Vacant shops may house artwork
Darlinghurst business owners may be keen to see Oxford St undergo some sort of transformation, but would they be willing to put their buildings where their mouths are?
Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Society president Andrew Woodhouse has called on the City of Sydney Council to broker deals between artists and building owners to encourage greater use of vacant premises, in an effort to revitalise the area.
Inspired by the Renew Newcastle project launched by a group of artists to combat the demise of their own CBD, Woodhouse has called for a similarly creative approach along Oxford St.
His suggestions include scrapping development application fees for changes in use of business sites, investing in more public art and developing a system to put business owners in touch with artists.
Artists would get the benefits of having a usable creative space from which they can sell their works but it would also increase the quality of passers-by down the street and therefore bring more retail trade into the neighbourhood, Woodhouse told Sydney Star Observer.
And it would also have a revitalising effect on spots that have a fear of crime factor.
The City of Sydney has already started drafting plans for its Oxford St Cultural Quarter strategy, which includes provisions for more public art and free artists spaces in council-owned spaces, but Woodhouse said what he is suggesting is far more proactive and far more broad, across the entire Local Government Area.
I remember reading something about a school of puppetry, although I’m not sure if this would increase pedestrian traffic.
Yeah, it is a very good idea, and it’s been done before. Unfortunately some very huge public liability insurance payouts scared the property owners into putting an end to it.
Good idea!
I agree with Mr B Savage. We have this modus operandi in Germany and Ive seen this in Paris + a win-win situation.
Lets do it please Clover and get these streets activated.
This is a brilliant idea that has been sucessful elsewhere and is now being considered by Waverley Council.
It would ‘tart up’ areas, including Oxford Street and Kings Cross, while simultaneously increasing passing retail pedestrian traffic. It would thus provide shop owners (lessors) with evidence these shops are rentable, while giving artists a chance to work and display their art.
Sydney Council is mad not to fully investigate this idea.
Br
So who do I have to contact? And should I have my koori HIV+ lesbian single mother acon health worker drag dry cleaned ready for if they ask for nominations?
What Oxford St really needs is more cafes with outdoor seating. When you visit the area, you want to have a coffee and grab a bite to eat.