News

Closed shops to open doors for art (SMH) [07.10.2008]

Sunanda Creagh, Urban Affairs Reporter, The Sydney Morning Herald:

BOARDED-UP shops will be leased to artists for use as studios for little or no rent under a proposal that has attracted the attention of the City of Sydney council.

The idea is the brainchild of Marcus Westbury, host of ABC TV's Not Quite Art and founder of the This Is Not Art festival, who has assembled an "unholy alliance" of property developers, businesses, state and local government authorities and artists.

"Basically, we are setting up a trust or an official body to broker empty space to people who can use it. It would be a combination of people you trust with your building." Mr Westbury said. "These are buildings that are boarded up or their windows are kicked in but our custodians will be cleaning them up and bringing some life to the city."

Read the full story on The Sydney Morning Herald web site.