News: NOVUM 2024

After a hugely successful debut in 2023, Newcastle’s newest multi-arts festival NOVUM returns on 8th-11th August. The event will showcase local, national, and international talent, transforming the Grade II listed Civic Centre and surrounding gardens, as well as the Great North Museum, into a cultural playground. 

NOVUM has been created through a partnership between Newcastle City Council, North of Tyne Combined Authority, UK Government, Levelling Up, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Arts Council England, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Generator, Nexus, Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums and The Great North Museum: Hancock. 

Highlights of the festival include Shrink by Belgian installation and performance art specialist Lawrence Malstaf where people from local communities will become living portraits in a striking exhibition that will see them vacuum-packed and vertically suspended; Secret City Newcastle, which sees artist and photographer Andrew Brooks exploring hidden and forgotten spaces in the city; an aerial show featuring live music and singing from Cirque Bijou; WILD from dance production company Motionhouse where the performers use powerful physicality to move animal-like through a forest of tall poles; Breakdancing from Rob Anderson and break.ne who will be showcasing Triple Threat, where B-boys and B-girls will battle it out in an original Breaking competition; and magical non-verbal puppetry and storytelling of The League of Curiosity. 

There will be a music programme, curated in partnership with promoters f54, Generator and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, which offers a diverse and eclectic lineup, including anthemic spiritualists Flamingods, North Shields’ own folk purveyors Hector Gannet, exciting Welsh-Nigerian Pop/R&B artist Kima Otung and witty, soulful solo artist, Ruth Lyon.

Free, family friendly activities, called Stay and Play, will take place over the weekend at St Thomas Gardens and the Civic Centre courtyard including Shy Bairns Get Nowt, a newly created show from Newcastle Youth Circus that tells the story of what growing up in Newcastle means to young people today – as told through circus.

Andy Brydon, Creative & Company Director of Curated Place, organisers of NOVUM, adds: “We’re so excited to bring NOVUM back to the Civic Centre in summer 2024 with an expanded team, site and programme. 2024 will see ambitious partnerships and outstanding artists from across Newcastle and around the world come together, creating a distinctive festival that will help us all to explore, learn and play through creativity.  Drawing on support from the expertise of the Great Museum of the North, the passionate custodians of the Civic Centre, exciting cutting-edge music with Generator and The Glasshouse as well as Newcastle City Council’s dedicated community team, NOVUM will create a meeting point for everyone in Newcastle, a celebration of the people, places, mythology and spirit of the city.”   

Early bird tickets for some events are available now via the NOVUM website.