ARTS+CULTURE+TOURISM REPORT 2022-2023
momentum SUSTAINING THE
In 2022-23, the Arts, Culture and Tourism (ACT) department sustained its momentum, achieving substantial growth and attendance while introducing initiatives to engage, expand, and diversify its audience. Despite the lingering effects of the past two years on the community and local businesses, the team provided programming, events, and services that enhanced the community and showcased Lake Macquarie as a dynamic destination.
ACT events and facilities drew 898,132 attendees, a 39% increase from the previous year, with 250,000 more attendees than 2021-22. Innovative programming led to employing 476 local creative professionals, securing over $1.1 million in external funding, and presenting 57 exhibitions.
Key developments included the opening of the Sugar Valley Library Museum, kirantakamyari, in April 2023, exceeding visitor expectations in its first three months.
ACT also hosted the inaugural Zero Landfill event, unveiled a new Heritage and Museum Strategy, and completed economic impact studies to support the performing arts and tourism sectors. The focus for the upcoming year involves maintaining attendance, fulfilling strategic priorities, and expanding tourism capacity.
Jacqui Hemsley Manager Arts, Culture, Tourism
Tourism Marketing, Destination Sydney Surrounds North Since 2018, ACT has received more than $8.3m in external funding. The department received five grants to the value of $1,159,100 in 2022-23 which was used for programming, events and libraries.
Community Events Program
(2022 calendar year) Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand
OUR EVENTS captivated CROWDS
Events and Festivals in Lake Macquarie
There were 401 events producing a total of 517 days of events in 2023, culminating in over 345,000 attendees. The overall estimated economic impact of the event industry in 2022-23 is $28,749,720. In 2021-22 economic impact was valued at $13,268,358. This increased from last year when 263,000 people participated in the 284 events on offer.
401 EVENTS
$28m ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT
345K PEOPLE PARTICIPATING
New initiatives: Sports Marketing Australia Partnership
ACT, in collaboration with COPA, partnered with Sports Marketing Australia to identify and present high-participation and elite sports and entertainment events for out-of-region participants. Suitable events targeted Lake Macquarie’s low and off-peak seasons and would utilise existing facilities and infrastructure. The Events Placement Program secured the 2023 NSW Beach Volleyball Tour and the 2023 Australian Surf Rowers League (ASRL) National Team Selection event, National Short Course Championships and National Mixed Championships. More than 200 participants will take part in the volleyball competition while more than 1000 people will hit the water for the ASRL events. Many participants will come from outside of the local government area – a great outcome for local businesses and accommodation providers.
Living Smart Festival 2022
25,000
MonoDuo Festival
In 2022, MAP mima launched MonoDuo, the region's first experimental music and arts festival. Using the MAP mima stage, MonoDuo welcomed DJ’s from around Australia and packed out the dancefloor. Curated in partnership with Wanjun Carpenter of Palace, MonoDuo is also the region's only experimental music festival curated by an Indigenous artist. More than 400+ attendees helped bring this inaugural festival to life, with a repeat scheduled for October 2023.
Unfurl
To celebrate Sydney WorldPride 23, MAP mima presented Unfurl, a day to night festivity celebrating WorldPride at Lake Mac. Taking place alongside the SEAM exhibition, Unfurl brought together local and Sydney-based musicians for a night of music, dancing and celebration. In partnership with local organisation Queer & Now, Unfurl offered Lake Macquarie’s LGBTQIA+ community an opportunity to celebrate WorldPride in their own backyard.
Zero Landfill Event for 600 people
ACT hosted the city’s first zero landfill event at Speers Point Park. A sustainability requirement has been added for all event licenses moving forward, with the aim being that Lake Macquarie takes a regional leader role in facilitating and ensuring sustainable practices are part of all events across the city.
MAP mima hosted the celebration in
ACT hosted the city's first zero landfill event in Speers Point Park.
The inaugural MonoDuo Festival at MAP mima.
Reaching NEW HEIGHTS
Archibald Prize 2022 and Young Archie Lake Macquarie
The Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang) hosted the Archibald Prize Regional Tour, one of just six cities to host the tour nationally, and one of the most significant and publicised exhibitions to be held at MAC yapang to date.
Alongside the Archibald Prize 2022 regional tour, MAC yapang hosted the Young Archie Lake Macquarie. Over 300 entries were submitted for the competition, with 120 shortlisted as finalists. An incredible 1,500 people attended the opening event which included a youth market held in collaboration with Hunter Future Entrepreneurs.
17,060 Attendees $1,824,139 Estimated economic impact 426,833 Social media reach
56% of attendees were from outside Lake Macquarie
2,117,045
2,020,940 MILLION
31%
$99,560 VALUE ADDED TO OUR CULTURAL COLLECTIONS 47833 VISITORS TO MAC yapang in 2022/23
Reconciliation Week 2023
In celebration of Reconciliation Week 2023, MAC yapang hosted more than 400 school students from eight local public schools. The inaugural event, held in collaboration with Lake Macquarie High School, where more than 20 per cent of students identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, was the highest attended school engagement program to date. . .
Artist Residency
The new Lake House Residency launched, with the first artist in residence, Luke Adams, presenting a major solo exhibition at MAC yapang from work he developed during his residency.
MAP mima hosted three artist development residences with Jen Valander creating the exhibition ‘Boken Chord’, Joel Zika developing an interactive animation project that has since been awarded the summer 2023/2024 commission, and Lina Buck who created a multichannel immersive video work that will be exhibited in 2024.
An exhibition view of Joel Zika's Valley of a Thousand Plants at MAP mima.
School students participate in a Reconciliation Week program at MAC yapang.
Visitors enjoying the opening of the Archibald Prize 2022 regional tour at MAC yapang.
captivating events
Engaging Exhibitions
MAP mima’s cutting-edge facility inspires art and innovation to come together. Immersive works utilised the high-tech 360-degree Cube creative space, the Node, the Foyer and discovery ports. Program highlights included WildLife by James Price, Feeling Objects by Holly Macdonald, collaborative exhibition SEAM: coming together for World Pride 23 and Broken Chord: an exhibition by Jen Valender ,and Drawing on the Archie by Peter Lankas which included an exhibition of digital portrait drawings plus portrait sitting sessions and digital drawing workshops.
Mesmerising Performances
A passionate ballet bringing art and dance together, James Drinkwaters's Storm Approaching Wangi and other desires debuted on the MAP mima stage. MAP mima presents programming included La Traviata by Opera Hunter, Rebel: a David Bowie circus rock tribute, At the Beach by Catapult and the Friday Night Foodies summer series.
Kids
Opportunities for kids to connect to the space were planned and promoted throughout the year. Kids took over MAP mima for the weekend with Press Play in February. This free fun weekend of activities included a disco, art-making, mask making and performance workshops by Curious Legends.
Commissions
James Price's hugely popular immersive exhibition Wildlife was commissioned and ultimately acquired for the collection.
Lottie Consalvo and Sarah Mosca's main work featuring video performance, sound and sculptures was also exhibited and acquired.
45,321 TOTAL VISITORS
$49,092
MAP mima presents income $25,000
$ ADDED TO COLLECTION
2 ARTWORK COMMISSIONS
3 ARTIST RESIDENCIES
The spectacular Rebel lit up the MAP mima stage across two huge nights.
The family-friendly 'Press Play' activities once again proved popular.
An exhibition view of James Price's Wildlife exhibition at MAP mima.
PUBLIC ART AND ACQUISITIONS
Delivering CREATIVE PROJECTS
Acquisitions to the Collections
This year, there were 13 artworks and commissions acquired into the cultural collection.
Public Art
1. Pit Pony (Tiger) by local artists Kelly Ann Lees.
2. Stingrays by Brian Anderson as part of the Creative Lake Art Trail $110,000
3. Dilly Bags by Chris Edwards as part of the Creative Lake Art Trail $85,000
Visual Arts/Creative Commissions
4. James Price Video Installation Wildlife
5. 5a - Lottie Consalvo & Sarah Mosca ‘Anthology of the wind’ video work
6. Hannah Brontë motherload
7. Snape, Braddon, Allusive Object, acquired through the Lake Art Prize
8. Srivilasa, Vipoo, Serpent I, acquired through the Lake Art Prize
9. Nolan, Laura, Resting Stillness, acquired through the Lake Art Prize
10. Hillebrand*, Bridget, Hold, acquired through the Lake Art Prize
11. Gardiner, Peter, LABOUR Vs CAPITAL (MONSTER), 8500, Commission with artist donation
12. Gardiner, Peter, Bolt #1 (Nick), 30000, Commission with artist donation
13. Burgess, Robert, Journey of the Self, 18500, Donated by artist
Heritage and Museum Acquisitions
• 700 new objects from the West Wallsend Historical Society (WWHS) collection
• 3 public art commissions acquired
• 30 acquisitions as part of the visual art collection works and multimedia
• Increase from 2022 of $869,698 added to the collection, which is currently valued at $4,569,524 across all the collecting areas. X
One Act Play
The Lake Macquarie Dobell Festival debuted in February 2023. Featuring short, sharp and original one-act plays, the theatre competition showcased 10 original plays and brought together creative and performing artists to the Warners Bay Theatre stage.
195
164,827
Inspiring Awe -
Lake Mac Arts Membership
The Lake Mac Arts membership grew exponentially with a total of 173 members actively engaged in the program. There were 63 members during the program’s first year in 2021-22. The implementation of a dedicated arts program and membership incentives during the Archibald Prize at MAC yapang helped facilitate this impressive growth.
2,048,994
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT
Rebel: A David Bowie circus rock tribute
A live rock and roll circus tribute to the original rebel, David Bowie.
48,040
WEBSITE SESSIONS
2,000,954
SOCIAL REACH
Exhibitions, Performing Arts and Live Music Guide
New marketing brochures were developed to provide a 12-month calendar of exhibitions and live music & performing arts programming across Lake Macquarie. These new guides promoted the year-long program of events and exhibitions to local residents and visitors, creating greater awareness of what’s on offer in Lake Macquarie.
Live Music Lake Mac
Clare Bowditch, Kyle Lionhart, The 7 Sopranos , Amber Lawrence and Tubular Bells for Two performed at Warners Bay and Rathmines Theatres.
797
434,365
CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND SYMPOSIUMS
EngagingCULTURAL EXPERIENCES
400 tickets sold
117,194 reach
Lake
Mac POP BAM
The City hosted the inaugural Lake MAC POP BAM festival, Lake Macquarie's first popular culture event. The sold-out festival celebrated all things comics superheroes, film, television and everything in between.
Write Here Festival
The Write Here program was delivered at Sugar Valley Library Museum, kirantakamyari and Belmont Library, ngarrabangba with 420 attending panel sessions and workshops. The program included 29 local authors, a school engagement initiative and talks on self-publishing by three local businesses.
18 programs
280 attendees
34,018 reach
Lake Mac Open Studios
Lake Mac Open Studios was held on the weekends of 5 – 6 November 2022 and 17 – 18 June 2023. The 2022 event involved 33 studios and 56 artists, and the June 2023 event involved 15 studios and 29 artists.
86 artists
$48,000 art sales
History Illuminated
In 2022, there was a 200% increase in the number of people who engaged with and attended the Festival's events and exhibitions. The expanded program involved all ACT cultural venues and for the first time included a kids day, a lake cruise, a historic train ride and a walking tour as part of the program.
3,133 attendees
32 workshops
6 exhibitions 41 local artist, writers and historians engaged
The Lake Macquarie Dobell Festival
A month-long festival in celebration of the life and work of esteemed artist Sir William Dobell, featuring a range of events around Lake Macquarie including performances, presentations, workshops and exhibitions.
15 Exhibitions and 43 events and activities across the month 968,505 reach 15,093 attendees
Open TO IDEAS LIBRARIES
Sugar Valley Library Museum, kirantakamyari
Sugar Valley Library Museum (SVLM) kirantakamyari opened its door on 12 April 2023. The first library museum in the Hunter region, this cutting-edge facility opened with inaugural exhibition Westy: we built this history, which offers a glimpse into the rich history of West Wallsend. This engaging exhibition of more than 7,000 heritage items features immersive technology including virtual reality, interactive screens and oral histories to tell the stories and engage visitors.
1,071 visitors in the first day
15,495 visitors in the first three months
683 new members 66 programs held
Innovative Library Campaign
A fresh and innovative online video campaign challenging traditional perceptions of library offerings featured a mix of children and adults participating in a range of interactive and engaging activities across Wangi Library Creative Hub, SEEN@Swansea, Fab Lab and Swansea Library. Footage from the campaign was also included in a ‘We Love It’ TV advertisement on NBN, reaching a potential audience of 842,000 people in the process. X
Campaign summary:
242,000 total reach on social media
842,000 total potential reach on TV advertisements (28 total spots)
Refreshed TOURISM PROMOTION
Destination Management Plan
A Destination Management Plan for 2022 – 2026 was developed and adopted by council. The strategic plan developed in consultation with the community and industry stakeholders provides a clear direction for Lake Macquarie City Council to make the most of emerging opportunities and manage visitor growth sustainably. The DMP includes strategic priorities which focus on industry development, ensuring visitor services and facilities are updated to support tourism growth, and expanding and enhancing outdoor, adventure, and nature-based attractions and activities.
Visitor Information Kiosks
Two Mobile Visitor Information Kiosks were launched to enhance visitor services across the city. The project is the first of its kind in NSW and has been developed as an innovative way to redefine tourism practices that meet the changing needs of visitors. The kiosks pop-up at key visitor hotspots and events around Lake Macquarie, providing greater dispersal and access to visitor services around the lake.
Revitalised video and photo content
A comprehensive suite of high-quality video and photo content was developed in partnership with leading lifestyle brand We Are Explorers. This new hero content will be utilised across large-scale marketing campaigns to drive awareness of Lake Macquarie as a destination.
New Visit Lake Mac website
The tourism team facilitated the redevelopment of the Visit Lake Mac website to ensure it remains in line with industry standards. This included a complete redesign, refreshed navigation and the implementation of revitalised content.
Tourism Ambassador Program
The inaugural Lake Macquarie Tourism Ambassador program was launched with the aim of increasing industry skills and capacity as Lake Macquarie continues to grow the visitor economy. The free online education program is an industry-leading online resource available for the public to use. The six-module course encourages residents to advocate for the city as they build their knowledge in the Lake Macquarie tourism and hospitality industry.
Tourism Partnership Program
The Lake Macquarie Tourism Partnership Program was redesigned to make the program more accessible for small businesses. It also aims to encourage businesses in the tourism, accommodation, and hospitality sectors to utilise industry information provided by Lake Macquarie City Council to expand and enhance their business and marketing.
National Media Coverage 312 media clips
Reaching 16,501,299 people
AVE (Advertising Value Equivalent) of $2,041,181
3,033,019
WEBSITE UNIQUE PAGE VIEWS
SOCIAL MEDIA REACH
9,928,653
LookingAhead
Windale Hub bilyabayi
Construction is well on the way for the new multi-use Windale Hub, bilyabayi. The cutting-edge facility is expected to open in mid-2024, providing eastern Lake Macquarie with a flexible and collaborative space for the community. The new precinct will feature a library, community hall, co-working spaces, meeting rooms and community lounge areas.
Swansea Channel Dredging
Implementing a long-term, regular dredging program for Swansea Channel would result in significant economic advantages, ensuring adequate, safe, consistent, and sustainable boating access to Lake Macquarie. It is estimated that approximately $176 million worth of new construction projects could be initiated, yielding a direct and flow-on economic impact of over $350 million during the construction phase. This investment encompasses the development of new marina berths, residential properties, and tourism accommodations, all of which have the potential to create 364 new jobs directly and stimulate the creation of 883 direct and flow-on jobs.
On the Horizon
Let's Surf Lake Macquarie, Lake Macquarie's first Surfing Festival
Co-hosting The Deaf Games
Self-Access expanded
Following the successful delivery of self-access at Wangi Wangi Creative Hub, wanji wanji, the service will be expanded and rolled out across additional library sites. Cardiff Library, kuram and Speers Point Library, milyaba will see the implementation of self-access by the end of 2023, and Wangi Wangi Creative Hub, wanji wangi will have extended self-access hours. All three sites will see access to the facilities available 7am-7pm, seven days a week.
Managing and approving Film Licenses
Big Picture Thinking
Develop the Events and Festival strategy 2025-2028
Aim for over $32m in direct economic return from Events Economic development / Revenue driving activities
and rebranding
Cruise Market and International Airport opening Morrisset Cultural Hub redevelopment History website redevelopment
