Arts Upper Hunter and AGL Macquarie have formed an innovative partnership to mark the historic closure of the Liddell Power Station in April 2023.

With the support of AGL, a unique opportunity exists for artists across the Hunter to create new work that responds to the site and that pays respect to the contribution the Liddell workforce has made over more than 50 years of the power station’s operation.

Artists keen to be a part of the ‘Liddell WORKS’ program are invited to submit an Expression of Interest by Friday 24 February.  Six artist “residencies” will be offered, which will start from March and run up to the station’s retirement on 28 April and will continue as the site is transformed into an industrial energy hub. 

All forms of creative - painters, sculptors, videographers, sound artists, blacksmiths, performers, glass blowers, photographers and musicians - are invited to apply.

“There are so many ways artists could respond to Liddell’s evocative industrial landscape or to the decarbonisation journey that AGL is undertaking,” said Arts Upper Hunter Executive Director John O’Brien.

“We’re also hoping some of the artworks will reflect the great sense of pride that exists amongst the past and present workforce for the role they’ve played in supplying power to NSW for more than 50 years.”

General Manager Len McLachlan said this is an exciting project for AGL Macquarie which has a proud history of supporting community organisations.

“AGL is pleased to be welcoming the Upper Hunter artistic community on site at Liddell to mark the retirement of the power station and I expect we’ll see some truly incredible works produced through our partnership with Arts Upper Hunter,” McLachlan said.

“Liddell Power Station has been a social, cultural and economic fixture in our community for more than 50 years and we’re looking forward to seeing how the artists interpret the stories of our people and respond to the site.”

Several Open Days are planned from February giving the artists access to explore the Liddell site and its possibilities, and to listen to the stories of the workers.

There will also be a First Nations component to the partnership, co-ordinated by Arts Upper Hunter Aboriginal Arts Officer Natasha Kellett.

“Marking this moment is an opportunity to tell the many sides of the power generation story,” O’Brien said.

“It is also an opportunity to delve into the unique culture of the place, the individual responses to working there and to the future. It really is an amazing set of industrial buildings; walking through is like visiting a huge abstract sculpture or a giant film set.”

Exhibitions are planned in 2023 and into 2024 featuring the body of work created to remember, reflect and respond to this significant event.

Further information on the Liddell WORKS project and how to submit an Expressions of Interest is available here.

EOI applications for Residencies close 5pm Friday 24 February 2023.

You can learn more and apply on the website here.