Synergy

Synergy opens at the University Gallery on Friday 4 September, the 2026 Newcastle Art Space Mentorship Exhibition. It's a group show that brings together emerging Hunter artists and their mentors, and it stays on the walls until 14 November, so there's plenty of time to catch it if you can't make the opening.

The title is the theme, too. Synergy comes from the Greek synergos, meaning 'working together', and the show is built around that idea: that when people combine their talents, ideas and experiences, they can achieve far more together than they could alone. It's described as a celebration of the transformative power of creative connection, and the work on display comes from the connections, conversations and discoveries made during the mentorship journey, which pairs emerging creatives through shared learning, support and creative exchange.

There are a few names to keep in mind. The exhibition is curated by Jo O'Toole, who acted as mentor, and Melody Suranyi, who was her mentee. Another pairing featured in the show is Deirdre Bean as mentor and Chloe Hooper as mentee. Seeing the work alongside the names of the people who worked together gives you a bit of a window into how the whole thing came about.

It runs from 4 September to 14 November at the University Gallery, part of Newcastle Art Space. If you're around the city over the next couple of months, it's a good one to drop into.