The Lock-Up’s flagship fundraising exhibition, showcasing the best of the Hunter and beyond.
OPENING NIGHT
5 – 9pm, Friday 15 May 2026
CURRENT
Panel Discussion | Collaborative Futures:
5.30pm, 1 May 2026
Free event, limited capacity, bookings and early arrival encouraged
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Ella Paterson is The Lock-Up’s Early Career Curator for COLLECT 2026. Ella will be working closely with The Lock-Up’s staff to develop and curate our annual fundraising exhibition.
Elloise Ansell is The Lock-Up’s COLLECT: Focus Early Career Curator for 2026. Elloise will spend the next couple of months collaborating with two local early career artists to showcase separate bodies of work for COLLECT: Focus.
FUTURE
FOCUS SHOWCASES SEPARATE BODIES OF WORK FROM ARTISTS EMERALD RUBY AND MAHALIA LECKNER IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER EXHIBITION, COLLECT.
OPENING NIGHT
5 – 9pm, 15 May 2026
Into the Dark is a bold, major solo exhibition at the pinnacle of Wendy Sharpe’s practice, featuring new commissions, a live-painted mural and immersive labyrinthine installations.
A monumental solo project by internationally recognised, Newcastle-based contemporary artist Izabela Pluta as part of a major international co-commission with TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art, Poland, and presented with key partner New Annual Festival.
PAST
A one‑off, art‑making party inspired by A soft space to stand.
Kids and young people under 25: $20
Accompanying adults: Free (must be included in the same booking)
When machines learn from us, create with us, and sometimes replace us, how do artists redefine collaboration?
Free event, limited capacity, bookings and early arrival encouraged
$10 General Admission
$5 Concession
Our next art-making party: 25 April 2026
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes artist, creative producer and writer Emma Jane Hancock to the Artist in Residence 2026 program. Working at the intersection of collage, community-building and public art, Emma will use the residency as a space for creative exploration, engagement with Newcastle’s arts community and time to develop ideas connected to her longstanding interests in imagination, place and participatory collage practice.
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes Andrew Shillam supporting the presentation of his solo exhibition at The Creator Incubator and the promotion of his publication of poetry, Night Sonnets, through the Artist in Residence 2026 program.
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes Adam Hulbert to the Artist in Residence 2026 program, supporting the development of a new commissioned work with Izabela Pluta for a major exhibition for local and international presentation.
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes Mara to the Artist in Residence 2026 program. Mara joins Mitch Elliott, oOoOoze and Volcano of Boiling Shit in performance through Live at The Lock-Up.
The Lock-Up welcomes Derya Yıldırım to the Artist in Residence 2026 program for a period of focused solo creative development.
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes Ali Noble to the Artist in Residence 2026 program to engage with her work and practice as featured in the exhibition A soft space to stand.
The Lock-Up warmly welcomes Nina Stromqvist to the Artist in Residence 2026 program, providing a space to conduct research and writing for upcoming projects.
The Lock-Up is proud to once again support Deborah Kelly’s multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary project, CREATION through our Artist in Residence program.
all i ask is that you step with me into the boundlessness
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$20 concession
$25 GA
The Lock-Up welcomes French-Australian curator Anabelle Lacroix back to our Artist in Residence program as Curator in Residence, supporting the development of a new curatorial project.
The Lock-Up proudly welcomes Loons as Artists in Residence, supporting their next stage of creative development.
The Lock-Up welcomes artist Jasmine Miikika Craciun as our current Artist in Residence. Jasmine is presenting a work in the current exhibition, A soft space to stand. Catch Jasmine’s work and the works of other artists in A soft space to stand, from 13 December 2025 to 3 May 2026.
Live at The Lock-Up welcomes Romain Hassanin for a special presentation of his Propel Residency through Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub, supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025.
The Lock-Up welcomes artist, writer, poet and musician, Omar Musa for the launch of his new book Fierceland, supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025, presented in partnership with Hunter Writers’ Centre.
The Lock-Up welcomes artist Nicole Smede back for New Annual 2025 supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025. Nicole Smede contributed two soundscapes to Karla Dicken’s exhibition Locked On in response to the exhibition’s site-specific query and will utilise this residency to plan for an upcoming exhibition at The Lock-Up.
Live at The Lock-Up welcomes Maria Metsalu and Manu Anima, members of the shapeshifting, international dance collective, Young Boy Dancing Group, presenting a one-night-only live performance 2 Sep 2025. YBDG will utilise the residency to meet and rehearse with local performers, developing and delivering a rare and electrifying performance supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025.
The Lock-Up welcomes Nicole Smede to the Artist in Residence Program 2025. Nicole will be utilising this residency to complete research and development for two commissioned soundscapes as part of Karla Dickens’ upcoming exhibition. The works will be presented as a co-commission by The Lock-Up and New Annual 2025.
The Lock-Up welcomes our inaugural Live at The Lock-Up performance resident, Benjamin Fraser McKenzie, supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025.
We welcome artist Locust Jones back as an Artist in Residence in the final days of his exhibition at The Lock-Up, The green dream.
Together with Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre, The Lock-Up welcomes artist Raquel Ormella, who is featured in the exhibition Avian Assembly, which opens at SACC on 16 May 2025. Raquel will use the residency to complete the final touches on her exhibition in Singleton, supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025.
Together with Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre, The Lock-Up welcomes artist Madeleine Kelly, in the lead up to her curated exhibition Avian Assembly which opens at SACC on 16 May 2025. Madeleine will use the residency to complete the final touches on her exhibition in Singleton, supported by The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence Program 2025.
We welcome newly appointed Festival Director Tory Loudon, the new director taking over the creative reins of City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural festival, New Annual. Tory will use the residency to develop new networks and partnerships within our local cultural ecology.
Nathalie Hartog-Gautier will be using The Lock-Up’s Artist in Residence program to develop works based on the Hunter River.
Olga Syvatova will use the residency to develop a new video work responding to a recent return to their homeland, Russia—the first visit since the outbreak of war in 2022.
Eric Löbbecke will be utilising the residency to develop three main projects: LETTERS FOR A LOVER, THE SOUTHERLY BUSTER and A COLLECTIVE REPATRIATION.
Andrea Grljusic is The Lock-Up’s COLLECT 2025 Early Career Curator. Andrea will be working closely with The Lock-Up’s staff to develop and curate our annual fundraising exhibition.
Malvika Satelkar is The Lock-Up’s COLLECT: Focus Early Career Curator for 2025. Malvika will spend the next couple of months collaborating with two local emerging artists to showcase separate bodies of work for COLLECT: Focus.
