The Lock-Up

Located in one of Newcastle’s most significant heritage buildings, The Lock-Up is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts space and inner city hub for creative thinking and doing.

Listed in the NSW Heritage Register, The Lock-Up was the Newcastle Police Station and lock up from 1861 until its closure in 1982. 

The building includes a purpose built gallery space, rare heritage listed cells, an event and installation space in what was the former exercise yard, and an onsite apartment for multi-disciplinary residencies. Since opening as a cultural centre in 2007, The Lock-Up has welcomed over 50,000 visitors.In September 2014 The Lock-Up relaunched as a dedicated multi-disciplinary contemporary arts space and an inner city hub for creative thinking and doing.

Through curated artistic and public programming, The Lock-Up aims to stimulate and challenge audiences and to promote current, cross platform, experimental and diverse practice from local, national and international artists. The program includes contemporary art exhibitions, events, site-specific installation and performances, residencies, creative talks, workshops and a variety of activities designed to engage the arts community and the public and to encourage the sharing of ideas and creative vision.

The Lock-Up’s nationally renowned Artist in Residence (AIR) Program provides onsite accommodation, a work environment and community engagement opportunities for contemporary artists working across a broad range of disciplines.