Renew Newcastle is a not for profit urban renewal project started in 2009 by Marcus Westbury. Through brokering access to vacant buildings in the CBD by Newcastle’s vibrant creative community, Renew has breathed life back into the old city in just a few short years. It has enabled an explosion of cultural activity and new creative enterprises to emerge and flourish. It has also become a shining international example of grass roots urban renewal and the catalyst for renewed commercial investment in the local area.
For more detailed info, the recently published book “Creating Cities” (which made it onto the Prime Minister’s summer reading list in 2016!) is a rollicking tale of a town turned around through the power of blood, sweat, tears and great ideas.
I have been honoured to be a part of Renew since it began, and for the past few years have been documenting it’s evolution. Take a peek here behind the doors of just some of the Renew spaces. This is where the magic happens.
