The Olive Tree Market

Photo credit: The Olive Tree Market 

Well look what we have here, a market just in time for Christmas... How conveniently festive! The Olive Tree Market has been launching creative talent in Newcastle since 2008. The market includes some regular punters including fashion, recycled goods and creative homewares, with the addition of some quirky yet welcomed new stalls of print making, zines and leather goods. If you have been a little late on the present uptake this year, you really must get down and check out their Christmas Market on Saturday 17th December, we guarantee you'll out do even ol' Papa Noel. But of course let's not forget about the food! With a range of great food from around the globe, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. If you can't get down to The Junction Public School this weekend, never fear, this little gem is a monthly affair, running from 9am-3pm each Saturday.

This is not art

Photo credit: This is Not Art

The This is Not Art Festival will be chilling out in Newcastle from September 29th to October 3rd. TINA is a smashingly good party of creative minds, gathering together to share projects, learn new things and make awesome art.

Partner programs include The National Young Writers’ Festival, Electrofringe, Critical Animals, The Crack Theatre Festival. You can check out TINA’s website for the full program of events.

But the part we’re super excited about is the Sunday Fair, the festival’s zine and artists market. We’re told the fair attracts a whopping 5,000 people, so if you’re keen to browse the zines or find some cool work from independent and emerging artists make sure you get in early! It starts at 11am on Sunday at the NCC King St Carpark, yay!

Little Papercup

Photo Credit: Little Papercup

I feel Newcastle might be calling my name. There seems to be a lot of talented creative peeps popping up new shops, exhibitions and street art all over town… the latest of which is Little Papercup.

Owners Jo and Fran have rolled a shop bursting with paper goodies, a studio and installation space all into one, and it officially opened on Saturday hoorah! Part of the studio is so they can work on their own papery creations from their humble new shop. And the other part is a workspace for customers! You can pop in, say hi, bring some materials and while away a crafternoon. They’ve even got a few supplies handy in case you forget something.

The crafty twosome are dedicated to showcasing art, illustration and paper goods from independent artists and designers. And you can even find them at the Olive Tree Market and the Newcastle Farmers Market of a weekend. That’s basically 7-days-a-week worth of dedication to papery products. Go team!

Shop 18/19 Market Square, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle

Open Tues-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-2pm