Creative live and work spaces

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About this program

The City of Sydney has a small number of residential properties. Under the creative live and work spaces grant, we lease residential properties to artists and creative practitioners at below market rental.

This program is offered in response to the challenges artists and creative practitioners face in obtaining affordable inner-city housing and creative facilities. It provides support for up to 18 months with specific lease terms.

We invite applications for this program around every 18 to 24 months. We’ll update this webpage when the the program is next open for applications.

You can also sign up to our creative spaces newsletter to find out when great spaces become available.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander artists and creative practitioners.

Our funding will prioritise applications that show potential for:
- increased opportunity for, and awareness of creative practitioners to live and work in the city
- strengthened cultural sector connections and networks in the city.
Proposals are assessed against:
- artistic merit, experience and qualifications, professional development aspirations
- suitability of the creative practice for the creative live/work space and experience of collaborative working
- evidence of need for the opportunity and how this will help your creative growth
- ability to occupy the property by the specified date
- how the project aligns with the funding priorities.

Support available

Support is available in the form of reduced rental charges.

Eligibility

This program is open to all individuals working in the creative industries. This includes visual arts, performing arts, craft, music, literature and design.
- Applicants must be 18 years or older and an Australian citizen or have residency status.
- Only individuals can apply.
- For more information on eligibility, see the eligibility section in the grants and sponsorship program guidelines.
Funding is not available for:
- any organisations or government departments and agencies.
- projects that breach the eligibility and ethics framework of our existing policies.

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Current tenants – Waterloo

City of Sydney News

News
Nurturing creative talent in the heart of the city
Meet the talented artists thriving in our creative live/work spaces in Darlinghurst and Waterloo.
20 June 2024
News
Artists make themselves at home in creative hub
Interactive electronic performances and drone photography are some of the projects emerging Sydney artists will focus on while in residence at low-cost studios in the heart of the city.
29 March 2018

Creative city

Strategies & action plans
Creative City cultural policy and action planPublished 30 July 2016
Strategies & action plans
Live music and performance action planPublished 30 March 2014

Artist Rosie Deacon standing alongside her creative hoarding design

Cultural support & funding

Five dancers strike a pose. They're on a city laneway, lit by colourful lights. Credit: Wanna Dance, City People/Anna Kurcera

Grants & sponsorships

Creative live and work spaces

Help with grants in your language

About this program

Current funding priorities

Assessment criteria