Octapod is really proud to be supporting 'Art Counts', an exhibition showcasing the works of artists with disabilities in support of the ‘Every Australian Counts’ campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Presented by the Disability Network Hunter and curated by Sally Bourke.

Opening Thursday 24th November at 11am at NAS (Newcastle Art Space). All welcome to attend and meet the artists. Gallery open Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. Show closes on Sunday 11th December.

SAW (Street Art Walking) wants the city to come alive with artworks, dispersed throughout the streets, creating a public art walk for all to enjoy, locals and tourists. Our main goal is to bring back a sense of pride within our streets, while showcasing artistic talent.

This project has stemmed from a visual arts project called ‘walkARTbout’ developed as part of 2010 This Is Not Art Festival. The success of the project has resulted in securing a number of public art sites on a permanent basis.

SAW is a place-making project creating (temporary and permanent) public art spaces. We aim to enhance the current aesthetics of the city by creating positive art solutions to public spaces.

SAW is being produced by Octapod, with the launch being supported by Renew Newcastle.  We are really pleased that Simone Sheridan, the creative genius behind walkARTbout and SAW, will be SAW's director!

The launch is happening this Friday 4 March, 6-9pm as part of Renew Newcastle's 1st Friday event.

Where: Renew Newcastle HQ, Morgan St, off Hunter St Mall.

Octapod has a long history of supporting arts and cultural development in the Hunter region. Our inaugural SeedPod Community Cultural Development (CCD) Program is designed to assist artists or artsworkers to work with communities on creative projects.

The types of projects that we are interested in supporting will use arts based processes as a way to engage, inspire, give voice and create change.

In 2011 Octapod will support two projects. Each project will receive the following:

Octapod will close on Friday 18 December 2009 and re-open for public access on Thursday 4 February 2010. Staff will be back in the office from Monday 4 January 2010. Best wishes for a safe and happy festive season!

Greetings STOMP supporters! Richard de Martin has finished up as the STOMP Festival director, after dedicating himself to the event for 2 years. It is now time for someone else to step up and take on this role. As a long time supporter of the festival, Octapod is inviting expressions of interest from anyone keen to apply for this position. Please find Job Description attached. Applications due 5pm Friday 2 October 2009 - either email to Christina Robberds at podadmin@octapod.org (Subject line: STOMP Festival Director application) or by post (Octapod Association 3/231 King St, NEWCASTLE 2300). Please submit a short statement (2 pages max) of why you would be fantastic for this role, as well as attach a brief cv (2 pages max). Please note that this position attracts a small fee of $1,500.

TAFE Outreach will run a FREE digital storytelling course at Octapod - with a youth focussed approach to exploring the theme for this year’s Cultural STOMP Festival - “Be The Change”.

Art Sounds went off with a bang in February, with over 100 people descending upon Octapod and other venues in the Civic Precinct for the launch of this new FREE monthly performance event.

In 2009 Octapod is offering two FREE residency positions. One position has already been given to the Cultural STOMP Festival, and Octapod is currently seeking applications for the second position from individuals or small groups (3 people max) interested in using the Octapod space for arts and cultural activities.

Octapod Residents have access to:

Applications close on Monday 8 December for Art Sounds, 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.

Electrofringe is looking for a creative, energetic and highly organised individual to work with the current Co-Director on the 2009 program. Application guidelines available from www.electrofringe.net  Applications close COB Monday 5th January 2009.

 The Electrofringe festival showcases digital, electronic and media arts with a particular emphasis on emergent forms and techniques. Focusing on encouraging interaction between emergent and professional practitioners, Electrofringe aims to create an open environment of exchange and peer-to-peer mentoring. It is part of the This Is Not Art Festival.