A $25 million state-of-the-art creative hub featuring dance, theatre, music, film and visual arts facilities will be built in the heart of the city following an agreement between the City of Sydney and property developer Greenland Australia.
An Australian first, the hub will span 2,000 square metres over five storeys, and will be located in what is set to be Sydney’s tallest residential tower at the former Sydney Water site on Bathurst Street.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the landmark project would bring significant economic, cultural and community benefits to Sydney.
“The project will support growth in central Sydney and provide housing and important cultural facilities for our community.
“The creative hub also sets an exciting precedent for the inclusion of world-class cultural facilities in private developments.
“Creating affordable workspace for artists, designers and other creative practitioners is a priority.
“We are committed to working with businesses, retailers and property developers to unlock and create space for artists and our growing creative industries.”
The City has signed a 99-year lease for the creative hub via a Voluntary Planning Agreement with Greenland Australia.
The announcement comes just weeks after the City launched its first-ever cultural policy, which proposes more than 120 actions for boosting culture and creativity in Sydney.
The hub will feature architect-designed rehearsal spaces, customised studios, offices and production rooms, and a live/work apartment to be made available for a creative fellowship program.
Facilities will include soundproofed rooms for music rehearsals, studios with sprung timber floors for dancers and actors, media and editing suites for filmmakers and new media artists, and wet/dry studios for visual artists.
Award-winning actor, producer and writer, Claudia Karvan, said the creative hub was an exciting initiative that would make a major difference to Sydney’s creative community.
“It’s essential to give local artists and creative teams spaces where they can progress their ideas – facilities like this new hub are the building blocks for Sydney’s future creative life.”
The development is expected to open in late 2017.
