Creative opportunities

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Lake Macquarie is bursting at the seams with artists and creatives always eager for new opportunities to expand and develop their creative practice.

A list of current opportunities can be found below. Join our Creative Lake Mac newsletter to be the first to hear about new opportunities.

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Current and ongoing opportunities

Restaurant and dining opportunity at Awaba House. Closes 12 June.

A unique hospitality opportunity to lease the iconic Awaba House on the shores of Lake Macquarie is available for expressions of interest, closing 12 June 2025, 4pm.

The restaurant and dining venue should deliver a top-tier experience. Dining space to be handed over as a warm shell, commercial kitchen as a cold shell. 

Visit the Commercial Collective website for more information. 

MAC yapang Art Prize 2025 - Entries open until 30 July 2025

2025 marks the first year of the MAC yapang Art Prize! 

This national art prize has a total prize pool of over $40,000.
It is open to artists from all disciplines across Australia, with artworks in any medium.

Prizes:
$30,000 Acquisitive Prize
This prize will be awarded to the winning artist, whose artwork will be acquired by MAC yapang for our permanent collection, a growing collection of contemporary art stored onsite at MAC yapang and worth over $3 million.

$5,000 yapang Award
This will be awarded to an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander artist working in any medium.

$5,000 Lake Art Award
This award is for residents of the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area

Entry:
Entry is $30 per artwork, or $25 for Lake Mac Arts Members. 

Entries close: 3pm Wednesday 30 July 2025

Find out more

Expressions of interest - Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima workshops and residencies

The Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima (MAP mima) is a place of experimentation, skill building and creation. Each year it offers workshops and residencies for all artists.

MAP mima acts as a cultural activator, creating opportunities to present immersive digital art experiences, stage alternative theatre programs, music performances, workshops and screenings. As an agile and flexible venue in a high-use location, MAP mima provides a significant platform to present contemporary multi-arts productions to new audiences.

Learn more

yapang Arts Placements - Museum of Art and Culture, yapang

The yapang Arts Placement at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang is a pathway for First Nations creatives into the arts.

Lake Macquarie City Council offers support for curatorial projects, public programs, arts education, digital arts, documentation, design and marketing. Your placement can focus on an area of interest or enable you to explore various aspects of arts.

Applications are currently open on a rolling basis.

Learn more

Expressions of interest - Museum of Art and Culture, yapang

We welcome expressions of interest from artists, curators and groups who would like to develop an exhibition, for the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang.

The Museum aims to provide a high quality and balanced program. The Museum of Art and Culture, yapang is committed to supporting First Nations and Hunter-based artists and fosters insightful contemporary art.

Learn more

Launchpad @ Lake Mac Libraries

Launchpad is an engaging exhibition program for local creatives to showcase their works to the community. 

The exhibition is held across five Lake Mac Libraries branches - Belmont, Toronto, Charlestown, Wangi and Swansea, providing a space for students, emerging artists and community art groups to present their works for public viewing.

Applications will be considered by Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries that best reflect the objectives of the program.

Learn more