Greater Taree

In order to help celebrate the launch of CultureHunter Kids, the brand new section of CultureHunter dedicated to child-friendly events and activities, CultureHunter invites school children throughout the Hunter Region to design a mascot that will be used to promote CultureHunter Kids.

Local poets have taken out the major awards in the 2008 Lake Macquarie Literary Award (formerly Roland Robinson Literary Award), with Kylie Rose winning first prize for her poem Bluebottles.

Bluebottles focuses on the relationship between mother and child while something much darker simmers under the surface.  In 2006, Kylie received second prize in the Roland Robinson Literary Award for her poem Shark Egg.  She is currently collaborating with poets and composers on a project commissioned by the Hunter Writers Centre.

The inaugural Roland Robinson Local Poet’s prize went to Martinsville poet, Magdalena Ball, for her poem Grandpa’s Birds.

The University of Newcastle creative arts student Hugh Doyle won the national tertiary art prize in the photography,m photomedia and electronic media catagory.

The winning photo titled Lonely Fridge was part of a series that portrayed a student's garage.

In its 16th year, the art prize is the number one art competition and is run by the Australasian Association of Campus Activities.

The Kings of Leon will be coming to town in March next year. They have chosen Newcastle as their only non-capitol city show for their upcoming Australian tour.

This years 'Only By The Night' has reached No1 on the Aria Charts and is close to notching up triple platinum sales.

Kings of Leon rock the Newcastle Entertainment Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Sunday March 22. Tickets available from Ticketek when they go on sale November 24.

Lambton's Newcastle Theatre Company, formerly Newcastle Repertory Club, this month unveiled its 2009 subscription season of, now, six plays and a season of one-acters.

The planned season opener, and major fund raiser for the year, the traditional pantomime, Cinderella, has been postponed until january 2010.

The Willy Russel classic Shirley Valentine will open the year on January 14. Directed by Leslie Wiles, the soul actor in the play is Cheryl Sovechles in the title role.

New-comer to the company, Michael Fiddian, is directorof the second production, An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestly.

Art Sounds is a new and innovative performance program linking Newcastle City Council (Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle Region Library and the Loft Youth Venue), the Octapod Association, Hunter TAFE and the University of Newcastle.  ABC 1233 Newcastle will also provide media support for the program.  It aims to create a cultural buzz in the precinct through the presentation of a monthly art and music event hosted by each of the participating venues from February to June, and if further funding is achieved, to November 2009.  Art Sounds events will take place on a pre selected Friday evening once a month and showcase a cross-section of local music genres and performers.

 Mojo Juju of Mojo Juju & the Snake Oil Merchants

Over two hundred Indigenous students and staff from the three campuses of Callaghan College and their seventeen partner primary schools celebrated their Indigenous heritage at Callaghan College, Waratah Technology Campus yesterday.

Wet weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the students who participated in art, story telling, games and digeridoo workshops. Each student painted their own boomerang and all of them worked together to complete murals for the school walls.

Aboriginal elders including Aunty Peggy, Aunty Laurel and Aunty Chris were present as well as Ken Weatherall, President of the Muloobinbah local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and Rob Russell, Aboriginal Consultant for the Hunter.

Newcastle Region Art Gallery has once again attracted a premier travelling painting exhibition to the city.

The National Gallery of Australia is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has put together an exhibition of treasured works from the National Collection.

Ocean to Outback: Australian Landscape Painting 1850-1950 has been curated by National Gallery Director, Ron Radford, AM, and celebrates the rich history of landscape painting in Australia.

Ocean to Outback reflects the strengths of the National XCollection and includes works taken from permanent display, others restored and reframed in period style, a number of new acquisitions and some works that have never been shown before.