Dancers, musicians, film and theatre makers, digital creatives, and visual artists will soon have access to a new state-of-the-art production and rehearsal space in the heart of Sydney.
Brand X – one of Sydney’s leading providers of affordable space for artists – will operate within the 5-storey City of Sydney Creative Studios on Bathurst Street when it opens early next year.
The 2,000 square metre facility 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.
“It has long been a priority of the City to increase centrally located, affordable space for our artists and creatives,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“This five-storey venue will accommodate creatives in the heart of the city, and help the sector’s recovery from the devasting effects of the pandemic.
“The spaces are designed for a variety of artistic disciplines and artists at different stages in their careers, and to encourage collaboration within our talented creative community.
“By delivering workspaces and venues we’re not only supporting the arts post-lockdown but also making our city a more interesting and inspiring place to be.”
Brand X Director James Winter said: “We are thrilled to be appointed as operator of the City of Sydney’s state-of-the-art creative studios in the heart of the CBD. These subsidised, purpose-built spaces directly address the needs of independent artists impacted by Sydney’s gentrification and affordability crisis.
“Opening in early 2022, the creative studios signify a beacon of hope for the sector, which has demonstrated immense resilience and creativity during the pandemic, in the face of overwhelming industry-wide challenges.
“Brand X has a longstanding collaborative relationship with City of Sydney, as operator of the East Sydney Arts Community Arts Centre in Darlinghurst and creative tenancy manager of live/work apartments in William Street Darlinghurst and above Waterloo Library.
We are energised at the prospect of delivering new accessible opportunities for emerging and established artists to enable practice-based experimentation, creative development, and production of new work.
“Two of Brand X’s advisory panels, including an Access and Inclusion Panel and Industry Advisory Panel will oversee the selection and incubation of projects at the facility, with a focus on developing new voices from a diverse range of disciplines and backgrounds.”
City of Sydney Creatives Studios is located at 119 Bathurst Street.
Final building works and fit-out are underway, with the facility expected to open in early 2022.
Interested artists, creative practitioners, and organisations can register their interest in using the new facility here.
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