Facing the frantic pre-Christmas crowds at a major shopping centre is a choice many Australians dread. This festive season, Newcastle locals have a compelling alternative: supporting the city's vibrant creative community at a relaxed, artist-led event.
A Creative Haven in Hamilton North
The Clyde Street Arts Open Markets will transform the industrial precinct at Hamilton North into a one-night-only festival on Friday, December 12. The event promises a stark contrast to the stress of conventional shopping, offering art sales, market stalls with handmade and recycled goods, food trucks, live music, DJs, and family-friendly entertainment including karaoke and a movie screening.
Director Katerina Skoumbas, a fierce advocate for the arts, oversees the 25,000-square-metre creative and cultural precinct. Since its 2017 founding by co-founders David Saddington, Michele Oshan and Braddon Snape, the space has revitalised old industrial sheds once owned by the Newcastle and Suburban Co-operative Society Ltd.
"We've had a massive year at Clyde Street Arts and now have 30 creative businesses residing here, which means over 100 artists who call this their working home," Skoumbas said. She receives weekly enquiries from artists seeking space, a trend boosted by the success of the inaugural market last December.
Building a Sustainable Arts Village
The precinct's growth is remarkable. It now houses diverse tenants including The Creator Incubator, OzHarvest, Upcycle Newcastle, and dozens of independent artists. At the upcoming markets, The Creator Incubator alone will open more than 30 studios to the public.
"There was a real energy on market day last year - we thought only 500 people would come, but we got 2500 people, and they actually spent money with the artists," Skoumbas recalled. "They were ready to dig deep, and it encouraged us to do it all again this year."
Beyond sales, the event offers a rare glimpse into the working world of local creatives. Artists not selling wares, like filmmaker Joel de Carteret of Stories in Motion, will discuss their services, fostering deeper community connections.
The Challenge of Sustaining Creative Spaces
Despite its success, securing long-term funding for the precinct remains a constant challenge. Skoumbas credits patron David Saddington but emphasises the need for broader support. "It shouldn't be on one man's shoulders. I'm always trying to find ways to diversify our income so that it becomes more of a long-term, sustainable place for the city," she said.
She argues Clyde Street Arts is arguably Australia's largest independent production village, a vital "back-of-house" engine for the region's cultural output. "We need the wider community to realise how important production spaces are, because without them, it does become a struggle to keep producing art, and what is a world without art?"
The precinct provides more than just studio space; it fosters a crucial sense of community. "There is a sense that once you get in, you're networked into the village... that's a really supportive, safe starting point for an artist who is usually working, isolated," Skoumbas explained.
Other Local Alternatives for Christmas Shopping
For those seeking other non-mall options, Newcastle offers several festive markets:
- A twilight market at 16 Gipps Street, Carrington, on Friday (4.30pm-9pm) and a day market on Sunday (8am-1pm).
- The Olive Tree Market at Civic Park on Saturday (9am-2pm).
- Kids' gift-making at Chrissy Crafts at the Baths on December 10 (4pm-7pm).
- Homegrown Markets at various locations including Speers Point Park, The Station, and Webb Park throughout December.
- Exploring unique retail shops on Darby Street or purchasing gift cards for local theatre productions.
Choosing to support local creatives this Christmas not only secures unique gifts but also invests directly in the cultural heartbeat of Newcastle.
