Creativity is alive and well in Canberra’s City Centre, thanks to today’s launch of the Second Space program, set to activate and repurpose vacant tenancies and buildings in the CBD.

The ACT Government’s City Renewal Authority partnered with the Australian National University (ANU) School of Art and Design, Craft ACT, and the Cultural Facilities Corporation on the program, aiming to “establish a space that fosters curiosity and innovative ideas”.

Breathing new life into an unused city space, the partnership intends to increase foot traffic and dwell time, generate safety after hours, dissuade anti-social behaviour, and provide increased value to property owners, in the hope of creating a ripple effect of bringing more Canberrans into the city centre.

Additionally, the program supports Canberra’s arts and cultural sectors by allowing local creatives to artistically transform unused spaces.

Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for the Arts, opened the Second Space trial in in Civic Square today, Tuesday 13 September.

“From today, the former Elections ACT office will be reinvigorated as a studio space to host creative production and works of an international standard from the ANU School of Art and Design, along with art installations and workshops through the Design Canberra Festival. Bringing these exciting new tenants into the building mix will complement the existing cultural and creative residents to establish a hub that is visually appealing and accessible to the public.

“Taking form as an innovative and decentralised studio model to support environmental and economic sustainability, works will focus on sharing world-class knowledge, cultural and creative development and production.

“The community will be able to experience the creative works unfolding in Civic Square. The space will evolve to house workshops and activities as part of the Design Canberra Festival from 2 to 20 November.

“The program is underpinned by creative research and works bound for national and international audiences from the ANU School of Art and Design into the city precinct. This will forge a strong connection between the City Centre, Craft ACT, and the ANU education precinct that the community can engage and interact with.”

The partners plan to expand Second Space across Canberra’s City Centre, and encouraged ACT property owners to “join the conversation to activate more spaces and encourage long-term investment”.

Malcolm Snow, CEO of the City Renewal Authority, said the establishment of the new partnership offers Canberra’s Civic Square and City Centre an “exciting new prospect”.

“By engaging our local creative industry and businesses to repurpose vacant tenancies and buildings, we can increase their visibility and transform them into vibrant places of curiosity and creativity for all to enjoy,” Mr Snow said. “This in turn will drive investment opportunity and social benefits for the Canberra community.”

Rebekah Davis, Associate Professor and Head of School Art and Design at ANU, said the School of Art and Design welcomed the placemaking initiative.

“Second Space is a fantastic, novel concept that makes creativity visible,” Associate Professor Davis said.

“Co-led by ANU School of Art & Design academic Lucy Irvine, this collaboration includes the ANU School of Art and Design Studio, a space to share new and experimental art and design projects. The public will be able to see works-in-progress by academics, artists, and designers.

“We look forward to seeing the projects evolve and the creative impact that is achieved. Well done to all involved in making this collaboration a reality!”

Lucy Irvine, lecturer at ANU’s School of Art and Design, commented on the need for more creative spaces in Canberra’s city.

“To be able to share this space with my School of Art and Design colleagues is so exciting,” Ms Irvine said.

“We will get to learn and to make alongside each other – and for the public to have a snapshot of that process speaks of great things to come and an enriched community on multiple levels.”

For more information about Second Space in Civic Square and the Authority’s approach, visit Second Space – City Renewal (act.gov.au)

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