Dancers, musicians, film and theatre makers, digital creatives and visual artists will soon have access to creative studios with a new state-of-the-art production and rehearsal space in the heart of Sydney.
Brand X will operate the five-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 creative studios feature:
- two large double-height rehearsal spaces with sprung timber floors for dancers, actors 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 of the facility.
Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the five-storey venue will accommodate creatives in the heart of the city, and help the sector’s recovery from the devastating 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 the purpose-built spaces directly address the needs of independent artists impacted by Sydney’s gentrification and affordability crisis.
“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.
“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.”
Final building works and fitout are underway with the facility expected to open in early 2022.