The University Gallery, Senta Taft Hendry Museum and Watt Space Gallery
Arts and Culture Strategy
The inaugural University of Newcastle Arts and Culture Strategy 2025–2030
The University of Newcastle has developed an Arts and Culture Strategy to strengthen and enhance the University's role in supporting creative, educational, and economic development in the Hunter and Central Coast regions. The strategy is aimed at opening up new research and engagement opportunities between our University and its local, national, and global community.
This inaugural Strategy is aligned with University’s strategic priorities, helping to advance pathways for engagement, academic and research excellence, including opportunities for non-traditional research, and underpinned by community partnerships.
It highlights and champions the transformative impacts of arts and culture – fostering belonging and social cohesion, stimulating curiosity, embracing diverse perspectives, and creating positive outcomes across health and wellbeing, economy, employment, and education.
The groundwork for this strategy has been laid by University schools and teams that facilitate cross-disciplinary arts research projects and community engagement opportunities, including the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Science, the School of Architecture and Built Environment, and the University Galleries. It is further underpinned by the University's commitment to First Nations arts and culture through the Wollotuka Institute and underscored by our reputation for the depth of First Nations work in the University Art Collection.
Overseen by an independent consultant, supported by a University-based Steering Group, the Strategy’s development has been a process of extensive stakeholder consultation, informed by local contexts, and inspired by best practice across the sector, nationally and internationally.
We have now completed the consultation and development phases of the Strategy and are pleased to announce the launch and publication. A big thank you to everyone who has participated in the consultation and development process – your insights and ideas have helped shape and inform our inaugural Arts and Culture Strategy – a copy of which can be downloaded below.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.