Titled Art Bender, the two-night event at the former police station features more than 25 Hunter-based artists, performers and musicians. It includes theatrical installations, poetry and animation.

The Lock-Up's program co-ordinator Courtney Novak said audiences could expect different experiences each night.

"After the show on Friday night we will pull everything down and put up installations for the Saturday event," she said.

"Some of the art is quite out there, while some of it is quite serious."

Curator Meryl Ryan said the Friday night would ask audiences to reflect on issues of global, ethical and personal concern.

Saturday night would be more extroverted and opinionated, she said, with talk of revolution, painting performance, dance and music.

Art Bender will include the work of Lottie Consalvo and Gillian Bencke on the Friday night and the performance art of Dale Collier on Saturday night.

Bencke's work explores the theme of ceremonies and features shrouds (death wraps) made from old wedding dresses.

She found the dresses via a Skype conversation she had with a wedding dress collector based in Adelaide.

Consalvo will take the unusual step of removing the self from her work, creating her first piece that is purely an installation.

It will be set up in the women's cell block and includes projections of imagery and a liquid drip.

Collier's performance/installation piece looks at the federal government's new data retention laws, exploring digital ethics and how the creative process is affected by the laws.

■ Art Bender is on at The Lock-Up this Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, from 6pm to 9pm. Entry is free. For more information go to thelockup.org.au.