Street art fest to stimulate flat-lined Newcastle tourism
Big things and little things happening in the Steel City
Bringing a refreshing splash of colour to pandemic-weary Novacastrian eyes, and a much-hoped for influx of visitors, large scale murals are once again scheduled to pop up all over Newcastle’s CBD when the popular Big Picture Fest returns to the city in 2022.
Part of an $800,000 City Centre and Darby Street Special Business Rate funding program, the event coincides with an inaugural Little Festival which, also funded as part of a $450,000 Community Support and Infrastructure Grant, will bring miniature street art to hidden locations across the CBD.
Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes said the City of Newcastle is committed to supporting the city as it emerges from the social and financial impacts of the pandemic and will continue to direct much-needed funds into developing opportunities in the local economy.
“Supporting initiatives such as Big Picture Fest and Little Festival not only provide a welcome influx of commissions for artists, it will also drive visitors into the city centre, increases expenditure at local businesses and helps create more vibrant, activated spaces throughout the course of the events and beyond.”
Festival director, Katerina Skoumbas said Big Picture Fest is looking forward to bringing even more of Newcastle’s personality out onto the streets.
“It’s so important to reflect our local culture and to include the artists in this phase of change, a time when Newcastle’s urban landscape is shifting,” she said.
“There are so many blank walls throughout the city that we pass on our daily commutes and when you turn that blank wall into a canvas, you bring colour, joy and life to the whole community.”
Little Festival organiser Jacinta Fintan said the event would encourage visitors to experience Newcastle on a different scale.
“City of Newcastle’s financial support for Little Festival has been a crucial step in turning my little idea into a brave new festival.
“After 18 long months of the pandemic flatlining the arts industry, it is really heartening to see bold and enterprising art funding underpin Newcastle’s arts recovery process.”
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
