TWO, TOO, TO, 2
A new exhibition at PODspace Gallery.

This week the second exhibition for 2012 starts on Wednesday at 12noon!!  The exhibition is by PODspace volunteer and Newcastle based artist Ahn WELLS and fellow Newcastle based artist Peter SPEIGHT and opens this Thursday night from 6pm.

This exhibition sees both artists pushing their individual art practices into new directions.  For SPEIGHT this will be the first time he exhibits his drawings within a white gallery space.  While WELLS is exploring ideas beyond her signature pattern and abstract based works on paper.

All artworks are for sale and you can view other examples of their work on their respective blogs.
http://peterspeight.blogspot.com/
http://makingahnwells.blogspot.com/

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Title: Two, Too, To, 2
Exhibition dates: Wed 22 Feb – Sat 10 Mar 2012
Opening night: Thursday 23 Feb 6-8pm at 401 Hunter St, Newcastle
Gallery hours: Wed – Sat 12-5pm
Contact: ahn.wells@gmail.com for further information about this exhibition.
KEEP UP TO DATE with all things PODspace by visiting:
http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com/

Twotooto2 Exhibition at PODSpace Gallery

Don’t Be Sheepish

PODSpace wants artists to be out and proud about their art. So they’re encouraging you to add yourself to culturehunter.org by selecting one culturehunter member each month to promote on their webpage and social media.

Culturehunter.org is another Octapod project. So, just like the way that Yew trees reach out their branches until they bend to the ground and put down roots, forming a circle of trees around the original trunk, Octapod is encircled by a cluster of its own mutually supportive offspring.

Update on the Arts from Culturehunter.org

Culturehunter.org exists as a promotion and networking tool for all things arts related in the Hunter. It is free to join and use and is created with the arts in mind – for the benefit of artists and art-lovers alike.

Upgrade
The site has newly installed features that allow you to link to an artist whose posts interest you so that their new posts will be easy to find when you next log in. Go to www.culturehunter.org to try it.

Unmissable Posts
Here is a selection of some current posts from culturehunter.org

Urgent appeal
Terry Leahy will be presenting a preview of the film he is involved in making about the Chikukwa Permaculture Project at the next Permaculture Hunter Monthly Meeting on Wed. March 7th.
http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/fundraising-inspiring-film

Chikukwa Permaculture Project

Upply today!
Tourism businesses across Australia can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to develop and refresh their products.
http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/tourism-grants-available

inUndation
Join contributors to the Maitland Hunter River Oral History project as they compare and contrast their memories of the floods in our town. Thursday 23rd, 6-8pm. That’s Tomorrow!!
http://culturehunter.org/whatson/look-whos-talking-memory-or-myth

Maitland in Flood

Unity of Mind, Body and Spirit
Bodhi Festival invites you to join us for a special weekend of music, yoga, and healing. No matter who you are,… where you come from, or what path you tread, we say welcome.
http://culturehunter.org/whatson/bodhi-festival-weekend-music-yoga-and-healing-newcastle-nsw

Us, Come Fly With

“Come ‘Fly with us!”
Join artists Helen Hopcroft, Karen Robinson Smith and Tallulah Cunningham at Fig Tree Community Garden this Sunday for a morning of painting butterflies on the Croatian Club wall.

Last year, supported by an Octapod Seedpod grant, Fig Tree kicked off a series of free art workshops culminating in the painting of a butterfly mural on the Club wall, adjacent to the Garden. This year we’re back to paint more butterflies and everyone, young and old, is most welcome.

Painting the Butterfly Mural

Where: Fig Tree Community Garden
What: a free community art workshop
When: 10am-midday Sunday 26th February
Why: because it’s fun!

Is This The Position for You?

THIS IS NOT ART FESTIVAL: ARTIST/PRODUCER WANTED
This is Not Art is seeking an artist/producer or collective to conceive and facilitate an ambitious and visible project which will activate Newcastle’s public spaces and engage the community.

•  The project is to presented during the 2012 This is Not Art Festival, held in Newcastle from September 27th – October 1st 2012.
•  The artist will work closely with the festival directors and the TiNA festival coordinator.
•  A history of working in public spaces and/or unusual venues is desirable.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a Volunteer position
HOW TO APPLY: Please send the following to admin@thisisnotart.org
1.    One page description of your project – This should be a detailed description detailing how you envisage the project will be executed.
2.    Current resume.
3.    Any relevant support materials which might include documentation or recordings of previous works.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Friday 16th March

Another Position Available

It’s the season for starting new projects now, and one more position has become available: Artist/Producer for This Is Not Art Festival.

This is a volunteer position.

This is  Not Art is seeking an artist/producer or collective to conceive and facilitate an ambitious and visible project which will activate Newcastle’s public spaces and engage the community.

For information, see http://thisisnotart.org/2012/02/position-available-artist-producer/

Applications close Friday 16th March

Positions Still Open

Applications are still open for the paid positions of:

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

http://octapod.org/news/position-available-not-art-festival-coordinator

Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 21^st Feburary

and

Community Liaison Officer

http://octapod.org/news/position-available-community-liaison-officer

Applications close 5pm, Friday 17^th of February

Media Space Closed

The media space sometimes gets a bit wet in heavy rain and Christina discovered why in one of the recent storms: The whole gap between the main building and the media space fills up with water and it just flows in under the door.

So Christina and Mitch have started pulling up the carpet and the space is un-usable and closed until around the end of this month, when we hope to have rectified the problem and repaired the floor.

Arts News

Selected from www.culturehunter.org

The Optimism of Summers Past

It’s your last chance to see Lucy Barker’s exhibition “Lifestyles of the neither rich nor famous” at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, ending this Sunday 19^th of February.

See http://culturehunter.org/whatson/lucy-barker-lifestyles-neither-rich-nor-famous

Our World Unseen

This Friday 17^th is the opening of an exhibition of Conor Ashleigh’s photographic story-telling work at the Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library, Laman St.

See http://culturehunter.org/whatson/our-world-unseen

Community Liaison Officer

A part-time position – 6 hours per week – producing media content such as a weekly blog, social media posts, and media releases as well as undertaking community liaison such as online surveys.

For a full position description, see http://octapod.org/news/position-available-community-liaison-officer. For more information, contact admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Applications close 5pm on Friday 17^th of Feburary.

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

A part-time contract position averaging from 24 up to 38 hours a week until 31 December 2012, or longer dependent on funding.

See the position descirption at http://octapod.org/news/position-available-not-art-festival-coordinator. For more information, contact admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Applications close 5pm Tuesday 21^st February.

Your Chance to Screen (and watch) Short Films

Capsule is Octapod’s monthly short films night. It launched in 2011 when participants shared pieces on the theme of “Mash-Ups and Tributes”, with some fantastic derivative works being screened.

This year we’re doing it again and you’re invited to be part of it!

Each month the night will have a different theme and a different presenter. If you’d like to choose a theme and bring some pieces to present, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us on capsule.screenings@gmail.com

Or when you come to Capsule to watch the films, if you have a piece to fit the theme, then bring it along!

Media Space at Octapod

We have a space dedicated to video editing and media production and we want to get it up and running again. We’re incubating a small collective to take charge of getting the space happening and we will conduct a tour of the space next month at the first Capsule night for the year.

If you’re interested in the possibilities and want to join the collective or find out more, contact us on admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Update from PODSpace Gallery

OPEN HOUSE opened on Thursday night, Una Rey gave an inspiring opening night speech and reminded local artists of their ” immense talent” and to remember to exhibit outside this town also.

We had a packed gallery, made some sales and Johnathan Carroll from the Newcastle Herald popped in and took some photos from the social pages (Monday edition 6 Feb 2012).

The exhibition runs til Saturday 18 Feb, 5pm.  The gallery is open Wed – Sat 12-5pm.

Please call: 0434 886 450, if you have any questions. And stay up to date with all things PODspace-related by visiting http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com.au/

We have started a new initiative and we are featuring a cultureunter.org artist each month on our blog.

February’s artist is Newcastle-based artists Nicole Chaffey.  Visit our blog to find a link to her culturehunter.org profile. If you’re interested in being a feature artist, make sure you have a profile on the http://culturehunter.org/ website. It’s free.

PODspace will choose an artist each month.  Let us know who you are, email us at: podspace@octapod.org

Well here we are. We dusted off the office chairs on Monday 30^th and we opened for public access today the 1^st. We hope your Summer was fantastic and you’re embarking on a buzzing and fulfilling year. And Octapod is here to add a little bit more buzz and fulfilment to anyone’s year.

Opening Hours

Octapod is open for public access the same hours as before the New Year:

Wednesday to Friday, 12 – 5pm. PODSpace Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12 – 5pm.

PODspace reOPENs for 2012. 

The first exhibition for 2012 is a group exhibition called OPEN HOUSE.  It is our first Salon hang and we have enjoyed the challenge of placing all the works harmoniously on the gallery walls.  If anything this type of hanging style shows how the space can be used differently.

OPEN HOUSE will officially open on Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm with an introduction by the Newcastle Herald’s art critic Una Rey. Everyone is welcome to the openings, light refreshments are served and often the artists attend so you can chat to them during the night.

Exhibition dates: wed 1 – sat 18 feb 2012

Opening night: Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm

Gallery hours: wed – sat 12-5pm

blog: podspacegallery.blogspot.com

We hope to see you there!  Remember to sign our comments book and let us know your thoughts of this exhibition.

Paid Position – Applications close Friday 3^rd of February

Octapod has funding to employ a Business and Funding Development Coordinator, working 15 hours per week to build business relationships and source funds through a variety of means. The job description is available on the website at http://octapod.org/news/position-readvertised-business-and-funding-development-coordinator. Get your application in by 5pm this Friday, 3^rd of February.

Octapod Board member Citizen of the Year

Board member David Horkan has been named Newcastle Citizen of the Year for his years of contribution to the cultural life, principally in his work in support of the Regal Cinema and the campaign to reopen it. We’re glad to have David on the Octapod board and we congratulate him on his award.

Octapod is closed for the holiday period and some of us have gone out to play. With tales of waterfalls and bubbly filtering back into the workplace the time for rest is coming to an end.

2012 brings exciting new opportunities, one of them being a new Octapod paid position.

BUSINESS AND FUNDING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Part-time position. 15 hours per week. Develop and implement a funding plan for Octapod. Full details including Job Description on the Octapod website. Applications close 5pm Friday 20 January 2012: http://octapod.org/news/paid-position-funding-and-business-development-coordinator

Octapod and Podspace will reopen 1st Feburary 2012. In the meantime if you are strolling past 401 Hunter St, check out Emily Robert’s installation ‘no title’ in the window of PODspace during Jan 2012.

You can also view Emily’s work on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CarzasRSa6c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Ceremonial ribbon cutting

Octapod will close for more than month in the Summer. The holidays here start on Friday afternoon and the doors re-open with the first PODspace exhibition for 2012, on Wednesday 1st February. We hope you all have a wonderful New Year celebration and we look forward to all the exciting arts and media things we can do together next year.

Opportunities

There are two new opportunities for paid positions next year. One is a part-time position, Business and Funding Development Coordinator, for someone who’s keen to work on relationships with organisations that represent a possible source of funding for Octapod projects. The role is for 15 hours a week and applications close on 19th January. Details available from http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/paid-position-funding-and-business-development-coordinator

The other is a short-term contract of 40 hours and is to develop an accessibility strategy to encourage people from diverse backgrounds (people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people from indigenous backgrounds) to get involved in our activities. We will send a callout about this position in January.

PODspace

PODspace gallery has had a huge year with a complete dismantling and rebuilding of its space and will take a break over Christmas and the New Year.  The gallery will open with another exciting group exhibition from local emerging artists at the beginning of February 2012.

PODspace Constellations Opening Night

OPEN HOUSE: group exhibition will be on exhibition from 1 – 17 Feb 2012.

The opening night will be Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm.

We hope to see you all then!

New Year’s Revolutions

You will notice, if you go to http://octapod.org, that the redeveloped site has gone live. It is up-to-date with what’s going on here and how things work now, and we think you’ll also find it easier to use and find information on. It also has info about the perks of becoming an Octapod member and how to sign up for 2012, it really is worth checking out.

Culturehunter.org is also close to completing its upgrade, with a relaunch planned for next year, highlighting the new networking features that will make it the most brill arts-focused free online directory in the Hunter Valley.

2012 also sees the fruition of our development workshops on focusing on business skills and networking opportunities. This is an idea that has come out of a lot of communication with Octapod users and members and is an exciting in the direction of one of Octapod’s major aims – artist development.

Octapod staff, board members and volunteers

All is calm, all is bright

Other Octapod initiatives will continue next year. This Is Not Art starts early, getting organised for the following Spring, and Capsule, the monthly short films night, will be back again in February.

And the nationally recognised Zine Library. It just sits there! But that’s a good thing, in a library, because when people come in to peruse it as they have done frequently, it’s always there to welcome them into its angular metal arms.

This Is Not Art 2011

So finally, all the staff and volunteers at Octapod would like to thank all for your kind support  and wish you a very merry Christmas!!!!

PODspace Update

The FUNDRAISER exhibition has come down to make way for the next.  It has been an exciting and successful start to the new gallery.  We have had many compliments on the new space and positive feedback about the move to Hunter Street.

Art critic, Jill Stowell from the Newcastle Herald commented on PODspace  “in it’s new shop-front location, it is evident how important this gallery has become” on page 20 in H2 of Saturday’s paper 26 Nov.

Our next and final exhibition for 2011 will be:

CONSTELLATIONS

A drawing exhibition by graduating students from Ad Dip of Fine Arts from the Newcastle Art School, Hunter St TAFE.

Exhibition dates: 7 – 17 Dec 2011

Opening night: THURSDAY 8 Dec from 6-8pm

The team at PODspace hope to see you next Thursday night, 7 Dec for the opening of this exhibition.

Octapod Launch

The Octapod Launch last Friday 2^ndDecember was a success with a room full of smiling faces and beautiful music provided by Phoebe Daicos. MP Tim Owen attended and presented a NSW Government Community Awards to Alli Hammett for her community and volunteer work.  After the official business of speeches and ceremonial ribbon cutting, staff, board members and guests unwound and enjoyed themselves.

Ceremonial ribbon cutting

A thank you from our Chairperson:

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this event happen, in particular the staff at Octapod who do a brilliant job! Of course these events do not happen without the support of our volunteers who are always there to support our events & projects! So thank you! …. I feel a special mention needs to go to Mitch, one of the volunteers who served drinks all evening & made everyone feel welcome. Thank you! I wish to also thank all the guests who attended on the night and for making the event a success. It was great to see people enjoying the art and music, & networking across areas of business, arts, government and NGO’s.  My final thanks you go to MP Tim Owen who attended the launch on behalf of the NSW Minister for Art, Hon George Souis, and officially opened the new Octapod space. He also announced the government’s commitment to $125,000 in funding to Octapod for next year!

Regards, Alli Hammett, Chairperson Octapod Board

MP Tim Owen with Octapod Board and staff

Hunter Arts Access Network Meeting

The inaugural Hunter Arts Access Network meeting is happening at Maitland Art Gallery, Friday 10^th December, 11am- 1 pm. If you would like to rsvp all the details are available on culturehunter.org. http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/hunter-arts-access-network

Part-time Business and Funding Development Coordinator

Octapod will soon be advertising for a part-time Business and Funding Development Coordinator, so keep your eyes and ears peeled. Watch this space!!

This week the first exhibition at our new space opened on Thursday nightto a packed gallery!  Jonathan Carroll from The Herald came along and took several snaps for the social pages.  If you missed out spotting yourself or a friend in Monday the 21st of November’s paper check out page 67.  You’ll see contributing artists: Lezlie Tilley, Peter Speight and PODspace’s Jen Denzin among others.

The gallery buzzed with excitement and chatter. Current PODspacer, Jen Denzin welcomed everybody to the new space while Alison Smith, former PODspacer and now Assistant Director at The University of Newcastle Gallery opened this amazing first show. Smith said “embracing change can only be a positive thing” and we at PODspace are certainly hoping for great things to come out of this unplanned move.

It was great to see some red dots flying around the gallery and there are still some fantastic works for sale. Or if you missed the opening-exhibition, drop in and have a look and we welcome you back to see future shows!  To stay up to date visit our blog:

http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com

The FUNDRAISER exhibition ends in 2weeks on Saturday, 3 December.  Gallery hours are 12noon – 5pm.

If you’re interested in volunteering, get in touch with us. We’d love volunteers who are interested in helping out on opening nights (Thursdays 6-8pm) and to assist during installation.  Or if you’re really keen and would like to experience what it’s like to be on a volunteer artist-run gallery committee, we’d love to hear from you too!! Just shoot us an email: podspace@octapod.com

Artistic Ability

The Disability Network Hunter is a collaboration of local disability support organisations and individuals with the aim of promoting full integration and equity for all people at all levels of the community. Just one of the many things they do together is the Art Counts project, which aims to provide opportunities for all artists with disabilities to not only showcase their unique talents and gifts but to engage with the community through a creative medium . Octapod supports the Art Counts project and we’re pleased to be letting you know that the exhibition coming out of it will be opening very soon!

Art Counts exhibition opens this Thursday 24^th of November, 11am, at Newcastle Art Space, and runs Thursday to Sunday until the 11^th of December. See http://culturehunter.org/whatson/art-counts-exhibition-opens-24-november. The exhibition coincides with International Day for People with a Disability, on Saturday the 3^rd of December. http://www.idpwd.com.au/.

This exhibition is a real celebration of the talent and achievements of people with disability. And for further encouragement and inspiration, NSW arts and disability organisation Accessible Arts has produced an online resource where emerging artists can learn from the experience of artists with disability who have successful professional careers. See http://www.aarts.net.au/resources/artist-resource/

And now, here in the Hunter, there are moves afoot to set up a Hunter Access Arts Network. There is a planning meeting scheduled for Fri 9 Dec, 11am at Maitland Regional Art Gallery.

Currently there is an idea on the table to introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Every Australian Counts is the campaign in favour of its introduction and you can see it at http://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/.

 Hatch Your Ideas

Octapod is about inspiring creativity and fostering a vibrant arts community. To that end, we’re holding “Hatch – a night for incubating creative projects in Newcastle and the Hunter.”

Have you been brooding on some cracking collaborative art project? But how do you start without resources and connections? It can be a ‘chicken and egg’ problem. Or maybe you’re cooped up at home, scratching around for something to get creative with. Well Octapod is here for you! We can take you under our wing, with space and resources you can use and a network of connections in the arts community. Come out of your shell and give your fledgling project a good run! Don’t be chicken; come on down!

TOMORROW

Thursday 24^th of November,

6 – 8pm

401 Hunter St, Newcastle

Paint A Butterfly

Flutter down to Fig Tree Community Garden at 10am on Sunday 27th November for your chance to make a mark! A butterfly shaped mark that is, on the wall of the Croatian Club, adjacent to the Garden. As part of ‘Seed’, an ongoing series of Octapod initiated art workshops, visitors to the garden will invited to paint a fine flock of butterflies on the Croatian Club’s wall.

Seed is facilitated by artists Helen Hopcroft, Trevor Horsnell and Karen Robinson Smith. If you can’t draw for diddly, no need to stress: we’ll have an easy to use butterfly stencil with plenty of assistance on hand. The workshop is suitable for both children and adults but please wear old clothes, as butterflies can be messy creatures.

Web Access

Octapod has been redeveloping its website to make it easier to navigate and to reflect better the way the different projects and aspects of the organisation fit together into the Voltron-like super-being that Octapod is. And next week the new site goes live! Stand by.

This has been a busy week for PODspace!  We have had our carpets cleaned, our gallery lights installed and most importantly we have hung our first exhibition!! We are all exhausted but very excited to have our artist-run gallery back and ready for artists, both emerging and established to exhibit in.

The opening for our first exhibition will be this Thursday.  It’s a FUNDRAISER exhibition and proceeds from this exhibition will go towards completing gallery renovations.  We hope to see you there!

When: This Thursday, 17 Nov from 6pm

Where: PODspace gallery, 401 Hunter St, between Auckland St and Civic Theatre

ALL are welcome!

PODspace thanks in advance all the artists who are exhibiting in this exhibition: Michael BELL, Michelle BRODIE, Simone DARCY, Trine DEANS, Jen DENZIN, Penny DUNSTAN, Peter LANKAS, Claire MARTIN, Anne MCLAUGHLIN, Olivia PARSONAGE, Michael RANDALL, Una REY, Emily ROBERTS, Mandy ROBINSON, Gillean SHAW, Alison SMITH, Peter SPEIGHT, Lezlie TILLEY, Shan TURNER-CAROLL, Ahn WELLS, Josh WHITE.

If you’d like to know more about PODspace, visit our blog: http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com/.  You can also view past exhibitions here.  If your interested in exhibiting or becoming a volunteer at PODspace please email us: podspace@octapod.org

Octapod Launch Celebration

The Octapod Association will be launching its new space at 401 Hunter St on Friday 2^nd December from 4pm to 6pm. The event will be an opportunity for the Octapod to opens its doors to the community and celebrate its long history of supporting the arts in the Hunter region.

Octapod relocated in August 2011 from its home of 11 years, the TPI House on King St.  Since moving to 401 Hunter St staff and volunteers have been refurbishing and renovating the new residence. With the hard work completed the Octapod is ready to open the doors for a celebration and make a toast to the valued past and exciting future of the organisation.

“We are really excited about opening this new space and inviting the community to come and celebrate with us” Christina Robberds, the Octapod Coordinator said.

Podspace an artist run gallery has built new gallery walls and will exhibit a fundraising exhibition on the evening of the launch. The Vault, a display of Octapod historic photos and memorabilia will also be available for viewing. There will be entertainment provided by Phoebe Daicos, a moving and talented local singer-song writer.

“We are gearing up for our 2012 program which will focus on providing more skills development opportunities for artists through creative industry forums. We really want this space to feel welcoming and open, so the community can make the most of our resources and support” Christina Robberds commented.

The Octapod Launch Party will kick off at 4pm on Friday 2^nd December at 401 Hunter St Newcastle and is open to the public.

Hatch: Octapod Creative Ideas Night

The Pod Team has turned into the Pod Painting Team this week.  Thanks to our hard working builders, we started painting on Thursday morning assuming that we would get it all over and done with by 4pm.  Turns out painting takes longer than we expected and we are up to our third painting adventure this week.  Lucky we have had some fun while doing it, eating muffins baked by the fabulous Christina and passing the time with endless chattering mixed in with ideas for this new space.

Our first exhibition in this wonderful new space is a FUNDRAISER exhibition to help us build the final wall of the gallery.  Local artists plus the Pod Team are exhibiting artwork and 50-100% of the sales will go towards the final renovations.

The FUNDRAISER exhibition starts next Wed, 16 Nov until Sat, 3 Dec.

Gallery hours are the same:  Wed – Sat 12noon – 5pm.

We invite you all to the opening night of this exhibition and help us celebrate our new gallery on Thursday, 17 Nov from 6pm!!

Til next week’s update!

Culturehunter.org

CultureHunter.org is a website dedicated to arts and culture in the Hunter region. This is more than just a ‘What’s On?’ for the Hunter, it is a space where anyone can log on and share their ideas, opinions and suggestions about anything and everything related to arts and culture.

The website has been evolving and growing over the past 12 months into a functional and user friendly site and is approaching 30,000 hits for the year!

Community usage of the site is growing with an 8.5% increase on last month. This year, most users of culturehunter.org are from Australia (25,007), followed by the US (1009), UK (382), India (247) and Canada (176), with the most popular Directory Entry being Olive Tree Markets!

Culturehunter.org is also going to start featuring an artist on its facebook page each week.  To polish up your Directory Entry, visit http://culturehunter.org/faqs or if you just want to have a browse of the What’s On calendar go to http://culturehunter.org/whatson/calendar .

HATCH: Octapod’s Creative Ideas Night

Have you been brooding on some cracking collaborative art project? But how do you start without resources and connections? It can be a ‘chicken and egg’ problem. Or maybe you’re cooped up at home, scratching around for something to get creative with. Well Octapod is here for you!

We can take you under our wing, with space and resources you can use and a network of connections in the arts community. Come out of your shell and give your fledgling project a good run! Don’t be chicken; come on down!

When: Thursday 24th, November

Time: 6pm- 8pm

Where: Octapod 401 Hunter St, Newcastle

OCTAPOD Launch Party

Since vacating Octapod’s previous beloved place of residence: TPI House, the Octapod has spent weeks cocooning, preparing, reinventing and refurbishing in our new space.  Now we are ready to open the doors to the world with a fresh breeze under our wings and a thirst for supporting the local community with our resources, knowledge and love of art.

So please join us for an evening of celebration.

When: Friday 2nd November

Time: 4pm – 6pm

Where: 401 Hunter St, Newcastle

Art Counts exhibition

Presented by the Disability Network Hunter, ‘Art Counts’ is an exhibition showcasing the works of artists with disabilities in support of the ‘Every Australian Counts’ campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Curated by Sally Bourke.

When: 24 November 2011

Repeats every week on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until Sun Dec 11 2011 .

Times: Gallery hours: 12-5pm

Address: Newcastle Art Space (NAS)246 Parry St Hamilton East, NSW

Cost: Free

Opening : Thursday 24th November at 11am at NAS (Newcastle Art Space).

All are welcome to attend and meet the artists.