A spectacular new five-storey arts rehearsal and production centre in downtown Sydney has opened to artists and creative organisations.
The City of Sydney Creative Studios features 30 spaces including an expansive rehearsal area, recording and editing suites, visual art studios, workshops, screening rooms and offices. It’s also home to an artist-in-residence apartment and a café.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the studios would not only provide additional cultural buzz in the city centre, but also contribute to the creative community’s recovery from the pandemic.
“The live performing arts and cultural sectors were among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with curtains drawn and venues closed as soon as we experienced our first cases of Covid-19,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re excited to offer 30 brand new rehearsal and production spaces to Sydney’s talented artistic community. It’s another way the City is helping creatives back onto their feet.
“From musical theatre groups, dancers and bands to filmmakers, creative organisations and artists, I can’t wait to see City of Sydney Creative Studios draw more brilliant artists and their stunning creations into the heart of the city.”
Operated by Brand X, one of Sydney’s leading providers of affordable space for artists, the creative studios feature:
- two large double-height rehearsal spaces with sprung timber floors for dancers and other performers
- five soundproof recording and rehearsal studios for musicians
- production and editing suites for filmmakers and new media artists
- wet-dry creative studios for visual artists
- an artist-in-residence apartment with an attached creative studio
- administration and meeting spaces, dressing rooms and storerooms
- a café in the lobby.
An overwhelming response from artists and creative organisations means all offices have been leased and available tenancies have been allocated.
Production and rehearsal spaces are available for casual or short term hire at bookings.brandx.org.au with discounted fees available for independent, emerging or established artists and creative organisations through Brand X’s Artist Pass Program.
“Sydney’s rising property prices, the transformation of former industrial areas and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic have really hurt our cultural life,” the Lord Mayor said.
“But we want Sydney to be known for its world-class cultural offerings and need to provide affordable space for that talent to flourish. That’s why we’ve created this city centre space for creative artists, across all disciplines and wherever they are in their career, to work, rehearse and collaborate.”
The City of Sydney is the largest single provider of subsidised creative workspace in Greater Sydney.
The centre is the result of a voluntary planning agreement between the City of Sydney and developer Greenland Australia. The City of Sydney has signed a 99-year lease for the creative studios and engaged Brand X to operate the facility for a three-year term.
The 2,000 square metre centre is in the heart of the city at 119 Bathurst Street.
For media enquiries or images, contact Roxanne Macara.
Phone 0438 554 640 or email rmacara@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore contact Zoe Delamare.
Phone 0477 263 615 or email zdelamare@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au