Lighthouse Arts residencies provide writers, artists and musicians the opportunity to create in an inspiring and elemental environment: the historic lighthouse precinct atop Newcastle’s iconic Whibayganba-Nobbys Headland.
Creatives are offered a space to work in heritage-listed lighthouse cottages surrounded by 360-degree views of ocean, city, land and sky.
Our residencies provide opportunities for networking and collaboration as well as deep creative work.
We welcome creative practitioners of all disciplines, stages and backgrounds, whether aspiring, emerging or established.
A Studio Space residency provides a quiet workspace at a desk in the historic Lighthouse Keeper cottages on Whibayganba-Nobbys. Studio spaces are simply furnished and filled with natural light. Each studio is equipped with a desk, chair, internet access, power point, and a window with inspiring views of the city, ocean, harbour or lighthouse. There are two Lighthouse Keeper cottages with five to six studios per cottage. As there are no doors on the studios, this is a quiet workspace for individuals to work.
Studio spaces are dynamically rotated throughout your residency. This ensures that each day is a unique experience and that all creatives have the opportunity to enjoy the diverse range of views offered from Whibayganba-Nobbys.
A Music Room residency offers a relaxed space for musicians to write, rehearse, and explore their creativity. Nestled in one of the outbuildings, distinct from the Lighthouse Keeper cottages, the Music Room is equipped with a sofa, mixer set, keyboard, speaker system with guitar cable, microphones and music stand. Please note that while it’s a great space for practice and development, the Music Room is not a recording studio.
The Music Room is a great spot for solo musicians and small groups to get creative. Bands are very welcome too! Just a gentle reminder that Lighthouse Arts is a shared space, so we ask everyone to keep the volume at a moderate level. That way, all artists can enjoy a peaceful and inspiring environment to work in.
Due to limited availability, a Music Room Residency doesn’t include access to a Studio Space. Also, while the Music Room is a lovely creative spot, its windows don’t have an ocean view — but we hope the atmosphere at Lighthouse Arts will still inspire your work!
During your residency, you’ll have access to a small kitchen and a communal lunch space—perfect for networking, conversation, and collaboration with fellow artists.
Take your work outdoors and connect with the unique beauty of the Whibayganba-Nobbys headland. Gaze over the ocean or harbour, wander down to the sand dunes, meet our resident magpies or watch for humpback whales.
Lighthouse Arts residencies offer you the freedom to work at your own pace. Whether you’re in the mood for brainstorming, planning, drafting, experimenting, practicing, or editing, this is your time to be inspired without the pressure of finishing or showcasing your works.
At Lighthouse Arts, we celebrate creativity and opportunity, prioritising the artistic process over productivity or perfection.
Operating from 10 am to 4 pm, these unique residencies offer a dedicated space for your creative pursuits.
A five-day residency, Monday-Friday. Immerse yourself in a week of focused creativity.
Four-Week Residency
One day per week for four weeks. Spread your artistic journey over a month, with a dedicated day each week to create.
Drop into the Lighthouse to drop into your practice. We offer one-day residency opportunities exclusive to Hunter Writers’ Centre members who have had a residency with us in the past twelve months. (Not a member? Join now.) Book a Studio Space or the Music Room for one or more days when vacancies arise.
See Schedule for available dates (blue and yellow)
** Please note: Lighthouse Arts residencies are exclusively daytime experiences. They do not include overnight stays, and on-site accommodation is not provided. All funds go toward the running costs of the project and the ongoing protection and improvement of the site.
To be notified of other upcoming opportunities, or for any questions, please email lighthousearts@hunterwriterscentre.org
Lighthouse Arts residencies are located atop Whibayganba-Nobbys Headland on Awabakal Country, Newcastle NSW. The Headland is an icon of Newcastle and provides a uniquely elemental experience that is conducive to writing and artmaking. The site is, however, isolated and has unique access challenges:
We are committed to creating safe and accessible residency experiences at Lighthouse Arts.
Golf-Buggy Transport: Available from the white entrance gate to the top of the Headland. (Please note, there is still a 550m walk to get to the golf buggy meeting area). Golf cart transport from the beginning of Macquarie Pier to the cottages can be arranged for residents with mobility needs and/or disabilities who would otherwise be unable to access the site.
Ramps: There are temporary ramps available to facilitate access to Cottage 2 and Cottage 3. Our communal Cottage (Cottage 1) has a permanent ramp at entry. We are seeking a more permanent ramp arrangement as funding becomes available.
Accessible Toilet: Temporary accessible toilet facilities are provided on the site until such time that a permanent arrangement can be achieved.
Wheelchair Access: The existing doorways have clear width of approximately 800mm, which will accommodate the A80 wheelchair footprint—enabling access for up to 80% of people using a wheelchair.
We will ask for your access requirements during the booking process and will do our best to support you throughout your time at Lighthouse Arts.
If you would like to chat with us before, or during, the booking process about access and the services we provide, please send us an email at lighthousearts@hunterwriterscentre.org
At Lighthouse Arts, we celebrate diversity in art disciplines and encourage a culture of creativity and experimentation. However, to safeguard our unique heritage-listed site and ensure a positive residency experience for all, we maintain specific limitations of practice:
Desk-Based Projects in Studio Spaces: All projects in our studio spaces are to be desk-based to protect the walls and floors of the heritage-listed cottages. Large, freestanding canvases are not suitable for this site.
Medium Limitations: Oil paints are not permitted on site. We encourage the use of acrylics and watercolours as alternatives.
Project Proposals: Please outline your proposed project in your application, specifying the medium, materials, and size. We assess your application with heritage requirements in mind. If you are successful, we ask that you please discuss with us any changes you might make to your project plan so that we can assess potential risk to the cottages.
‘Leave-Only-Footprints’: Embrace the principle of leave-no-trace. Whatever materials you bring must be taken home at the end of your residency. Be mindful of this responsibility when planning your project.
Quiet Workspaces: Embrace a quiet workspace philosophy in the studio cottages to foster deep creative work. Plan your projects with this in mind, reserving collaboration for shared outdoor spaces or communal cottages.
Music Room Etiquette: Musicians working from the music room should be aware of the shared nature of the Headland. While bands are welcome, music volume must be kept at an appropriate level to avoid disturbing other artists. The music room is not soundproof and lacks recording equipment, making it best suited for writing and rehearsal.
Lighthouse Arts residencies are by application only. We welcome writers and artists of all backgrounds, ages and disciplines.
Please read the Terms and Conditions before submitting your application.
Thinking about applying but have concerns or questions? We’d love to discuss ways to make a residency work for you.
