Newtown Festival 2023 Update
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) exists to strengthen our community through the provision of essential resources, support and care for those who need it most.
Over the last 40 years, Newtown Festival has experienced significant growth, with many more businesses, sponsors and people attending the event. While this has been exciting to witness, this large-scale financial endeavour has eclipsed the resources, capabilities and purpose of NNC.
After years of careful consideration, which involved reviewing a number of possible funding scenarios and business cases, as well as community consultation, NNC’s board has made the decision to discontinue the festival. The board did not come to this conclusion lightly and acknowledges how much the festival will be missed by residents, and NNC itself. We will instead participate in three key events led by Inner West Council to drive awareness of the services we provide.
SummerFest, Marrickville Music Festival and the St.Anmoré (Stanmore) Music Festival share many of the values of Newtown Festival. Our participation in these events will foster new connections for NNC and allow us to focus on our key purpose of supporting the community. We are also pleased to confirm that NNC will be a charity partner for one of these Council events, allowing the Centre to raise funds to extend the reach of our services within the community.
We’d like to thank all those who participated in, and supported, Newtown Festival and look forward to creating new traditions and memories as we continue to work alongside and support the residents of Newtown.
If you would like to learn more about how Newtown Neighbourhood Centre serves our community, go to our ‘Services’ and ‘What’s On’ tabs.
More information regarding our decision on the festival can be found below.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC) exists to strengthen our community through the provision of essential resources, support and care for those who need it most.
Over the last 40 years, Newtown Festival has experienced significant growth, with many more businesses, sponsors and people attending the event. While this has been exciting to witness, this large-scale financial endeavour has eclipsed the resources, capabilities and purpose of NNC.
After years of careful consideration, which involved reviewing a number of possible funding scenarios and business cases, as well as community consultation, NNC’s board has made the decision to discontinue the festival. The board did not come to this conclusion lightly and acknowledges how much the festival will be missed by residents, and NNC itself. We will instead participate in three key events led by Inner West Council to drive awareness of the services we provide.
SummerFest, Marrickville Music Festival and the St.Anmoré (Stanmore) Music Festival share many of the values of Newtown Festival. Our participation in these events will foster new connections for NNC and allow us to focus on our key purpose of supporting the community. We are also pleased to confirm that NNC will be a charity partner for one of these Council events, allowing the Centre to raise funds to extend the reach of our services within the community.
We’d like to thank all those who participated in, and supported, Newtown Festival and look forward to creating new traditions and memories as we continue to work alongside and support the residents of Newtown.
If you would like to learn more about how Newtown Neighbourhood Centre serves our community, go to our ‘Services’ and ‘What’s On’ tabs.
More information regarding our decision on the festival can be found below.
Further information regarding Newtown Festival
How has Newtown Festival changed over the years?
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has been proud to witness the growth of Newtown Festival over the last 40 years. As attendance increased, local businesses and artists became even more eager to join in the event, and large sponsors were attracted to support the festival.
At the last Newtown Festival in 2019, more than 40,000 people attended, with hundreds of food producers, artisans, stallholders and musicians on-site to entertain, feed and showcase their products.
As the scale of Newtown Festival grew over time, more resources were required to support bookings, logistics, security, fencing, and insurance, stretching the centre’s team and finances.
What information supported the decision to cancel Newtown Festival?
When considering the future of Newtown Festival, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s (NNC) board reviewed the profit and loss statements from all previous festivals and resourcing requirements, and undertook significant financial modelling. The board also evaluated the impact to residents and the environment, and consulted with the community, to establish potential impacts.
These reviews found that if the Centre continued to run Newtown Festival as a free event, NNC would continue to be severely impacted financially, putting key services and staffing at risk. Community surveys showed limited interest in an entry fee to support the event, which made the future running of the festival unfeasible.
Ultimately however, the board also had to consider the role of the festival in line with NNC’s core objectives. NNC exists to strengthen our community through support and connection, providing essential services to our vulnerable residents, and a space for belonging. This includes homeless outreach, aged care and family services, as well as offering venue hire for small events.
What will NNC do in the future for fundraising?
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has many fundraising channels outside of Newtown Festival. We will continue to engage with the local businesses, brands and residents that have supported us over the last 41 years and reach out to new partners. We welcome sponsorships and donations from our business community and individuals, knowing that these funds have a real, daily impact on our Centre and those we serve.
Moving forward, NNC will also participate in three key events led by Inner West Council to drive awareness of the services we provide. SummerFest, Marrickville Music Festival and the St.Anmoré (Stanmore) Music Festival share many of the values of Newtown Festival. Our participation in these events will foster new connections for NNC and allow us to focus on our key purpose of supporting the community. NNC will be a charity partner for one of these Council events, allowing the Centre to raise funds to extend the reach of our services within the community.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has been proud to witness the growth of Newtown Festival over the last 40 years. As attendance increased, local businesses and artists became even more eager to join in the event, and large sponsors were attracted to support the festival.
At the last Newtown Festival in 2019, more than 40,000 people attended, with hundreds of food producers, artisans, stallholders and musicians on-site to entertain, feed and showcase their products.
As the scale of Newtown Festival grew over time, more resources were required to support bookings, logistics, security, fencing, and insurance, stretching the centre’s team and finances.
What information supported the decision to cancel Newtown Festival?
When considering the future of Newtown Festival, Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s (NNC) board reviewed the profit and loss statements from all previous festivals and resourcing requirements, and undertook significant financial modelling. The board also evaluated the impact to residents and the environment, and consulted with the community, to establish potential impacts.
These reviews found that if the Centre continued to run Newtown Festival as a free event, NNC would continue to be severely impacted financially, putting key services and staffing at risk. Community surveys showed limited interest in an entry fee to support the event, which made the future running of the festival unfeasible.
Ultimately however, the board also had to consider the role of the festival in line with NNC’s core objectives. NNC exists to strengthen our community through support and connection, providing essential services to our vulnerable residents, and a space for belonging. This includes homeless outreach, aged care and family services, as well as offering venue hire for small events.
What will NNC do in the future for fundraising?
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre has many fundraising channels outside of Newtown Festival. We will continue to engage with the local businesses, brands and residents that have supported us over the last 41 years and reach out to new partners. We welcome sponsorships and donations from our business community and individuals, knowing that these funds have a real, daily impact on our Centre and those we serve.
Moving forward, NNC will also participate in three key events led by Inner West Council to drive awareness of the services we provide. SummerFest, Marrickville Music Festival and the St.Anmoré (Stanmore) Music Festival share many of the values of Newtown Festival. Our participation in these events will foster new connections for NNC and allow us to focus on our key purpose of supporting the community. NNC will be a charity partner for one of these Council events, allowing the Centre to raise funds to extend the reach of our services within the community.
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