A Creative Opportunity

Oxford Street Design Store is just one of the unique artistic spaces that has benefitted from City of Sydney's initiative. Photo courtesy of Concrete Playground.

There’s a new buzz around a certain section of Oxford Street, and it’s coming from a hive of thriving creatives. Thanks to an initiative from the City of Sydney, art organisations, collaborations and collectives alike are successfully operating from a scattering of once vacant offices and shopfronts. By offering artists affordable rents, City of Sydney has developed a creative hub which supports local talent.

But this initiative has not only opened up fantastic opportunities for said artists, the general public now have access to creative works and ideas that they may not have otherwise. There’s an array of unique spaces to explore, covering design, visual arts, film, transmedia, music, literature and more.

66 Oxford Street houses a multitudes of creative organisations. There you’ll find Music NSW, a not for profit industry association that supports contemporary musicians, Fishburners, a not for profit enterprise that helps entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground, and the Sydney Writers Room which offers workspaces to serious writers looking to publish.

You’ll find He Made She Made Concept Gallery at number 70, promoting the work of the under-represented, and at number 72 sits the aptly named art gallery Platform 72 which gives 100% of the profits to artists. A must visit is the unique Oxford Street Design Store at number 58, where various artists sell their works for $20 or less.

There’s tons more to check out in the area, so get down to Oxford Street to discover diversity of Sydney’s creativity, perhaps while you listen to Oxford St’s favourite radio station!

Words by Elise Annetts