Fine grains and big ideas
We are working with the business community in many ways to make it known that Sydney is a globally competitive and innovative city.
One of the City’s coolest programs focuses on the ‘fine grain’ – or nitty gritty of the City. It’s helped quirky small bars spring up in laneways and, more recently, has expanded to embrace all sorts of attention-grabbing ideas to re-invent under-used spaces.
In a hole-in-the-wall hideaway on York Lane, two local entrepreneurs opened an espresso/tapas bar decorated it with recycled flair, squeezing in airline food trolleys, old car tyres and oak wardrobes to hold the café’s kit and caboodle. A $30,000 City grant went a long way towards set-up costs.
Another grant reactivated a forgotten retail space that was empty for more than three years. Nestled between the CBD and Surry Hills, this little venture became Sydney’s smallest tea house – with only 8 seats inside and an ever-changing menu of freshly-made (on site!) macarons.
The chef and owner spent four years perfecting his macaron recipe and they come in some scintillating flavours, including beetroot and balsamic vinegar, bamboo charcoal and sesame, fennel and lemon and wasabi and grapefruit.
At the absolute other end of the spectrum, the City also offers different levels of support (including value in kind and revenue foregone sponsorships) to organisers of major creative events. These can be any sort of event linked with the creative sector which promises to deliver significant economic benefits to Sydney.
Towards 2030, we’re looking at the fine grain of the City to:
- reinvent under-used spaces
- support innovative business ideas
- invigorate laneways
- create a city that people can explore and enjoy.
Sydney 2030: green, global and connected. Go to the 2030 strategic directions.
