About us

Watt Space was established in 1989 as an innovative gallery space for students to exhibit and develop their professional practices. A bright idea hatched by three students, the first gallery site was funded through the Student Union and was located in Watt Street, Newcastle. It was at this single-room shopfront that the symbolic light globe motif became a fitting trademark for a 'space for ideas'.

Over several transformations Watt Space has grown to a beautiful series of gallery spaces fitted with industry-standard hanging and lighting systems, and the facility to exhibit all media and host diverse events. Our students and the community are the vibrant heart of Watt Space, a gallery that remains an icon of the cultural landscape of Newcastle.

The incubator for some of Australia's best-known artists, Watt Space has also provided mentorship and support for arts administrators, curators, critics, teachers and arts writers. As the longest running student gallery in Australia, it remains a flexible teaching, learning and exhibition space and continues to meet the challenges and needs of new education, new research, new media, new students and new ideas.

image: Timothy Burke, Detail of Drawing Machine, PhD exhibition installation 2018

2020 Student Interns

Paid intern positions will be available in 2021. Applications will open early in Semester 1 2021, through jobs on campus.

Please email for further details

Gillean Shaw

University Art Curator

gillean.shaw@newcastle.edu.au