Greater Sydney creative spaces affordability study

We know that operating a creative space in Sydney’s commercial property market is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

We carried out this study to explore what the creative sector is paying for space and how this cost pressure impacts their business, artistic practice and personal lives.

The study includes data analysis of our first yearly creative workers and creative spaces survey in May 2025.

Key takeaways

• The median gross rent paid for creative space was $446/sqm a year for creative workers and $267/sqm a year for creative space operators.
• Half of respondents in the study reported low confidence in access to their space in 12 months time.
• The median creative income of artists in Greater Sydney was only $5,000 a year, with around 80% of that commonly invested in renting workspace.
• 57% of respondents are considering leaving Sydney in the next 12 months. The costs of housing and accessing creative workspace are the drivers of this uncertainty.
• The ways respondents have reduced the cost of accessing creative space include taking shorter lease terms, using personal funds for set-up costs such as moving and fitout, using volunteer labour for maintenance and repairs, and even choosing to live in their studios.

The study finds that the median costs of accessing space should not be taken as an indicator of affordability in the market. Instead, the study proposes that affordability is achieved when the total cost of space doesn’t compromise the sustainability of a creative business or access to housing in Sydney.

The study recommends a creative space affordability scheme is developed to support affordable access to space on multiple fronts.