Grants of up to $3000 for Musicians and Creatives in Lake Macquarie

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Lake Macquarie City Council is providing grants of to $3000 for local musicians and creatives as part of their Creative Industry Seed Grants program.

Four categories of funding are available under the program.

Five emerging musicians each year, over the age of 12, are eligible for grants of up to $500 to help with development and support of emerging musicians from Lake Macquarie.

“This could be used to create or deliver original performance works, upgrade instruments, make recordings or participate in gigs,” Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism, Jacqui Hemsley said.

Five $1000 grants will be awarded for projects covering art exhibitions and installations, theatre performances, literature, multimedia or film.

Ms Hemsley said Council was also offering five $500 grants for people to develop their professional creative skills through workshops, courses and other means.

“We’re also offering two $2500 grants each year for research and development into creative pursuits, whether it’s developing a script or publication, or preparing a business case for large-scale arts activities in Lake Mac,” Ms Hemsley said.

The new Lake Macquarie City Council Creative Industry Seed Grants program will provide a total $15,000 a year to emerging artists and musicians as part of its commitment to growing Lake Mac’s creative sector and supporting the creative economy.

“We’re urging talented applicants and emerging creatives to apply, to help them develop their own creative practice, profession or cultural pursuit,” Ms Hemsley said.

Applications close 5pm, 31 March, with funds distributed in June for projects in the 2021-22 financial year.

Information sessions on the new program will be held 5.30-6.30pm on Monday 9 March at Toronto Library, and 5.30-6.30pm on Thursday 19 March at Belmont Library.

NeW Space ready for staff

BY JESSICA ROUSE

With arguably the best view in Newcastle's CBD, the University of Newcastle's NeW Space is one step closer to being officially open for business with staff moving in on Monday.

Once the 320 staff are settled in, around 3,000 students will be moving into the building when Semester 2 begins from the Faculties of Business and Law as well as the Creative Industries.

The $95 million facility is embracing the renewal of Newcastle changing the skyline with a visually impressive building being a reflection of the city, the building's materials and the Indigenous culture of the site.

University of Newcastle Chief Operating Officer Nat McGregor says the building looks to the future with a focus on collaboration between students and staff in a close working environment.

"We call it a vertical campus, we've got a mix of student spaces and staff spaces from the floor down so it's not designed to have the students on the ground level and the staff at the top, you'll see staff and student spaces merged throughout the whole eight floors so it's going to change the way that we educate students and it's going to change the way that the staff collaborate."

Active travel and public transport has been considered and students are being strongly advised to use it to avoid the stress of trying to get a carpark in what is a busy CBD.

"We are actively encouraging staff and students to consider a range of travel options, including more sustainable modes of transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport," said Nat McGregor.

Staff are excited to get working in a fresh new building and Student Assistant Hannah Hill says not only is she excited to work there but when students see just how beautiful the building is inside and out when they start their studies.

"I think once you have a look inside and have a look at the views of Newcastle students will be excited to come here and learn which will be great."

Claire Patterson, a Student Hubs and Enquiries Officer agrees,

"Its a beautiful building, its like a lot of imaginative design, a lot of thoughts gone into it, I've heard the architects speak on a tour so that's a really nice perspective to hear from a staff point of view just being able to work in a space that gets lots of natural light and nice views and you're able to engage more with the staff, students and the community as well."