Cultural precincts
Certain areas in cities evolve into precincts where similar services, offerings, ideas and ideals live – think Thai restaurants and King Street, Newtown. Sydney is no exception.
Surry Hills in the inner-east of the city, for example, has become a thriving creative quarter full of galleries, designers of all kinds (furniture, clothes) and vintage stores. Several pockets of cool eateries are emerging while Crown Street continues to put its stamp on the restaurant scene. The City is helping promote the area with Shop Local days and tourist guides.
Also in the inner-east, Darlinghurst/Kings Cross remains an alternative hub for theatre, with the SBW Stables Theatre, the Cell Block Theatre and the Old Fitzroy Theatre going strong despite a decline in performance spaces for small independent theatre companies across Greater Sydney. The City has renovated the Reg Murphy Centre and redeveloped the Eternity Playhouse, formerly known as the Burton Street Tabernacle, which will soon take pride of place in one of our priority precincts around Oxford Street.
Meanwhile, Walsh Bay is a burgeoning arts hub. The landmark Sydney Theatre Company leads the cultural precinct, which has the potential to become one of the world’s most vibrant. The City of Sydney is helping to make this happen by nurturing local talent and our creative spirit with an $8 million grants and sponsorship program.
Towards 2030, we’re supporting old and new cultural precincts to:
- promote culture and creativity
- attract tourists
- commission public art
- provide local communities with fresh Sydney experiences.
Sydney 2030: green, global and connected. Go to the strategic directions.
