Nine dancers from Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub will christen the new Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima in Speers Point Park from Thursday with four nightly performances of Drift - a 45-minute show specially commissioned for the venue which echoes the water, wind, air and coastline of Lake Macquarie.

While the pavilion opened a few weeks ago, this is the first time it will be used as a stage. The sides of the building are set to open up for the public to watch the performance from the outside.

"It's going to be spectacular," Multi-Arts Pavilion curator Pippa Budge said. "We've always said that it'd be really exciting to show how we can have both sides of the building open, it's pretty unique feature.

"The team from Catapult have just come up with a really beautiful performance. They've been really receptive to playing with the space and getting a bit creative with us and creating a performance that you can view from both sides."

Ms Budge said she believed the performances would demonstrate how the space can showcase local artists.

"It is showing what the building can do and what the city can do, how creative people are in this region," she said.

"The team from Catapult have just come up with a really beautiful piece that I think is just kind of the tip of the iceberg of what we can show off in the region."

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Catapult artistic director Cadi McCarthy said is was an honour to be the first to perform at the new venue.

"It's just so beautiful to be in a really nice new space, that's a space for the community," she said. "We really enjoy the outdoor works and that we can reach the community in a way that doesn't often happen. So this is a work for everyone. It's really enjoyable. And it's really inspired by nature."

The MAP mima performances kick off an unprecedented weekend of art activities taking place across the city.

Also on Thursday, Hunter musicians William Crichton of Bluesfest fame and nationally acclaimed singer songwriter Melody Pool will take to the stage at Warners Bay Theatre for the first in a series of Live Music Lake Mac performances over coming months.

History Illuminated festival will launch on Friday, featuring more than 30 talks, presentations, tours and cruises covering local and national history.

Meanwhile, dozens of local artists will open their doors this weekend for Lake Mac Open Studios, which allows the community to come face to face with some of the city's most creative talents.

In coming weeks, the new pavilion is set to host part of the annual Lake Mac Christmas Carols on December 12 and also an official launch on January 15 with the Andy Firth Big Band performing a fanfare piece created to celebrate the opening of the building.

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