The Octapod is a not-for-profit independent arts and new media association in a big hot open space in the heart of the Civic Precinct in Newcastle. Some employees and lots of volunteers nurture a number of local creative projects, including festivals, a radio station and a magazine – all just waiting for you to get involved. Or get your own project off the ground. We can provide web hosting, funds auspicing, and professional consultation. You can become a member of the Octapod and get access to a network of like-minded creative types, kooky kids and people with know-how.

The Pod is an energetic space housing a significant National Zine Library (come and browse, or maybe you wanna make your own?), Gallery space (contact us with your exhibition ideas), Cinema (featuring CinemAtrocities: regular screenings of weird and wonderful movies of the baddest taste), Meeting space (tables and chairs, or lounges – we really are that accommodating), and Internet Café (web access by donation or subscription).

There is plenty going in Newcastle. Current Octapod projects include:

Cultural Stomp

Cultural Stomp is a free one day festival held in Winter in Civic Park, this year on Saturday 20 May. It celebrates cultural diversity in the Hunter with music, food, movies, performances, & workshops, plus dancing, stomping, interactive performances, and creatures and characters abounding. Check out www.octapod.org/stomp, or if you want to be part of the festival contact stomp@octapod.org

This Is Not Art

…but it is Australia’s premier independent arts and new media festival held in Newcastle each year over the October long weekend. TINA is dedicated to showcasing the work and ideas of communities not included in other major festivals, highlighting emerging trends and providing national networking opportunities for niche communities and the highly curious. The name comes from a famous piece of graffiti on Latec house, in Hunter St, Newcastle West which has since been removed. Look carefully, and you'll still see "one fine day" on the other side.

This year TINA runs from 28 September – 02 October. Venues around the CBD will come alive with panels, workshops, artists presentations, exhibitions, performances and gigs (most of them free), where you can get your hands dirty with emerging electronic arts craziness (Electrofringe), exploration of The Word via comics, hip-hop, comedy, storytelling, spoken word (National Young Writers Festival), independent media making mayhem (National Student Media Conference), skillsharing with independent music labels (Sound Summit), activist and eco-awareness forum (EAR) plus other stuff we haven’t dreamt up yet (got any ideas?).

And there’s also the planning – you can get real world skills and experience in arts and events management, marketing and publicity, hospitality, and tech production by becoming involved as a volunteer leading up to and during the festival. Check out www.thisisnotart.org .

TiN Radio

An online and sometime FM broadcast radio station, TiN Radio is what you get when you mix music, arts, community, culture, environment, and people-oriented people and give them a microphone, recorder, computer and lots of ways to broadcast their message. TiN radio is an independent digi-media outlet, check it out and listen online at www.tin.org.au. To get involved: email programs@tin.org.au or phone (02) 4927 1668 .

Urchin

Free quarterly on-the-street magazine, with a 3500 print run distributed at kOOl places around the city and region. Volunteer Urchins meet weekly to plot and scheme to produce this publication. If you are a graphic designer who wants real projects to keep the desktop alive (and of course, fill your CV), a communications guru who wants to play with other peoples words, or a small-town dictator who wants to organise, co-ordinate, and plan then you should come join the squishy Urchin fun. Or contribute by submitting your work for publication – share your insight in images and words, you could even win stuff! Pick up the latest copy for submission details, email urchin@octapod.org or check out www.octapod.org/urchin .

The Octapod can be found at

3/231 King St Newcastle (opposite Civic Park)

Tel/Fax: (02) 4927 0470

Web: www.octapod.org