Creative live and work spaces

We’ll prioritise applications that:

• support artists to continue to live and work in Sydney
• support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists
• support artists from culturally and socially diverse backgrounds
• demonstrate an applicant’s need for support to continue to live and work in Sydney
• demonstrate the value of the applicant’s artistic output in the City of Sydney local area
• enrich Sydney’s communities and the local creative sector.

Applications are assessed against:

• artistic or creative achievements of the applicant
• experience and/or qualifications of the applicant
• impact this opportunity will have on the applicant’s creative practice
• impact this opportunity will have on local communities and the creative sector
• suitability of the creative practice for the space and experience of collaborative/cooperative working
• ability to occupy the property by the specified date
• how the application achieves the funding priorities
• any other criteria for specific properties as they become available.

To be eligible you must be:

• working as a professional practicing artist
• living in the Greater Sydney area
• 18 years or older
• a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• a sole trader.

We will assess eligibility for this program using the definition of artistic professions used in the Artists as Workers study carried out by Creative Australia.

Eligible artists include:

• writers
• visual artists
• craft practitioners
• actors and directors
• dancers and choreographers
• musicians and singers
• composers, songwriters and arrangers
• community cultural development artists.

For the definition of a professional practicing artist, and Greater Sydney area see the glossary/definitions section of the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.

This program is open to for profit entities.

For information on what is not eligible for funding in this program, see the general exclusions and ineligibility section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines. 

Angie Goto is a visual artist and educator whose practice is deeply rooted in her Deaf identity. She is passionate about building accessible platforms for emerging Deaf artists and breaking down barriers to ensure future generations of people with disability can thrive in the arts.

Brendan Hancock is a comedian, musician and producer whose creative practice extends to theatre productions, event activations and media campaigns. He’s a regular at comedy clubs around Australia, one half of the Two Queers Productions conglomerate, and was recently the face of sexual health testing in NSW (the last point not strictly relevant). All jokes aside (never!), their projects prioritise creating spaces for queer performers to showcase their work.

Joshua Lee is a self-taught fashion designer committed to challenging the dominance of mass production, promoting ethical fashion practices, supporting local creatives and showcasing innovative design.  Seoul-born Joshua is passionate about creating a space where diverse voices in fashion can flourish.

Keila Terencio de Paula is a performance artist born and raised in Brazil.  She is curious about ways of storytelling and explores physical theatre, aerial dance, puppetry and movement. Her interest in culture, languages and identity examines how they unite people and societies.

Sandy Greenwood is a Gumbaynggirr Dunghutti and Bundjalung custodian and actor, writer, playwright, arts producer, cultural educator and director. Working in First Nations theatre and film, Sandy founded her company to tell stories from a female Indigenous perspective. 

Solomon Toala is Samoan hip hop producer, artist, DJ and event curator shining a spotlight on western Sydney creativity.  Bringing community everywhere he goes, his DJ sets and raw lyrics capture the hearts and minds of a growing local scene.

Lucy Norton is a Darug and Quechua emerging multidisciplinary artist, working across poetry, storytelling, contemporary weaving and digital works. Lucy’s work explores themes of ancestry and lived experience while seeking healing within fractured landscapes.