Draft Cultural Plan opens for feedback as Newcastle creative sector valued at $565m

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle has opened public exhibition of its draft Cultural Plan 2026-2036 on Thursday 26 February 2026, inviting community submissions as new figures put the city’s creative sector at almost 3,500 jobs and around $565 million in direct value added.

The draft plan is intended to guide the council’s commitment to arts, culture and creative industries over the next decade, with Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee chair Councillor Jenny Barrie saying the sector was growing twice as fast as the rest of the economy.

“Newcastle is a vibrant and creative city, renowned for its rich culture and thriving artistic community,” Cr Barrie said, describing the latest work as the most substantial analysis of the local creative sector undertaken in Newcastle.

“Now, for the first time, we have been able to properly define the significance of that reputation […] the sector is also a valuable generator of jobs and economic growth, confirming that investing in creativity delivers real returns,” she said.

City of Newcastle executive director creative and community services Alissa Jones said the draft plan had been shaped through consultation with the sector before being released for broader public feedback. “We worked closely with around 70 cultural organisations, individual creatives and community leaders to ensure the plan is grounded in lived experiences and responds to the challenges and opportunities they are experiencing,” Ms Jones said.

The council said the plan was built around four pillars, including simplifying access to support, creating clearer partnership pathways and elevating diverse creative leadership across programs and governance. It also focuses on addressing what it described as the city’s most immediate challenge for the sector, a shortage of suitable creative spaces, alongside efforts to support sustainable creative careers and industry development.

Another focus is strengthening cultural life across Newcastle by expanding late night and festival activity, streamlining approvals, supporting local businesses and weaving cultural participation into neighbourhood life and the night time economy.

Submissions can be made through the Have Your Say page on City of Newcastle’s website, with the exhibition period closing at 5pm on Monday 30 March 2026.