Cultural Development
2012 Newcastle Short Story Competition
To celebrate the 2012 National Year of Reading, The City of Newcastle and the Hunter Writers' Centre are combining forces to bring you an exciting new Short Story Award. Cash prizes are on offer as well as the chance to be published in an anthology of short listed entries.
2012 Newcastle Short Story Competition - Shortlist announced
The Hunter Writers' Centre and the City of Newcastle are thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2012 Newcastle Short Story Competition.
All shortlisted entries will be published in the 2012 Newcastle Short Story Anthology, which will be launched on:
Friday 25 May
5:30pm - 7:30pm
at The Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Region Library
Winners will be announced on the night. Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers and thank you to everyone who entered.
Shortlisted Writers
Natalie Petrohelos - Ever So Gently
Deborah Noyce - New Ute
Ellen McGeoch - The Mercreature
Wendy Gunthorpe - The Car Trip
Wendy Gunthorpe - Cluttered
Catherine Moffat - In the Garden of Even
Catherine Moffat - Remnants of Sound
Kynan Cliff - The Rounds
Megan Perry -Red Stilettos
Karen Whitelaw - Tahitian Sunsets
2012 Short Story Competition Judges
Ryan O'Neill
Ryan O'Neill was born in Glasgow in 1975. He lived in Africa, Europe and Asia before settling in Newcastle, Australia with his wife and two daughters. His fiction has appeared in The Best Australian Stories, The Sleepers Almanac, Meanjin, New Australian Stories, Wet Ink, Etchings and Westerly. His work has twice won the Hal Porter Short Story Competition and been shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Steele Rudd Award and the Age Short Story Prize. His short story collection, The Weight of a Human Heart, is forthcoming from Black Inc in May. He teaches at the University of Newcastle.
Marion Halligan
Marion Halligan is one of Australia's most important writers, with a long list of literary prizes to her credit. She has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and the Miles Franklin Literary Award, and has been awarded the Age Book of the Year, the ACT Book of the Year (three times), the Nita B Kibble Award, the Steele Rudd Award, the Braille Book of the Year, the 3M Talking Book of the Year and the Geraldine Pascall Prize for critical writing. Valley of Grace (A+U, 2009) is currently longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literacy Award. She lives in Canberra and has an AM for services to literature. Photo by Gillean Shaw.
Workshops
Three workshops presented by Patrick Cullen were held during November 2011 to support writers in this short story format. The workshops were held at the Hunter Writers Centre, with full attendances from people eager to pick up some tips about writing and editing.
Patrick Cullen's first collection of stories, What Came Between, is set in Newcastle during the decade following the 1989 earthquake, and includes 5 stories published in The Best Australian Stories between 2005 and 2007. Patrick lives on a property south west of Newcastle. By day he works as a web author and at night, he's working on a second collection of stories and a novel.
Smart Arts
Is the City of Newcastle supporting the capacity and strength of individuals and organisations that are part of the broad cultural scene of Newcastle? Through providing opportunities to further develop professional skills, Smart Arts is an investment in the skills of creative individuals and organisations, with a view to enhancing Newcastle as a creative, culturally rich and vibrant community.
Through 2012 - 2013, Cultural Development will be facilitating three Smart Arts workshops.
The first one is:
'Running your Own Creative Business' - The City of Newcastle and Australian Film, Television and Radio School are bringing this one day course to Newcastle.
Creative? Not sure of the 'business' side of a creative business? Don't worry, you aren't alone... we have the answer... AFTRS hugely popular one day course 'Running Your Own Creative Business' will be in Newcastle on Thursday 17 May for $95. A great investment in your creative business!
There are limited places so book your place now - http://www.open.aftrs.edu.au/course/Q523
Full outline of the course (177Kb)
Wrap Up of Short+Sweet Sydney 2012
Congratulations to Best Director Keane Williams for his stunning two-hander From A Great Height (by Mark Konik) starring Glen Waterhouse and Jo Ford. This is a huge win and shows Newcastle once again produces great talent. This also won Best Production in the Newcastle 2011 season.
Place Making & Urban Renewal Forum - 21 January 2011
This forum was held as part of a state wide series of arts forums promoted by the Local Government Shires Association. The City of Newcastle, in partnership with Lake Macquarie City Council, Port Stephens Council and Maitland Council, hosted this forum that was aimed at practitioners in cultural, planning, events, community, strategy, place or business enhancement roles.
The forum featured 17 speakers and was attended by over 60 people.
The four key themes addressed throughout the day were Place Making, Urban Renewal, Community Arts and Public Art.
Following are copies of presentations given during the day. We thank the presenters for allowing us to share this information.
- Pride of Place
- Place Making Newcastle
- 94 Villages 1 City
- Introduction to Public Art
- Culture Port Stephens
- Newcastle City Centre Initiatives
- Parks and Playgrounds
- Treasure Hunter
- Landcom - Initiatives for Development
Workshop Outcomes
Our Wonderful Life
The Cultural Framework 'Our Wonderful Life' guided the cultural directions for the organisation during 2005 - 2010. A summary of outcomes from the cultural framework indicate the breadth of activity Council and the wider community achieved.
Achievements Summary (61.6Kb)
Creative Arts Connections
A quick link to contact details for artists networks in Newcastle. Find out more
Artists Register
If you are looking for professional opportunities and believe you have the skills to enhance a project we would like to hear from you. Find out about the artists register. Find out more
Contact us
- Cultural Development Coordinator 02 4974 5327
- Cultural Development Project Officer 02 4974 5364
Useful links
Contact us
City Administration Centre
282 King Street
Newcastle NSW 2300
Tel: 02 4974 2000