You’re Kidding Me Family Expo
This Expo is designed to improve accessibility to health, education and family services for children by connecting families to valuable information about local services that support the learning and development of young children. Attendees can discover a variety of programs, resources and services that parents and families can access. The expo includes children’s activities, daily shows and information stalls. Free entry makes it an easy outing, and it’s particularly well suited to families with children under 8. See the website for link to full daily program. Charlestown Square Centre Court. Runs: June 1 – 5 (Daily 9am – 1pm, extra session Thursday 3pm – 7pm). Further details and program outline: https://www.lakemac.com.au/Events-directory/Council-events/Youre-Kidding-Me-Expo
Annual Dobell Art and Craft Festival
Wangi Lions Club presents this annual showcase of the very best in local and regional talent, with every dollar raised going directly back to the local community. $5 entry fee (under 12 free). Wangi District Workers Club Market Street Wangi Wangi. Runs: June 6 – 8 (Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm, Monday 10am – 2pm). Opening event: Friday June 5 (7pm) for Prize Presentations and exhibition preview ($25 fee includes a welcome beverage, canapes and a weekend exhibition pass). Further details and opening night tickets: https://arts.lakemac.com.au/Events/Dobell-Festival-of-Art-Craft-2026-presented-by-Wangi-Lions-Club
An Unseasonable Fall of Snow
This is a psychological thriller set in 1990’s Wellington NZ. A bewildered young man is questioned by a ruthless interrogator, who circles like a predator forcing him closer and closer to an awful admission. An electrifying game of cat and mouse and mind games, all serve to highlight the complexities of human behaviour, truth, consequences, and the often-harsh realities of life. This raw, real, and confronting investigation into toxic masculinity, guilt and isolation, is compelling of truth. Content Warning: strong language, adult themes, assault and references to mental health. Maitland Repertory Theatre, 244 High St Maitland. Runs: June 5 – 14. Further details and tickets: https://www.mrt.org.au/
Tell Me on a Sunday
Maitland’s Vocal Therapy and Performance (VTP) local youth talent tell the story of a young English girl who lands in New York brimming with optimism and she sets out to seek success, companionship and, of course, love. But as she weaves her way through the maze of the city and her own anxieties, frustrations and heartaches, she begins to wonder whether in fact she’s been looking for love in all the wrong places. The show contains Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs such as “Tell Me on a Sunday,” “Come Back with the Same Look in Your Eyes” and “Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known.” Morpeth School of Arts, High St Morpeth. Runs: June 5 – 7. Further details and tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1524101
The Boy from Oz
Singleton Theatrical Society presents this musical, which is based around story of the singer-songwriter Peter Allen, the boy who rose of Tenterfield obscurity to the international stage and fame. It features songs written and made famous by Allen. Singleton Civic Centre, 12 Queen St Singleton. Runs: June 5 – 20. Further details and tickets: https://www.singletontheatricalsociety.com.au/about-5-1
Lake Cinema: 62 Main Rd Boolaroo (June 5 – 7)
Wolfram (M): Set in the 1930s, this story follows three children who escape their white masters and then journey across central Australia as they seek safety. Friday (5pm), Saturday and Sunday (midday and 5pm).
A Private Life (M): Renowned psychiatrist Lilian Steiner mounts a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, whom she is convinced has been murdered (partly in English, partly in French with subtitles). Friday (7.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (2.30pm and 7.30pm).
Cash only. Bookings available only for the 7.30pm sessions (4958 5810). https://lakecinema.au
Civic Cinema – The Audience (PLAYHOUSE at Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Civic Cinema presents the best of British theatre and opera filmed live from the beating heart of the arts in London and New York. This is a screening of a National Theatre Live production. Recorded in 2013, this performance saw the return of Helen Mirren to cinemas after over a decade away, as she played Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen had met with each of her 12 prime ministers in a private weekly meeting known as The Audience for some 60 years at that time. Through these private audiences, we see glimpses of the woman behind the crown and witness the moments that shaped a monarch. June 5 (7pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/civic-cinema-nt-live-the-audience
Sno-ciety
More than a ski film, this Warren Miller produced movie explores the culture around winter. Spanning iconic mountain regions and unexpected urban landscapes, the film reflects the many ways people connect to snow—whether through lifelong traditions, local hills, or shared moments that keep drawing us back each season. From the Scottish Highlands and the streets of Finland to the back bowls of British Columbia and a local hill transformed into a terrain park in downtown Denver, winter is presented as a shared experience shaped by people, place, and community. Tower Cinemas, 183-185 King St Newcastle. June 5 (7pm) AND June 7 (4.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://www.fivestarcinemas.com.au/newcastle/movie/warren-millers-sno-ciety
Hunter Wetlands Centre: Swamp Film Festival
Coinciding with World Environment Day, the Hunter Wetlands Centre presents a celebration of environmental storytelling and community action in one of Australia’s most precious estuaries: the Hunter. Held over two days, the swamp will come alive with an exciting program of environmental films, Q&As with environmental and film industry experts, filmmaking workshops and film focused activities for kids! From one minute clips to 10 minute shorts, swamp film festival showcases locally produced films focusing on the wetlands ecosystems and wildlife of the Hunter estuary, inspiring us to explore, protect and respect our wetlands environment. 1 Wetlands Place Shortland. Daily (9am – 4pm). Runs: June 6 – 7. Further details and tickets: https://www.wetlands.org.au/upcoming-event/swamp-film-festival
Flickerfest National Tour (PLAYHOUSE at Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Flickerfest is Australia’s only Oscar and BAFTA qualifying short film festival, and the country’s largest Australian and International short film competition. It screens for 10 days at Bondi Beach in January, with selected highlights taken on a national tour. See the Best of Australian Shorts and the Shorts Laughs Comedy programmes, including three short films with Newcastle connections, with filmmakers present to introduce their films. The programme consists of two separate sessions. Saturday June 6 (6.30pm and 9pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/flickerfest-2026-international-short-film-festival
Concert – Tuesday Night Jazz (The Steve Hunter Band)
Bass virtuoso brings his all originals Sydney quartet influenced by Corea and Davis. Their sound is bold, charged with the fire of Spain, the pulse of Africa, the sway of Latin America, and the grit of funk. The Grand Hotel, 32 Church St Newcastle. Tuesday June 2 (7.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/
Concert – Thursday Night Jazz Jam (Jeremy Borthwick House Band)
These sessions feature a rotation of house bands, with audience musos invited to join in and are presented by the Newcastle Improvised Music Association (NIMA) in collaboration with the Newcastle and Hunter Jazz Club. The Grand Hotel, 32 Church St Newcastle. Thursday June 4 (7.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://www.nima.org.au/
Concert – DioSounds 2026 (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Join the Secondary Schools of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland Newcastle for an exciting night of musical performances featuring talented students from across the diocese. This DioSounds promises to be another feast for the eyes and ears that is not to be missed.June 4 (6pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/diosounds-2026-welcome-home
Concert – Greatest Hits Tour (Queen tribute band) – 20th Anniversary (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Queen Forever celebrates 20 years of electrifying live performances with their full scale rock spectacle that captures the very essence of Queen. From Gareth Hill’s spine-tingling portrayal of Freddie Mercury to Scott Bastian’s soaring Brian May guitar solos, Brad Hodgkinson’s thunderous drumming, Darryn McLaughlin’s flawless bass lines, and Danny Oakhill’s sweeping keyboards, they recreate the power, drama, and brilliance of Queen in their prime. This is a feast of Queen’s most iconic songs — Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, Radio Ga Ga, performed with authenticity. June 5 (7.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/queen-forever
Concert – One Night Only (special ticketed event)
Don’t miss this rare and intimate experience as Jef Neve and Teus Nobel, two of Europe’s celebrated jazz artists, make music in the colourful heart of Newcastle Art Gallery. Having worked in collaboration with Jamie Cullum, Madeleine Peyroux, and José James, Belgian pianist Jef Neve is joined by Dutch trumpeter Teus Nobel to reinvent jazz classics and showcase their latest album, Esho Funi – a reflection on the Japanese philosophy of union between self and environment. Newcastle Art Gallery, 1 Laman St Newcastle. Friday June 5 (7pm – 9pm). Further details and tickets: https://newcastleartgallery.nsw.gov.au/events/jef-neve-and-teus-nobel
Concert – Jazz Night at Dobell House
Visit the home of Sir William Dobell, enjoy a glass of wine, a touch of jazz and learn more about one of Lake Mac’s most famous residents. Enjoy an evening of Jazz, wine and history as you immerse yourself in the musical stylings of Angamus Duo and light refreshments. 47 Dobell Drive Wangi Wangi. Saturday June 6 (5pm – 8pm). Further details and tickets: https://arts.lakemac.com.au/Events/Jazz-Night-at-Dobell-House
Concert Candlelight – Vivaldi Four Seasons
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons under the gentle glow of candlelight. Performers: Phoenix Collective String Quartet / Firebird Quartet. Adamstown Uniting Church Auditorium, 228 Brunker Rd Adamstown. Saturday June 6 (6.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://adamstownuca.org.au/event/candlelight-vivaldi-four-seasons-3/
Concert Candlelight – Best of Fleetwood Mac
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Fleetwood Mac under the gentle glow of candlelight. Performers: Phoenix Collective String Quartet / Firebird Quartet. Adamstown Uniting Church Auditorium, 228 Brunker Rd Adamstown. Saturday June 6 (8.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://adamstownuca.org.au/event/candlelight-best-of-fleetwood-mac-2/
Concert – East Coast Championships and Festival of Bands
This annual competition for Brass and Concert Bands gives 8 bands the opportunity to shine in individual short concerts, designed to entertain an audience. This is followed by a competitive concert session. Bands compete not just for playing prowess, but are also for entertainment and 3 extraordinary Youth Community Bands will also perform. Harold Lobb Concert Hall, Conservatorium of Music, Cnr Laman and Auckland St Newcastle. Sunday June 7 (9am – 6pm). Further details and tickets: https://www.hrba.org.au/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJrF5VleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHnzAIphB3ANgLD0HrGXNjG1g2nLULJR3Z4l389uPXjS8Uwm6LI_RQ0isSTXh_aem_o3ox–KIiAqWGzV8H0SMAg
Concert – Ballroom Blitz (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Experience a dance extravaganza with this latest performance from the producers of Celtic Illusion and Celtica. Choreographed by the Aric Yegudkin, three-time Dancing with the Stars Australia champion, this is a breathtaking fusion of elegance, energy and mind-blowing ballroom dance. It sees traditional ballroom dance meet cutting-edge choreography in a spectacle where rhythm meets romance, passion ignites the dance floor, and you are transported into a world where every step tells a story, and every move ignites the senses. Sunday June 7 (7.30pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/ballroom-blitz
Coming soon – Everything Must Go
Siblings Marshall and Tess are in the process of settling their late parents’ estate. What better way of offloading household items quickly, they think, than the trusty Saturday morning garage sale. Neither of them is excited about the prospect of a bunch of strangers pawing over the belongings, but realise it’s probably the easiest and quickest way to move the generational accumulation of ‘stuff’ they’ve grown up with and taken for granted over the years. Along the way, as items sell, memories are triggered – both good and bad, and secrets are revealed. A great setting to tell this story of ordinary people dealing with what life throws at them and moving on, in their own way and in their own time. Newcastle Theatre Company, 90 DeVitre St Lambton. Runs: June 12 – 21. Further details and tickets: https://au.patronbase.com/_NewcastleTheatreCompany/Productions
Coming soon – Star Struck 2026: Out of the Ordinary
One of the Hunter’s biggest performing arts events, Star Struck brings together NSW public school students from Kindergarten to Year 12 for two nights of dance, drama and music. It’s a polished arena-scale show and well worth the time if you have a kid performing – or just love watching young talent shine. Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Brown Rd, Broadmeadow. Runs: June 12 – 13. Further details and tickets: https://www.nec.net.au/events/star_struck_2026
Coming soon – Maitland Heritage Festival
This vibrant celebration of Maitland’s unique and richly layered history brings together community groups, historians, entertainers, and artisans to create new experiences, foster collaboration, and deepen appreciation for the region’s remarkable past. It showcases Maitland’s heritage through historical displays, house tours, guided walks, vintage games, artisan and craft demonstrations. The June 14 FREE Family Day in Church Street will include children’s activities, live performances, market stalls, food and entertainment. Ticketed events include a heritage dinner, guided heritage walks, a Bush Poet’s Morning Tea, and a concert. Runs: June 12 – 28. Further details and tickets: https://maitlandheritagefest.com.au/
Coming soon – Concert – ARC Plays the Eagles (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Kram (Spiderbait), Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Mark Wilson (Jet) and Davey Lane (You Am I) join forces to bring the Eagle’s most legendary album to life. Few musicians are as qualified to call themselves the Australian Rock Collective. ARC formed in 2014 when, on a whim, the four friends were asked to perform at the World Cup in Brazil. Since that baptism of fire, the group have forged a tight-knit musical kinship as unique as the careers that made them so successful in their own right. This is music played for music fans, by music fans.Tuesday June 9 (8pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/arc-plays-eagles
Coming soon – Concert – The Fleetwood Mac Legacy (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
Direct from London’s West End, Go Your Own Way is a theatrical celebration of Fleetwood Mac. This critically acclaimed production features an ensemble of world-class musicians recreating the live energy and passion of Fleetwood Mac, taking the audience on a journey through their incredible songbook. Paying homage to the Rumours era—the band’s most commercially successful and artistically volatile period—the show brings the drama and the music to life with stunning authenticity. Experience all the classics including Dreams, Don’t Stop, Everywhere, Songbird, and The Chain. Wednesday June 10 (7pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/go-your-own-way-the-fleetwood-mac-legacy
Coming soon – Concert – Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells played in its entirety (Newcastle Civic Theatre)
A 50th Anniversary World Tour celebration of Mike Oldfield’s iconic, seminal work will be performed by an expansive live group, led and arranged by Oldfield’s long-term collaborator, Robin A Smith. The concert will see Tubular Bells performed in full, plus extended sections of Tubular Bells ll and lll and more. Mike Oldfield will not be in attendance. Thursday June 11 (8pm). Further details and tickets: https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/what-s-on/all-shows/mike-oldfield-s-tubular-bells-played-in-its-entirety
‘Last chance to see’ exhibitions:
University Gallery: Natural History Illustration Exhibition and Beyond
The University of Newcastle’s Natural History Illustration Program has a strong reputation for producing exceptional artists who bridge the gap between art and science. This exhibition shows works from a curated selection of Alumni and mid-career artists who demonstrate meticulous detail and scientific accuracy using various mediums to highlight Australia’s unique natural history. This exhibition is divided across The University Gallery and Cstudio Art Gallery (Hunter Street) with works available for purchase at both sites. 130 University Drive Callaghan. Wednesday – Friday (10am – 5pm), Saturday (midday – 4pm). Until June 6.
Cstudio Art Gallery: Natural History Illustration Exhibition and Beyond
The University of Newcastle Natural History Illustration Program has a strong reputation for producing exceptional artists who bridge the gap between art and science. This exhibition invited a curated selection of Alumni and mid-career artists to participate. They each create work with meticulous detail and scientific accuracy across a range of mediums, highlighting Australia’s natural history. This exhibition runs jointly at CAG and the University Gallery (Callaghan Campus). 518 Hunter St Newcastle West. Wednesday – Saturday (10.30am – 3pm). Until June 6.
Leda Gallery: Remnants
A remnant evokes something past or lost but also presents a new opportunity. This exhibition has largely been created from the artists’ discarded or unresolved paintings. Dan Nelson and Caroline Traill have challenged each other to make use of their abandoned works – not only materially but as a creative resource. There is a psychology in this act of revisiting and carrying forward that resonates with the artists’ approaches to painting the Australian landscape. Both are interested in how our experiences of the natural environment form us, become our points of navigation and the places we return to, at least in our psyche. 850 Hunter St Newcastle West. Wednesday – Friday (10am – 3pm), Saturday (10am – 2pm). Until June 3.
Wester Gallery: She Dreams in Colour
Fresh from her recent French residency, Prudence DeMarchi presents a vibrant and expressive new body of work shaped by travel, light, and shifting landscapes. Known for her dynamic use of colour and layered painterly gestures, this exhibition marks a new chapter in her practice — where memory, place, and emotion intertwine with renewed intensity. 39 Bolton St Newcastle. Wednesday – Friday (9.30am – 2.30pm), Saturday (9am – 2pm). Until June 6.
‘New’ exhibitions to visit:
Morpeth Art Gallery: Feathers and Fur (June 4 – 8 only)
An inspiring annual Wildlife Art Exhibition showcasing the beauty of animals and the importance of protecting their habitats. Paintings will be available for purchase from the gallery or online. Discover new paintings, exclusive merchandise and the passion behind each brushstroke. Step into the world of wildlife art and watch talented artists painting their next original. Most exhibitors will be in residence throughout the exhibition. 5 Green St Morpeth. Thursday – Sunday (10am – 4.30pm).
Leda Gallery: Threshold (opens June 6)
Raina Thomson is an Abstract-Expressionist artist who explores the intricate relationship between mind and body, and the often-unconscious forces shaping our emotional landscape. Through the use of colour, form and raw medium, her aim is to convey the final leg in releasing a confusing journey—navigating its complex implications to find the profound relief in accepting that a limit has been reached. This work represents a release, stripping back the echoes that have helped her navigate the grief of shedding an identity that is no longer aligned. In stitching everything together and being in a year of endings, this is the homage to her visceral experience, with raw, uncut, and deeply personal artworks. 850 Hunter St Newcastle West. Wednesday – Friday (10am – 3pm), Saturday (10am – 2pm). Until June 17. Opening event: Saturday June 13 (5pm – 7pm).
Straitjacket Gallery: The Botanical Draughtsman’s wife (opens June 6)
Vera Zulumovski is a printmaker drawn to the infinitely fluid, fractal lusciousness of pattern. For Vera, pattern is powerful and her highly embellished linocuts are intricately carved images that focus on autobiography, often recording events with unrestrained candour. The exhibition takes its title from an earlier work about her husband, an intelligent, highly measured man with a deep attention to detail and, following his recent death, the exhibition becomes both tribute and reflection. 222 Denison St Broadmeadow. Thursday – Friday (11am – 6pm), Saturday – Sunday (11am – 5pm). Until June 20. Opening event / Meet the Artist: Saturday June 6 (11am – 5pm).
Straitjacket Gallery: Tenebrism (opens June 6)
Graham Wilson sketches from life and takes reference photographs throughout his travels. He combines the researched images with memory and feelings for a place, then paints plywood and carves into the surface using techniques derived from his printmaking training. He prefers the block to a paper print and so exhibits the block instead. HIs work is always playing with darkness and light, finding a balance between what is lit and what is in shadow. 222 Denison St Broadmeadow. Thursday – Friday (11am – 6pm), Saturday – Sunday (11am – 5pm). Until June 20. Opening event / Meet the Artist: Saturday June 6 (11am – 5pm).
Straitjacket Gallery: Sacred (opens June 6)
Jono Everett’s work is crafted entirely from salvaged chairs, providing them a voice through being the paint to his canvas. Discarded roadside chairs – dirty, broken and unloved, quiet witnesses to human presence. Profoundly poetic and beautiful creatures, each one imbued with a history, a life before of function, movement and meaning. 222 Denison St Broadmeadow. Thursday – Friday (11am – 6pm), Saturday – Sunday (11am – 5pm). Until June 20. Opening event / Meet the Artist: Saturday June 6 (11am – 5pm).
The Owens Collective Gallery: Nephrectomy Post Nephrectomy Recent Paintings (opens June 5)
David Trout’s current paintings (abstract, oil on canvas) are an intuitive reflection on, and dialogue with, the metaphor of cancer – explored on a biographical, collective and cultural level. Drawing on his experience of a nephrectomy and the healing that followed, the work explores a deepening perception of the choices we have, both individually and within contemporary society, to heal. 101 Maitland Rd Islington. Friday – Sunday (9am – 2pm). Until June 7. Opening Night: Friday June 5 (6pm – 9pm).
Lake Macquarie Arts Multi-Arts Pavilion: The Edge of the World Opens June 5)
A collaborative work exploring the landscapes and cultures of Australia and Iceland, this exhibition has emerged from a sustained creative international relationship between three artists. Through continued dialogue and collaboration across continents, the work draws on observations of both the mundane and the extreme in the mythological, social, and natural landscapes of Australia and Iceland. Using screen recording, 16mm film, and digital media, the artists forge an enduring shared language. 96 Creek Reserve Rd Speers Point. Friday – Sunday (9am – 2pm). Until August 2. Opening event: Friday June 5 (5pm – 7pm).
Swansea Library (Seen @ Swansea): Endless Now (opens June 5)
In marking the bicentenary of Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld’s mission at Bahtabah, Lake Macquarie City Council Heritage Team presents an exhibition that reflects on a complex and significant shared history on Awabakal Country. Central to this story is the relationship between Threlkeld and the respected Awabakal leader Biraban (McGill), whose knowledge and leadership contributed to a significant cultural exchange during this time. This is an exceptional and rare collection of letters written by Threlkeld and never before published or publicly displayed. They offer a unique and personal window into the period, an opportunity to engage directly with voices from the past while honouring the living culture of the Awabakal people today. 228 Pacific Highway Swansea. Monday – Friday (10am – 2pm), Saturday (9am – midday). Until October 20.
Toronto Library: Golden Age Portraits Shannon Smith’s heartfelt photographic exhibition celebrates the lives, stories, and enduring spirit of Lake Macquarie’s senior community. These intimate works honour the resilience, wisdom, and individuality of participants aged 75 and over, captured with warmth and dignity. Each portrait reflects a moment of storytelling and reflection, preserving personal histories that might otherwise be lost amidst the business of modern life. Cnr Brighton Ave and Pemell St Toronto. Monday – Friday (9am – 5pm), Saturday (9am – midday). Until October 6.
Wangi Library Creative Hub: The land of the Night Owls (opens June 3)
An exhibition of artworks created by Wangi Wangi Public School students (Kindergarten to Year 6). These young artists have explored the world of owls found in their locality. Using a variety of materials (paint, beads, drawing, textiles) they have interpreted the strength of the Powerful Owl, the mystery of the Masked Owl, and the gentle spirit of the Southern Boobook, inviting us to discover the rich diversity of these local birds through their imaginative eyes. This exhibition celebrates not only artistic talent, but also curiosity about nature and community spirit. 295 Watkins Rd Wangi Wangi. Monday and Thursday (9am – 1pm), Wednesday (1pm – 5pm). Until September 28.
The Old Fireshed Gallery (Wollombi): Fibre Artists Plus Wood (opens June 5)
Bruce Abbott and Lynn Abbott present an arts and craft exhibition featuring products of their Weaving, Eco Dyeing, Fibre work and Woodturning practices. Their works are both for viewing and sale. Wollombi Rd Wollombi. Open Daily for this exhibition (10am – 4pm). Until June 21. Opening event: Saturday June 6 (10am – 11am).
Port Stephens Artisan Collective: Earth, Sea and Soul (opens June 1)
Celebrating 10 years of “collective” spirit with a special members’ exhibition. This artist-run gallery is dedicated to showcasing high-quality, locally made art and gifts direct from the makers. Each exhibitor brings their own unique interpretation to the theme, creating artworks that reflect personal connections to landscape, ocean, memory, emotion and place. D’Albora Marina, 6 Teramby Rd Nelson Bay. Daily (10am – 4pm). Until June 30. Opening event / meet the artists: Saturday June 6 (3pm – 5pm).
Muswellbrook Art Gallery: Muscle (opens June 4)
Simon Reece’s exhibition responds to the landscapes and histories of Muswellbrook and brings together ceramics, photography and found industrial materials to explore the relationship between industry, environment and place. References to freshwater mussels, believed to have inspired the early name “Muscle Brook”, connect the works to the area’s waterways and histories of habitation. Using clay sourced from local mine sites and mining imagery, Reece reflects on the ways the land continues to carry traces of ecological, industrial and cultural change. 1-3 Bridge St Muswellbrook. Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm). Until August 1.
Muswellbrook Art Gallery: Visuaural: Death Cycle of a Found Piano (opens June 4)
What happens when a piano reaches the end of its life? Does it fall silent, or does it begin again? ‘Visuaural invites participants to take part in the transformation of an abandoned instrument — dismantling, reimagining and re-creating its internal mechanisms into new objects, artworks and sound works. This is not just an ending, it is a process of listening, making, and imagining. This program is made possible by Arts Upper Hunter in partnership with Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre and Hunter Regional Conservatorium, with assistance of the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund which supports regional and remote Australian arts. 1-3 Bridge St Muswellbrook. Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm). Until August 1.
Dungog by Design Gallery: In the Frame monthly exhibition (opens June 3)
Lynn Jenkin has been drawn to horses for as long as she can remember. It is no surprise that one of her greatest joys as a photographer is to capture the power and beauty of a horse in motion, or the quiet strength of a portrait. When she decided to extend her creative range by taking up drawing and painting it was a natural conclusion her favourite subject continues to be horses. As she develops her sketching skills, she does not want the end result just to be a faithful copy of an original photograph, she wants to tease out what that passion means for her. She is at the beginning of that journey. 224 Dowling St Dungog. Wednesday – Sunday (10am – 3pm). Until June 30.
‘Ongoing’ exhibitions:
Watt Space Gallery: Field Notes: The Ruins of Ideas
Michael Cusack’s suite of works that are not ascribed as finished, referencing instead ‘notes’ – observations made in passing, marks made from thinking, and noticing the relationships between ground and pigment. Paint here behaves like soil or sediment, layered and compressed and colour feels gathered rather than chosen. These works emerge from a place where ideas are not produced on demand, but weathered and wrought into being by time, labour, and repeated attention. Field Notes proposes the exhibition itself as a working field: a place where ideas remain open, contingent, and responsive to their context. Cnr King and Auckland Sts Newcastle. Wednesday – Friday (10am – 5pm), Saturday (midday – 4pm). Until June 27.
Newcastle Art Gallery: Multiverse (TICKETED exhibition)
Cairns-based Torres Strait Islander Brian Robinson is known for his bold works of art and distinctive graphic language that blend Torres Strait minaral design with contemporary cultural icons. This is a vibrant exhibition in which superheroes, sea creatures, and ancient stories collide and coalesce. Robinson invites audiences into unique worlds spanning mythology, history, imagination, and richly detailed narratives. The exhibition brings together his monumental linocut prints, larger-than-life sculptures, and a digital animation experience. 1 Laman St Cooks Hill. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Until August 30. Further details and tickets: https://newcastleartgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/brian-robinson-multiverse
Newcastle Art Gallery: Mouth Mnemonica
Tiyan Baker works with installation, photography, video and sculpture. Her practice draws on historical research, language, digital processes and material play to trace unseen relationships between words, place and stories. Her solo exhibition centres around a newly commissioned multi-channel video work, to tangle together like coursing water. This project engages with the endangered language Bukar, spoken by her mother and other Bukar Bidayǔh people of south-western Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Furthered by sculptural elements, Baker encourages us to reimagine new methods to transfer intergenerational cultural knowledge. Blending poetic verse, memory, and historical record, her project is a homage to her mother’s tongue and the mouth as an ancestral landscape. 1 Laman St Cooks Hill. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Until September 6.
Newcastle Art Gallery: Mordant Family Collection
This is a striking group exhibition of local, national, and global artists in celebration of the major recent gift to the Gallery from the Mordant Family Collection. Discover compelling works by leading Australian and international artists which traverse the mediums of painting, video, sculpture and photography, and brings together artistic explorations of identity, abstraction, and the natural world. You are invited to enjoy this gift to the city. 1 Laman St Cooks Hill. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Until November 15.
Newcastle Art Gallery: Iconic Loved Unexpected
The exhibition brings together national icons, well-loved favourites and unexpected gems, including never-before and rarely seen works. More than 500 works by local, national and international artists from the early nineteenth century to today are being rotated as the exhibition progresses. 1 Laman St Cooks Hill. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Ongoing.
Newcastle Museum: Facon 10 Retrospective
The retrospective explores couture through the lens of 10 years old locally produced fashion magazine Facon, with a focus on how local designers, models, personalities and locations have been celebrated in print and on the runway. The exhibition features reproductions of magazine’s covers and fashion shoots, including images of local identities, actors, television and fashion personalities, whilst signature looks are displayed on mannequins dressed in clothing and accessories from Newcastle-based and nationally recognised designers. Never-before-displayed couture from the museum’s collection is also included, with mid-20th century gown The Lantern Dress among items on show. 6 Workshop Way Honeysuckle. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 5pm). Until June 27.
Newcastle Museum: The City That Made Surfest
More than a competition, Surfest is a defining part of Newcastle’s identity. Discover the champions, community and culture that shaped Surfest over four decades through rare objects, archival footage and stories from the surf. Today it is the largest surfing festival in the Southern hemisphere and the list of champions includes global surfing legends whose victories have become part of the Newcastle story. 6 Workshop Way Honeysuckle. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 5pm). Until July 31.
Newcastle Museum: The Newcastle Story / Fire and Earth
These FREE exhibitions tell our stories. Explore the natural environment, early Aboriginal life and Newcastle’s history and beliefs. Journey through times of war and immigration and meet pioneers, sports people and the famous. Discover answers to how and why we are a distinct and fascinating community. Then, put your hard hat on and experience the heat, danger and hard work of coal mining and BHP steel production. This is not only a story of industry, it is a story of immigration, religion, resilience and family. Two major industries have dominated the identity, landscape and people of the Hunter, Coal and BHP. Fire and Earth combines the two industries in a stunning exhibition, just as they have always been intertwined and interdependent. 6 Workshop Way Honeysuckle. Tuesday – Sunday (10am – 5pm). Ongoing.
Hunter Wetlands Centre Gallery: Watermark
An exhibition showcasing artworks by members of the Artisan Collective Port Stephens and centred on wetland areas and species in the Hunter region, with each piece reflecting a unique artistic interpretation of this vibrant environment. They highlight the hidden complexity within wetlands, and the delicate interconnections that sustain these environments. The exhibition encourages viewers to look deeper and recognise the significance of each aspect of these rich ecosystems across a range of art forms including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. 1 Wetlands Place Shortland. Daily (9am – 4pm). Until June 26.
Cooks Hill Art Gallery: My Australia
A fine collection of Susan Sheridan’s acrylic, oil mixed media paintings, featuring the Australian bush landscape and coastline. Susan prefers observing a landscape experience when responding to recording and selecting an artwork composition. She says “it is only when one stops and observes nature that you discover it. You begin to understand what is around you e.g. the birds nesting, ant trails, changing colours on a bushscape as clouds move. The view you were looking at only seconds or minutes ago influence my understanding of what’s around me as I paint!” 65 Bull St Cooks Hill. Wednesday – Saturday (10am – 5pm). Until June 12.
Lighthouse Arts: Wild
25 artists, explore their own interpretations of what it means to be ‘wild’. Through diverse mediums and perspectives, the exhibition explores the wild theme from the raw beauty and untamed power of nature, to the instinctive and emotional aspects of ourselves. Nobbys Lighthouse Newcastle. Saturday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Until July 12.
Newcastle Studio Potters and Back-to-Back Galleries: Reflections 11
This exhibition celebrates the versatility of clay and the diverse approaches two artists take to shape it. Together, Hilda Botha and Wendy Thompson create a dialogue between figure and form, inviting viewers to consider the reflective qualities of ceramics. 57 Bull St Cooks Hill. Friday – Sunday (11am – 5pm). Until June 14.
The Lock-Up Gallery: Collect 2026
This is your annual chance to discover and invest in exceptional work by one hundred emerging, mid-career and established artists from Newcastle and the Hunter, as well as The Lock-Up’s broader artistic program. Works are available for sale throughout the exhibition, with 50% of all proceeds supporting The Lock-Up. The eight-day run closes with the Mayhem And Madness Fundraiser. The exhibition celebrates a diverse and vibrant creative community and is about connecting the community and expanding its creative ecosystem, connecting artists with COLLECT-ors big and small. COLLECT opens with our highly anticipated Opening Night, where you get the chance to see the work first while connecting with the artists and community. 90 Hunter St Newcastle. Wednesday – Saturday (10am – 4pm), Sunday (10am – 2pm). Until July 5.
The Lock-Up Gallery: Collect FOCUS 2026
Running in conjunction with the larger Collect exhibition, FOCUS positions emerging bodies of work within a professional collecting context, reframing experimentation as both rigorous and collectable. It offers local early-career artists Emerald Ruby and Mahalia Leckner the opportunity to present a cohesive body of work while engaging with exhibition-making in The Lock-Up’s unique historical setting. 90 Hunter St Newcastle. Wednesday – Saturday (10am – 4pm), Sunday (10am – 2pm). Until July 5.
Timeless Textiles Gallery: All Mine, Just for Now, for a Little Bit
Anne De Nooijer is a contemporary textile artist. Working with reclaimed and hand-dyed natural textiles, she uses figurative imagery to explore feminine narratives and self-mythology. Her work originates from a place of contemplation, and wonder for the small and big things in life. Anne’s environmentally conscious mindset, leads her to use materials that thread lightly on the planet and she often stains her work with inks and watercolours made from the leftovers of her botanical dye pots. 90 Hunter St Newcastle. Wednesday – Saturday (10am – 4pm), Sunday (10am – 2pm). Until June 21.
Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture: Young Dobell Exhibition
An annual exhibition featuring artworks from the Young Dobell Art competition which celebrates young artists aged 5 to 18 from the Hunter and Central Coast Regions. The competition is named after Sir William Dobell, a three-time Archibald Prize winner who lived in Lake Macquarie. He was known for his portrait and landscape artworks, as well as paintings of his beloved dogs. 1A First St Booragul. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 3pm). Until July 19.
Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture: In Memory of Tom Gleghorn
A vibrant collection of works by talented practitioners from the Print Circle, a renowned Sydney printmaking collective. This exhibition explores the cultural, symbolic and natural significance of earth, air, water and fire through print. The artists work in both traditional and contemporary print media, including etching, lithography, silkscreen, collograph, woodcut, linocut, solar plate intaglio, and digital prints. All works, including exclusive limited-edition prints, are for sale. 1A First St Booragul. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 3pm). Until July 19. Tom Gleghorn historical overview: Saturday June 6 from (2pm) FREE event, booking recommended. Further details and tickets: https://arts.lakemac.com.au/Events/In-Memory-Tom-Gleghorn
Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture: Print Circle: Elements
A vibrant collection of works by talented practitioners from the Print Circle, a renowned Sydney printmaking collective. This exhibition explores the cultural, symbolic and natural significance of earth, air, water and fire through print. The artists work in both traditional and contemporary print media, including etching, lithography, silkscreen, collograph, woodcut, linocut, solar plate intaglio, and digital prints. All works, including exclusive limited-edition prints, are for sale. 1A First St Booragul. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 3pm). Until July 19.
Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture: The Tide Continues
Australian-Fijian artist Salote Tawale presents a new exhibition inspired by the Lake Macquarie region. Balancing interaction with quiet reflection, the exhibition brings together a video work made by Salote in Hawai‘i, gentle floor seating that invites rest, and immersive murals and paintings. While watching and interacting with the space, viewers might wonder where the salty water of Hawaii’s vibrant ocean ends and the water of Lake Macquarie begins. 1A First St Booragul. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 3pm). Until July 19.
Belmont Library: Mungi Art
This solo exhibition presents a powerful body of work by the late Peter “Mungi” Rose, exploring his deep connection to nature, culture, and history as a proud Aboriginal man of the Dharug people. The works form a visual and spiritual journey — through the eyes of a man who, after a lifetime of searching, finally found his missing piece. Without formal art training, Mungi’s practice emerged through storytelling, lived experience, and the guidance of a gifted mentor, Gino. The exhibition traces the evolution of an artist developing both his creative voice and cultural identity and each artwork reflects a journey of rediscovery—of culture once taken, but later restored. 19 Ernest St Belmont. Monday – Friday (9am – 5pm), Saturday (9am – midday). Until September 29.
Charlestown Library: Tiny Vistas
A love letter to tchotchkes, Polly pocket and Shirley Barber, this collection of dioramas depicts whimsical landscapes and humorous critters. The Emerald Ruby (Jen Hankin) has carefully assembled each vista using traditional embroidery, chaotic beadwork and digitally sculpted 3d printed animals. These juxtaposed processes conjoined from a therapeutic need to follow the dopamine and keep her hands busy. The scenes contained within each embroidery hoop frequently transcend the phantasm which sparked their creation, quite literally taking on a life of their own. Cnr Smith and Ridley Sts Charlestown. Monday – Friday (9am – 5pm), Saturday (9am – midday). Until October 19.
Sugar Valley Library Museum: We built this history
Developed in conjunction with West Wallsend District Heritage Group, this museum presents the story of the region through enticing and immersive experiences and, objects portraying the life and times of this unique township. Learn about rich Aboriginal history, and the people and groups that built the district’s communities. 156 Portland Dr Cameron Park. Tuesday – Friday (10am – 5pm), Saturday – Sunday (10am – 2pm). Ongoing.
Windale Library Hub: Natural Consequences
Robert and John De Giorgio collaborate on an abstract graphic practice that examines the relationship between microscopic observation and architectural structure. Inspired by cellular systems, biological forms, and mineral patterns, their work translates organic sources into precise geometric compositions shaped by Architectural logic. Through lines, grids, and modular forms, fluid natural references are framed within ordered systems, reflecting an interest in how complexity emerges from structure. Their work invites slow viewing and careful attention, revealing subtle connections between unseen natural systems and the built environment. 20 Lake St Windale. Monday – Friday (9am – 5pm), Saturday (9am – midday). Until September 22.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery: Fire Scars
Renae Saxby is a documentary and music photographer, whose work delves into the human experience, spanning intimate portraiture, live performance, and remote landscapes with a strong emphasis on cultural and environmental preservation. In this exhibition, she examines fire as both a destructive and regenerative force. Created during a period of personal upheaval, this work reflects on grief, resilience, and the potential for healing held within fire’s transformative presence. 230 High St Maitland. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 4pm). Until June 14.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery: Sea of Legs
This striking installation by Dr Judy-Ann Moule draws on childhood memories and the feeling of being powerless, using scale to bring those emotions to the surface. Through sculpture and installation, she revisits the experience of being small and surrounded, a sea of legs towering overhead. The piece stems from a vivid early memory: being two years old and caught in a crowded room full of partying adults. 230 High St Maitland. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 4pm). Until June 21.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery: The Places That Shape Us
Ray Monde uses large-scale paper sculptural forms to depict queer lived experiences in regional Australia. Based in Braidwood, he weaves his own memories with those of his peers and collaborators into immersive collages around the emotional landscape of growing up different in the country. 230 High St Maitland. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 4pm). Until June 21.
Maitland Regional Art Gallery: New Old School
This exhibition brings together seven contemporary painters who treat art history as a living companion rather than a distant legacy. Engaging in a “conversation across time”, the artists reimagine historical forms, materials, and figures to explore how the past persists within the present. Balancing reverence and reinvention, the exhibition celebrates painting’s enduring vitality and complex history. 230 High St Maitland. Tuesday – Sunday (9am – 4pm). Until June 28.
Maitland Regional Museum: The Railway Comes to Maitland and Beyond
Come along and learn about how the trains came to Maitland and how it impacted Maitland’s economy and social structure. Revisit the magic of rail and follow the special slide show that takes you from the first locomotive on the Great Northern Rail to Wallangarra. Adults $5. Brough House, 73 Church St Maitland. Saturday – Sunday (10am – 3pm). Until – to be advised.
Cecily Mitchell Gallery: Creative, Collaborative
An exhibition of recent work by seven artists associated with the Fibre Makers Space located in Brough House, a dynamic hub dedicated to promoting the contemporary practice of traditional fibre arts. This exhibition celebrates the artists’ diverse skills and techniques, their individual artistic visions and the creative possibilities of working with textiles. They will have some very special small wearable bespoke pieces such as silk and felt scarves, and exquisite jewellery. Don’t miss the opportunity to take something very special home. Brough House, 73 Church St Maitland. Saturday – Sunday (10am – 3pm). Until June 21.
Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles:
The museum was established in 2005 and is Australia’s only dedicated clothing museum containing a substantial collection of textile items including dresses, hats, shoes and ties ranging from as early as 1860 to the present day. The priority focus collection is on material from Maitland and the Hunter. While the collection explores changing fashions and styles, it is not essentially a fashion collection. The focus is more on telling stories about people, the role of dress in their lives and how it is valued. Brough House, 73 Church St Maitland. Saturday – Sunday (10am – 3pm). Ongoing.
Performance Arts Culture Cessnock: Shapes of the Hunter
This exhibition is by a diverse group of artists with a deep connection to the Hunter and celebrates the region’s rich creative spirit. Showcasing works across sculpture, painting, jewellery, and mixed media, the exhibition highlights the distinctive forms, materials, and stories that define each artist’s practice. Together, these artists explore the landscape, culture, and character of the Hunter through their chosen mediums, revealing the textures and connections that shape our shared environment. 198 Vincent St Cessnock. Monday – Friday (9am – 4.30pm), Saturday (10am – 2.30pm). Until June 27.
Port Stephens Art Centre: Botanicals and Printmakers
Botanicals celebrates the intricate beauty of the natural world. It features diverse media capturing organic forms, vibrant flora, and delicate textures, inviting viewers to reconnect with Earth’s enduring elegance. Printmakers explores the tactile beauty of hand-pulled art. Discover the intricate mastery of linocuts, etchings, and woodblocks, where every carved line and inked surface celebrates the elegance of traditional printmaking. Cultural Place (off Shoal Bay Rd) Nelson Bay. Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm), Sunday (10am – 1pm). Until July 21.
Tomaree Museum: Local History exhibition
Why not visit this interesting display at Nelson Bay’s Inner Light? Originally developed by the Port Stephens Historical Society, and recently updated, the display provides a snapshot into local history at a beautiful location. Be sure to set aside some time take in the views, visit the Marine Rescue Station and savour some treats at the Inner Light Tea Rooms. Inner Light (Marine Rescue Base), 5 Lighthouse Rd Nelson Bay. Daily (10am – 4pm). Runs: Ongoing.
Singleton Arts and Culture Centre: Counterpoise
Hanna Kay explores the subtle forces that define the character of the Hunter Valley landscape. Rather than focusing on dramatic scenery, she turns her attention to the often unnoticed quiet details that reveal a place’s essence. The works centre on two recurring motifs of grasses and rocks, familiar elements constantly shifting within natural cycles of growth, erosion, and renewal. 23 Maitland Rd Singleton. Tuesday – Sunday (9.30am – 4.30pm). Until August 9.
Singleton Historical Society and Museum: Local History Exhibition
The Museum is based in the old Council Chambers (also formerly Police lock-up cells) built in 1874. A wide variety of interesting artefacts are on display including Singleton’s first ambulance cart, a convict bell embedded in a tree trunk, handicrafts and furniture. The Records and Research Room has an extensive Library including: Historical Photographic Collection, Parish Maps and documents dating back to early 1800’s. Burdekin Park, Bourke St Singleton. Saturday – Sunday (midday – 4pm). Ongoing.
Muswellbrook Art Gallery: When the Ground Shifts
Wonnarua woman Jaimie Turner’s work is shaped by connection and evolving relationships with Wonnarua Country, Ancestors and lived change. The displayed works emerge from moments of movement, pressure, and transformation, where identity and culture form on shifting ground. Working across painting, weaving, textiles and sculpture, Turner bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary expression. Connection and Country remain constant shaping forces in her practice, and she seeks to encourage deeper connection with, and renewed appreciation of, Aboriginal culture as living, dynamic and ongoing. 1–3 Bridge St Muswellbrook. Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm). Until August 1.
Muswellbrook Art Gallery: Hold Still
Ceramic vessels are among the oldest and most enduring forms of human expression. Contemporary artists often use such vessels as mediums for storytelling, memory and cultural connection. In this exhibition, each artist’s work reflects personal experiences, histories and influences– for some it is a way to hold memories of place or moments in time; for others it carries cultural knowledge, tradition or childhood nostalgia. 1–3 Bridge St Muswellbrook. Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm). Until August 1.
Dungog Museum:
Dungog Museum is located in the heritage listed 1898 former School of Arts building. Their collection includes professional, sporting, trade and farming equipment and items and photographs from Dungog and district. The museum’s core display is ‘Dungog: Making the Community’, which tells the story of Dungog through different themes. This includes an introductory exhibition about the local Aboriginals and the coming of the Europeans to the area. 105 Dowling St Dungog. Wednesday (10am – 12.30pm), Saturday (10am – 2pm). Ongoing.
Gresford Community Gallery: Exhibition 2026
Drop in and experience a vibrant showcase of quality art and craft by emerging and well known Hunter Valley artists. This annual exhibition includes a wide variety of arts and crafts, featuring painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, fibre art, glass, print making and jewellery. Highlights include contemporary works by young surrealist painter Chloe Hooper and landscape pieces by Janelle Goldman and Terry Holdom. The exhibition reflects the depth and diversity of artistic practice across the region. 12 Park St, East Gresford. Saturday – Sunday (10am – 4pm). Until – to be advised.