marcus westbury

A short video on the Renew Newcastle project by Sydney based film maker Jonathon Rodgers. For information of the featured projects see the Renew Newcastle project page.

Renew Newcastle, the project i have been working on to create cheap space for artists and community groups and bring life back to the Newcastle CBD has officially been virtually launched. Well, it now has a web site at www.renewnewcastle.org. Meanwhile, if you are artist or community group, check out the call for proposals: CALL [...]

Expect much more on this as the months roll on but i’ve finally gone public about what I’ve been running around proposing for the Newcastle CBD. It’s so crazy it just might work. Courtesy of ABC Radio 1233 (you can hear the interview and see some pictures here)… Vacant shopfronts in the Newcastle CBD should [...]

Following on from previous frustrations, I returned to Newcastle on the weekend. Returning to Newcastle after any length of time away, the startling thing is just how badly shattered the CBD has actually become. When you live in Newcastle it is easy to become almost blind to the fact that the majority of the two [...]

Apparently not. I’ve long been advocating a more enlightened approach to liquor licensing in NSW and particularly in my home town of Newcastle. I’m convinced (and convinced i can convince most people) that a more diverse culture (and i mean everything from punk venues to jazz clubs) of drinking, dining, music, art and entertainment is [...]