The cost of doing business can engulf emerging fashion designers - but there are new opportunities in the nation's most expensive city.
A fashion design incubator, a hybrid art gallery and an artist collective are just some of the creative businesses opening in under-used properties across Sydney.
The shared spaces operate under a City of Sydney program to support business at affordable rates.
Empty spaces between commercial tenancies or those due for upgrades are on offer to creative types to make the best use of the City’s properties..
These include several city-owned properties such as 101-111 and 113-115 William Street in Kings Cross.
Now business start-ups and entrepreneurs are being supported with short-term tenancies in Potts Point, Oxford Street and Surry Hills.
Design Residency executive Lorraine Lock said affordable properties are pivotal to the growth and success of new businesses.
“Our goal is to help designers build the foundations of a successful, viable business in the creative industry, from fashion to product and homewares design,” Lorraine said.
“Without the support of the City of Sydney we would never have been able to get this idea off the ground.
“Now we’re in a position to help young designers with a dedicated workspace, a mentoring program, publicity strategy, workshops and access to a showroom.
“We’ve only been operational for a few months and already we’ve had the most incredible reaction from the industry.”
The creative tenants are:
The Design Residency – 32-34 Kellett Street, Potts Point
The Residency is an incubator that nurtures the growth of fashion, jewellery and textiles designers, taking them from fledging to completely realised businesses, through programs lasting 6–12 months. The Design Residency aims to foster local emerging designers by assisting them with the skills and know-how to develop realistic, sustainable business models.
Work-Shop – 104-106 Oxford Street
Work-Shop connects Sydney’s creatives with the community to share knowledge and help teach new
skills through its affordable short courses in arts, crafts and life skills. The property is also used as
a community meeting space and a hybrid art gallery for emerging artists.
Intersect Arts – 277 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
The four-storey property is used to provide space for artists, designers and other creatives to work and exhibit in. The brainchild of a collective of artists whose aim was to create the ultimate creative space, Intersect Arts also offers public accessible workshops, monthly exhibitions and artists’ talks.
Creative start-ups and entrepreneurs interested in applying for one of the City’s short-term creative spaces should go to brandx.org.au/short-term-tenancies/