Our Projects

BANNER IMAGE: SALON (2017) PHOTO BY GEOFF MAGEE

Brand X manage six properties for:

Performing Artists
Visual Artists
Live Music
Creative Retail
Creative Business

as part of the:

TWT CREATIVE PRECINCT in St Leonards
The EAST SYDNEY COMMUNITY AND ARTS CENTRE in Darlinghurst
TEMPE JETS in Tempe

Making space for Artists since 2005

OUR HISTORY

2005-2009: Queen Street Studio (Chippendale) - performing arts rehearsal space.

2008-2012: FraserStudios (Chippendale) - multi-arts studios with Frasers Property Australia.

2010-2014: Heffron Hall (Darlinghurst) - rehearsal space with the City of Sydney.

2013-2016: The Palace Studio (Marrickville) - dedicated dance studio with Amera’s Palace.

2013-2016: Brand X Studio (Surry Hills) - Visual Art retail concept store.

2013-2014: L3 Central (Chippendale) – event space and retail with Frasers Property Australia.

2013-2014: Tenant Management Services for empty spaces with City of Sydney.

2014-PRESENT: Tempe Jets (Tempe) - live music hub with Inner West Council.

2014-PRESENT: TWT Creative Precinct (St Leonards) - studios and retail with TWT Developments.

2015: Southport CBD activation consultancy with the City of Gold Coast.

2014-2016: Preshana Studio (Darlinghurst) – dance studio with Preshana Yoga Studio.

2015-PRESENT: Arts Incubator (St Leonards) – creative business hub with TWT Developments.

2016-2017: X&Co (St Leonards) – food and beverage café with TWT Developments.

2017-PRESENT: East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (Darlinghurst) - rehearsal and performance space with the City of Sydney.

2017-PRESENT: Creative Live/Work Tenancies management with the City of Sydney.

2017-PRESENT: Short Term Empty Properties consultancy with the City of Sydney.

2018-PRESENT: The Flying Nun (Darlinghurst) – live performance venue with the City of Sydney.

CASE STUDIES

Interior FraserStudios

FRASERSTUDIOS (2008) PHOTO BY ARUNAS KLUPSAS

Fraser Studios, Broadway (Sydney)

In September 2008, Brand X created the Fraser Studios facility for Frasers Property Australia who introduced a new initiative to make creative use of vacant warehouse space in the old Kent Brewery development site on Broadway. Three warehouses at 10-14 Kensington Street, Chippendale were temporarily transformed into a multi-disciplinary art space hosting over 24,000 artists until it was site was redeveloped in July 2012.

Visual Arts Residency Program, Surry Hills, (Sydney)

In August 2013, a new micro-business initiative was opened in Surry Hills for the visual arts community. Part workspace, part gallery and part retail concept store, the facility was intrinsically linked to the Brand X Visual Art Residency Program, offering artists 3-months of free space to experiment with a retail environment. The commercial lease on the property expired in 2016.

L3 Central

L3 CENTRAL (2013)

L3 Central, Chippendale (Sydney)

In September 2013, Brand X announced a new partnership with Fraser Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia in the cultural activation within Central; the property developers latest shopping mall located in a residential tower on Broadway, Chippendale. Together this partnership activated 1,000sqms of space on Level 3 for community cultural use. The activation included galleries, workspace for visual artists, creative retail, events space and rehearsal space for performing artists. After welcoming over 30,000 artists and members of the public, the facility was returned to the developer at the end of 2014 for a commercial tenancy.

TWT Creative Precinct, St. Leonards (Sydney)

In August 2014, property developer TWT Developments appointed Brand X to manage the activation and creative programming of a number of empty commercial buildings that make up the newly created TWT Creative Precinct in St Leonards. Together, this partnership has transformed 6 buildings into artist studios, rehearsal space, gallery and creative retail for a proposed six-year period before redevelopment.

Southport, CBD (Gold Coast)

The City of Gold Coast appointed Brand X in April of 2015 to consult on the activation of the Southport CBD in readiness for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Vacant properties across the city centre were made available to local Artists through an intensive mentorship with Brand X to build sustainable entrepreneurial models for the creative community and the rejuvenation of the precinct.

Entrance to ESCAC

ESCAC (2019) PHOTO BY MEG HEWITT

East Sydney Community and Arts Centre, Darlinghurst (Sydney)

In January 2018, Brand X launched The Flying Nun program at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (ESCAC) as a showcase of the outcomes from Performing Arts residencies. Its purpose is to support artists by providing low-cost resources that reduce the financial barriers of developing and presenting new work to audiences in Sydney. The program supports Sydney’s Independent Artists with income, feedback and the opportunity to take their new performance ideas to the next level.

Latest

The Flying Nun Season 5 is your antidote to the ordinary!

Brand X’s performance showcase is back again with our 5th season. 13 new performance projects will take over the space at the East Sydney Community & Arts Centre during the weekends from January till May 2020. Tickets on sale for only $25 (or $20 if you hold a current Artist Pass subscription).
From the Brand X Team: "THANK YOU for an amazing 2019"

In 2019 we housed more than 70 artists and organisations in our semi-permanent studios and provided over 6560 hours of rehearsal space hire for performing artists to develop their craft across our spaces in Darlinghurst, St Leonards and Tempe. We hosted over 30 performances as part of The Flying Nun program and with a total audience of more than 1700 people coming through our doors at the East Sydney Community & Arts Centre (ESCAC) generating $22,500 in box office for participating artists.
FRUMPUS presents LANDED

Fri 8 May at 8pm
Sat 9 May at 8pm

Frumpus is back with their new show LANDED: Wrapped in First Class pyjamas and inflated ankles, Frumpus navigate white knuckle turbulence to touch down in luxury goods. Damaged, swollen from neck to foot, and desperate to clear customs, they negotiate a land of extravagance, opulence and anarchic self-satisfaction. Tickets available for $25.
DICTIONARY BY A BITCH: THE JOURNALS OF BEE MILES

Fri 1 May at 8pm
Sat 2 May at 8pm

The title of one of Bee Mile’s unpublished journals; her articulate, humorous and subversive voice resonates strongly today in Sydney's stifling bureaucracy. Bee was transgressive and a bohemian rebel who constantly challenged the power structures of the time. An inspiration screaming "NO!" to a similar oppressive world. Tickets available for $25.

Performing arts residency

The Flying Nun program at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre (ESCAC) in Darlinghurst, Sydney showcases outcomes from our performing arts residencies alongside local fringe performance that otherwise wouldn’t see the light of day. Application rounds happen twice yearly. Risk Everything.
Closing 1st November: EOI Open for The Flying Nun Season 5

Brand X are seeking expressions of interest from Performing Artists wanting to be considered for The Flying Nun program (Season 5) that will take place from January 2020 till June 2020. Aplications Due: 1st November 2019
Accessibility
Accommodation grant now open for business innovation space

City of Sydney invites applications from organisations that would like to operate a business innovation space for the tech startup sector at 180 George Street, Circular Quay.
The Flying Nun

Celebrating the fringe, alternative and local contemporary counter-culture, come and be the first audience to witness new performance work fresh out of the rehearsal room and by doing so, support Independent Artists to propel their work on to stages across Sydney.
National swap day event by The Clothing Exchange

The 9th National swap day event hosted by The Clothing Exchange will take place at the East Sydney Community Arts Centre in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
The Power of the Holy Spirit: Best Experimental

Harriet Gillies has been awarded the "Best Experimental Show" at the 2019 Melbourne Fringe Festival for her new work "The Power of the Holy Spirit" coming to The Flying Nun for 2 nights in November (15 & 16).
"These Walls Could Talk" mental health through art and poetry

Sydney Art Events: New Public Art Commission for Sydney unveiled as part of The Big Anxiety 2019."These Walls Could Talk" addresses mental health through art and poetry.
Opportunity: Spaces for Visual Artists and Creative Business

Brand X recently had openings for Visual Artist studios, office space, desk space for Creative Business and Visual Artists at St Leonards. All spaces have access to shared kitchen and Bathroom,NBN wifi, 24/7 access. Affordable spaces for Artists.
What is Brand X?

Brand X is a not-for-profit arts organisation run by Artists for Artists who are in the business of making space for Artists by re-purposing under-utilised properties in Sydney so performing, recording and visual art communities can practice their craft.