Musicians, filmmakers, painters and more set up shop on Bathurst Street

The new City of Sydney Creative Studios provide affordable, purpose-built spaces for artists.

Meet Neil McCann, also known as Captain Pipe. His colourful works range across illustration, animation, painting and film. He’s just one of the many artists and creatives that have set up their studios at the City of Sydney Creative Studios.

Neil McCann, aka Captain Pipe. Photo: Matt Lambley

On Bathurst Street, the studios feature 30 spaces including an expansive rehearsal area,

recording and editing suites, visual art studios, workshops, screening rooms and offices.

It’s even got an artist-in-residence apartment and a cafe.

McCann welcomes affordable spaces in the city.

I don’t know anyone that would be able to afford to live and work in the city centre but having affordable places to rent and venues that sustain art practices are essential to drive artistic life back into the city.

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.

A singer and guitarist rehearsing in the studios. Photo: Matt Lambley

Operated by Brand X, one of Sydney’s leading providers of affordable space for artists, the creative studios feature:

2 large double-height rehearsal spaces with sprung timber floors for dancers and other performers

5 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 cafe in the lobby.

You can hire production and rehearsal spaces on a casual or short-term basis with discounted fees available for independent, emerging or established artists and creative organisations through Brand X’s artist pass program.