Place Activation

We’re painting a new picture of Maitland and the canvas is the streets, laneways, parks and gateways that exist between the historic structures of our city.

Place activation creates a sense of place, encourages social connections, improves safety and brings life to the streets. It will be expressed in diverse ways through art, food, play, performance and renewal activities. Activation projects bring energy to the streets, create new community connections and build the story of a place.

Initiatives will be guided by the Maitland Place Activation Strategy.

Create Maitland

Maitland is embarking on an urban renewal pilot project called Create Maitland to activate vacant properties in key commercial sites by offering short term tenures for creatives. Council is now an affiliate member of Renew Australia. You can find out more about this initiative by reading the FAQ's.

For a pilot project to occur formal commitment is needed from property owners to provide access to a suitable and available property.  To achieve this, a prospectus of interested creatives and makers looking for a space and details of their offering has been compiled. 

You can view the prospectus here.

For more information please contact City Economy Officer Caroline Booth by calling (02) 4934 9868 Caroline.Booth@maitland.nsw.gov.au

 

Street Eats

Street Eats is all about opening the city's doors to unique, and very tasty, street food vendors. So far there has been a number of get togethers where there are a mix of trucks and flavours to sample in some of the best places around town. It's a great reason to get the family out of the house or to catch up with friends with a picnic and a bite to eat. Street Eats Get Together events are shared through the MyMaitland website. 

Mobile food vendors can find out how they can be part of Street Eats Maitland here.

Walls That Talk

As part of a series of eye catching installations, the current Walls that Talk exhibition at Maitland City Library features 'Botanical Beginnings'

The current installation explore some of the flora endemic to the Maitland area prior to European settlement. The flora is expressed through the commission of original illustrations from three botanical artists, Renae Titchmarsh, Lauren Sahu-Khan and Tanya Hoolihan. 

For more information and to see the photographs on display go to Maitland City Library's website.

 

 

Maitland City Buskers' Code of Conduct

Maitland City Council encourages busking at The Levee, recognising that street performance adds to the atmosphere of the City and helps to activate public spaces. Council does not issue busking permits, but welcomes buskers to perform who are prepared to comply with the Maitland City Buskers Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct clarifies the standards that are expected of buskers and assists Council to manage public space and the interests of the community.

Grants & Funding

Maitland City Council funds initiatives to activate Maitland's public places. 

Creative Streets

Creative Streets is a chance for artists to engage with audiences at street level and challenge the boundaries of their practice with the street as their canvas. The program encourages all art disciplines including, but not limited to, visual artists (including multimedia, printmaking, sculpture and textile), performers, filmmakers, storytellers and designers. Expressions of Interest (EOI) close 29 July 2018. 

For more information contact Charlotte Hilder by calling (02) 4931 2852 or emailing Charlotte.Hilder@maitland.nsw.gov.au

Poverty & Prosperity Heritage Interpretation Installation EOI

Maitland City Council is inviting artists to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the creation of contemporary installations in Maitland laneways. There are two opportunity's available, with each installation carrying a separate historical theme, 'Poverty' and 'Prosperity'. Artists are welcome to submit an expression of interest for one or both of the opportunities.

The installations will form part of the larger Poverty and Prosperity interpretation project, funded by Heritage NSW and managed by Maitland City Council. This public art component of the Poverty and Prosperity project will present heritage in a way which is innovative and builds excitement and engagement with laneway spaces, encouraging locals and visitors to further explore the City.

A historian was commissioned to research and develop the themes of Poverty and Prosperity and provide the content intended to inspire the installations. Here you will find the Maitland Historical Study: Poverty & Prosperity (2017). 

Click here to read the full 'Poverty' public art installation expression of interest.

Click here to read the full 'Prosperity' public art installation expression of interest. 

Submissions open Wednesday 12 December 2018 and close 4.00pm Friday 1 February 2019. Artists are welcome to discuss ideas and direct any questions to Jade McArthur, Project Officer on 02 4931 2819 or at Jade.Mcarthur@maitland.nsw.gov.au