This is Not Art
It’s almost time for this year’s This is Not Art Festival (or TiNA, as it is affectionately known), a celebration of independent, emerging and experimental art and creativity of all kinds.
Held in Newcastle from Thursday September 30th to Monday October 4th, TiNa draws together a number of smaller creative arts festivals including The Crack Theatre Festival, the National Young Writers Festival, Electrofringe and Critical Animals. Arts collectives, organisations and groups from everywhere in Australia come together to celebrate art, writing, music, performance and more- and this year, over 400 local, national and international artists are showcasing their ideas.
There will be panels, workshops, exhibitions, screenings, performances, live art, parties and general hilarity. Whether you’re a writer, an artist, a performer, a musician, or just anyone interested in creativity, TiNA is a really fun and engaging five days that lets you embrace your passions and meet people who share them. And the laid back atmosphere of the festival and the beautiful Newcastle location gives a real welcoming feel- so anyone and everyone can find their place.
Here are some reasons to head up (or down, or across) to Newcastle this September:
Crack Theatre Festival. A new national theatre festival that will feature a three day program of forums, workshops and performances that celebrate the diverse styles of contemporary performing arts.
Electrofringe. A showcase of experimental electronic arts, allowing opportunities for artistic exchange and skill development between emerging and established artists.
Critical Animals. For the academics amongst us, and anyone interested in examining critical contexts for all kinds of experimental and emerging art practices.
National Young Writer’s Festival. A gathering of emerging writers, performers and publishers, with panel discussions, workshops and literary-themed events.
Sound Summit. Bringing together artists, labels and anyone involved in independent music, both within Australia and internationally.
Be sure to check out the Zine Fair, where you can browse, buy, swap and even sell your own handmade zines amongst fellow creatives; the American Gothic Ball, where everything dark and weird and wonderful can happen; and the Year 12 Formal, a free-for-all participatory performance where audience becomes performer and performer becomes audience and who knows what else!
*Editor’s Note: lip will be hanging out at TiNA for three out of four days! Come say hello at the zine fair!*
