Artist impression of the new multi-arts facility, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre (courtesy of City of Sydney and Peter Stutchbury Architecture/Atelier Illume).
One of the biggest hurdles for creative practitioners and organisations alike is securing accessible, affordable spaces in central locations.
City of Sydney has long recognised such challenges and is working to make finding accommodation easier.
Sasha Baroni, Manager, Culture & Creativity at City of Sydney said the City’s commitment to creative spaces is strong.
‘Through our consultation with the sector, we identified that affordable creative space for artists and arts workers should be a significant priority of our Cultural Policy and Action Plan.’
Passionate about leveraging its resources and pioneering new initiatives, the City of Sydney’s long standing Accommodation Grants Program offers local artists and creative workers the space to try out new ideas, experiment, collaborate, and expand their businesses through subsidised rental agreements.
The latest opportunity is a big one: an open call for a head tenant to operate the City’s new multi-arts facility, the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square. Located on the eastern end of the town centre, the creative hub will be part of the $18 million Green Square Community and Cultural Precinct.
The centre will provide accessible and affordable spaces for artists to develop their work, as well as office space for creative start-ups and new enterprises.
It will be an impressive environment for creative and local residents alike, with the precinct surrounded by a park complete with community gardens, playgrounds and a living public art installation of bottle trees by Maria Fernanda Cardoso. It also features a child care centre and community shed offering tools, equipment and other resources for locals to try their hand at building, making and repairs.
Over the next few years a range of community facilities, shops and restaurants along with parks and public places will open, accommodating a growing population. An innovative underground library that’s also a public plaza will be the centrepiece to the town centre and the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation centre will feature the largest pool complex built in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics.
Roughly the size of Hyde Park, much of the planned infrastructure and physical buildings within the Green Square town centre are still underway, and the call for applications for a head tenant is a key milestone in the lead-up to this facility opening its doors to the public by mid next year.
It’s a rare opportunity for the successful candidate to shape the creative culture of one of Australia’s fastest-growing suburbs.
To ensure the creative centre project is met with the excitement it warrants, the City of Sydney has put out a national call for an operator with previous experience in managing cultural programs and a dedication to creating affordable spaces for creatives. An ability to partner with like-minded organisations to deliver a mix of arts, cultural and community offerings is also essential.
‘We are looking for people who have an understanding of managing creative spaces and the creative sector and know how to work with the community,’ said Baroni.
What’s particularly exciting about the creative hub is the diversity of art forms and purposes it will accommodate.
‘This is the first time that the City of Sydney is developing a centre with a number of different creative uses,’ said Baroni.
The space will house a gallery suitable for an artist-run initiative, artist studios, classrooms, a bespoke jewellery workshop, co-working spaces for creative entrepreneurs and hire spaces for cultural and community use.
It is an exciting opportunity for a passionate arts organisation that knows how the arts can connect and enliven a community.
With the population of Green Square set to double over the next 15 years, the grand vision is to support artists and creative workers as well as enrich the lives of local residents, visitors and businesses.
‘The creative centre is not only for artists, artist run initiatives, creative start ups and makers, but also for the community and those that want to come and learn about creative practices,’ said Baroni.
The ground floor will include hire spaces for creative, cultural, social and recreational use, and robust programming will help local creative and cultural industries thrive.
From its gritty days of wool washing yards, tanneries and flour mills, the industrial heart of Sydney’s south really is transforming into a new, culturally vibrant neighbourhood.
‘We’re seeing a number of creative practitioners drawn to the area’s location, affordability, unique industrial spaces, and growing population. And, once our creative centre opens its doors next year, residents won’t have to travel far to tap into Green Square’s growing creative scene,’ concluded Baroni.
Work on the arts centre began in late April and is expected to be complete by early to mid-2017.
Candidates must view the spaces before applying. Two open inspections will be offered on 18 October and 8 November 2016.
Interested candidates must submit an application via SmartyGrants by Monday, 21 November at 5pm.
Visit the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre accommodation grant webpage for more details including supporting documents and information on how to apply.
