Over the past six months, Blue Mountains City Council has been working on new opportunities to support Blue Mountains artists and creative people including affordable workspaces, studios, and even performance laboratories.
Opening in August within Springwood's historic Braemar House are the Braemar Creative Spaces, just across the hall from Council's Braemar Gallery.
As part of the recently completed Braemar Gallery restoration project, Council has transformed three rooms into new studios, and will soon begin offering them to creative people as affordable day studios, project desks, or low-impact arts development spaces.
The interior includes toilets, a kitchenette, WiFi and basic furnishings. The space also offers easy interaction with the Springwood Library and Blue Mountains Theatre.
Due to the heritage nature of the venue, there are a few important restrictions necessary to help preserve the environment, so the studios are most suited to writers, digital artists, producers and creative enterprises whose activities won't impact or alter the Braemar House interior.
Plans are also now in the works to offer workshop and studio spaces in the revitalised Katoomba Civic Centre, a recycling-based artist residency for circular economy projects at Council's Katoomba Waste Treatment Facility, stage and theatre development space at an enhanced Wentworth Falls School of Arts, music rehearsal spaces in Blaxland, and more.
"The diverse range of small art spaces, studios, and rehearsal and performance venues Council is creating are intended to support Blue Mountains artists and local creative development needs," said Blue Mountains Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill.
"The creation of these spaces reinforces our commitment to sustaining and supporting a thriving arts and culture community."
Council Arts and Culture Manager Eric Holowacz said: "In the post-pandemic urban environment, and with the rising cost of everything, it has become more difficult for artists to maintain creative spaces.
"That's why our team is working hard to grow a portfolio of studios, venues and partnerships to ensure creative people and projects in the Blue Mountains have access to affordable and comfortable places in which they can develop new work."
Interested artists are invited to tour the Braemar House facilities as part of HUBBUB, a joint event between Springwood Library, Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, Love Local Makers Market and Braemar Gallery on August 17.
To express interest, go to http://www.tinyurl.com/bmccspaces or make an appointment with Council's Cultural Development team by emailing [email protected]
Photo: One of the new Braemar Creative Spaces.
