops, such as enamelling and stone setting. Group and private lessons are available.
Newcastle Libraries Newcastle's network of local libraries has a range of workshops that cater to residents of all ages. Among them, four-week beginners' sewing workshops, weekly kids crafternoons and LEGO Clubs to Teen Takeover Tuesdays that explore coding, 3D printing, cross-stitch and retro gaming activities.
Newcastle Studio Potters Inc. Newcastle Studio Potters (NSP) Inc. this year marks its 50th anniversary. Their Cooks Hill base is home to Back to Back Galleries and a gallery shop, as well as a workshop from which they run ceramics classes. NSP run three evening classes and one daytime class each week, which cover hand-building, wheelwork, and sculpture for adult potters new and experienced.
Hunter Writers Centre Not-for-profit organisation Hunter Writers Centre offer a variety of writing-related courses and workshops throughout the year, including creative writing, self-publishing, writing for children, and poetry.
Art Mania Studio Art Mania Studio was established by Fee Madigan 12 years ago. Describing it as an inclusive practice, Fee says she wanted to create a "safe place for all walks of life to be exposed to creativity and art" and "where all people have are welcomed, regardless of their background, health and or life challenges".
Fee and her team of 10 work with students of all ages and abilities, the youngest of which is aged four-and-a-half and the oldest being 91. Adults, teens and children are well catered for with a roster of weekend art workshops, programs and block courses.
Glass fusing, mosaics, painting, resin, pottery, and jewellery making are among the classes available.
Creative Word Shop Ed Wright is one of the founders and the sole director of Newcastle-based The Creative Word Shop, which opened in 2015. "We offer introductory, memoir and advanced creative writing workshops for adults," says Ed, a published author, poet, and regular fiction reviewer. "We also do school holiday and term time kids creative writing workshops and go out to schools too."
The Creative Word Shop also offers copywriting, manuscript assessment and editing services and teacher professional development programs.
Hive Creative Studios Hive Creative Studios in Charlestown offer creative classes and holiday workshops for children (spanning babies and toddlers through to teens) and adults. Art, singing, music, drawing, drama and dance are among those to choose from.
Art House Studios "In 2013, I started running small classes in my art studio behind my house in Lambton. They became popular, so in 2016 I moved to the larger premises on Turton Road," says Priya Joy of Art House Studios in New Lambton.
A teacher for 22 years, Joy runs art classes, courses and workshops for children, teens and adults for various levels of experience. "My aim is that every student, no matter how old or what stage they are at, leave each class feeling more confident in their abilities," she says.
The Levee Art Gallery and Studios The Levee Art Gallery and Studios in Maitland host a range of art workshops. Many of which are overseen by resident painter Lorna Ballantyne Epps. Catering for beginners and experts, classes include painting, collage, resin and chalk paint furniture.
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery The gallery offers art classes for children and adults. Currently closed for an upgrade (with classes off-site), the re-opening will see the gallery launch a new arts program for adults and children.
The Arts Emporium The Arts Emporium in Lambton has been running art classes and workshops for children, teens and adults since 2005. Workshops offer students a chance to learn about a specialised art form, while classes, for students, both entry-level and accomplished, explore a broad range of contemporary and traditional art forms.
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