Arts, culture and heritage
Council recognises and values the role that the arts, culture, heritage, and events play in creating vibrant and healthy communities. By investing in these things, we create better places and better spaces, which, in turn, will increase a sense of community and security as well as improve the health and well-being of our residents.
Our Incredible Place Events, Arts & Culture Strategy provides the framework for growing and celebrating our culture. It will provide Council, business and residents a blueprint to work in partnership together, to celebrate our unique identity, increase investment in our communities and deliver more economic opportunities for our people.
The Our Incredible Place Strategy is currently being reviewed. Visit pscouncil.info/our-incredible-place to learn more, have your say and help shape the future of events, arts, and culture in Port Stephens.
Cultural Precincts have been developed to identify broader areas for future planning of arts, culture and events around Port Stephens to learn about these precincts click here
What is the Strategic Arts Committee?
The 355c Strategic Arts Committee is an advisory committee that assists with Council’s Cultural Planning, including the Action Plan of the Our Incredible Place, Events, Arts and Cultural Strategy.
It also provides advice on public art and more broadly, the committee plays a role in building and maintaining relations with other community members interested in local cultural development.
It also identifies future training opportunities that might support the work of local organisations involved in the planning and delivery of cultural related activity.
Committee membership
The committee consists of up to ten people who have an interest in art and cultural activity. It’s intended that membership be representative of the broader community of Port Stephens in terms of age, cultural practice and location.
The committee meets 4 times a year and the meeting and related administrative activities are coordinated by Council’s Events Arts and Culture Team Leader.
Council hosts a range of events to help us make Port Stephens a better place to live, work and play.
To see more about what events are currently on, please see our events page.
Artists, photographers and creatives of all types are encouraged to apply for a range of opportunities to showcase their work and make Port Stephens an even more vibrant place to live.
Terrace Reflections- is an ongoing place activation initiative that supports artists to display artwork in an outdoor environment for the whole community to enjoy and experience in Raymond Terrace. The program aims to:
- inspire the community’s imagination, allowing them to engage with arts and culture beyond the confines of a museum or gallery
- enhance Raymond Terrace’s built environment and create a vibrant gateway to the main street of Raymond Terrace
- reinforce the unique identity and history of Raymond Terrace
- provide a highly visible platform for creative expression and development
Yacaaba Walk of Art- is an ongoing place activation initiative that supports artists to display artwork in an outdoor environment for the whole community to enjoy and experience in Nelson Bay. The program aims to:
- inspire the community’s imagination, allowing them to engage with arts and culture beyond the confines of a museum or gallery
- enhance Nelson Bay’s beautiful environment and create a vibrant, eye catching display as part of the waterfront of Nelson Bay.
- reinforce the unique identity and picturesque environment of Nelson Bay
- provide a highly visible platform for creative expression and development.
If you would like to learn more about Terrace Reflections & Yacaaba Walk of Art or to discuss your ideas and questions, Please contact us on 4988 0255 or email us at vibrantplaces@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Art Space
If you’ve ever dreamt of exhibiting your work, or would like to sell your work, now is your chance.
Port Stephens Council is seeking expressions of interest for artists to exhibit at the Raymond Terrace Art Space located at Raymond Terrace Library, 18A Sturgeon Street.
Our exhibitions are held each month and feature a range of works — painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, design, decorative and more.
We are providing opportunities for professional and emerging artists to exhibit their work. This gives the local community a chance to enjoy and experience art in a relaxed public space.
If you would like to learn more about Art Space or to discuss your ideas and questions, Please contact us on 4988 0255 or email us at artspace.rt.library@gmail.com
Placemaking is the process of creating quality public spaces where people want to live, work, play and learn. It’s about shaping places together, led by the people who use them every day.
Port Stephens Council seeks to improve the town centre's vibrancy and the local economy by encouraging approved business placemaking activities and street performances on public footways. This also includes offering local charitable and non-profit community organisations an opportunity to utilise temporary community stalls on public footways in town centres.
Visit our Placemaking page to learn more.
Discover public art in Port Stephens and learn about each one with the interactive map below:
Council has a range of grants and funding available for arts & culture projects to help us make Port Stephens a better place to live, work and play.
Our funding program gives eligible individuals, artists, community organisations, not-for-profits, businesses, students and others the opportunity to apply for funds to deliver initiatives that make a real difference to local communities and our region. These funding programs play a pivotal role in building capacity by supporting initiatives, which enhance the social, cultural, environmental and economic life of our communities.
If you have a great idea, we’d love to hear about it! Please contact us on 4988 0255 or at grants@portstephens.nsw.gov.au.
Get in connected with Arts and heritage contacts around Port Stephens.