Affordable West Wallsend studios open as Sugarloaf creative hub for local artists

newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie City Council has unveiled its newly branded Sugarloaf Studios creative hub in West Wallsend, announcing affordable studio spaces for local artists and community groups on 21 November 2025.

Council says the pilot project is designed to turn a previously vacant Brooks Parade building into an affordable base for grassroots creativity, repurposing community infrastructure while giving local practitioners somewhere to work, connect and run classes.

The Sugarloaf Studios site includes five large studios and seven smaller spaces available to rent for minimal fees to artists, other creatives and community groups. The building was previously used as office space for a community organisation but has been vacant since July.

Council’s Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism, Jacqui Hemsley, said the new project formed part of a broader approach to supporting creativity across Lake Macquarie.

“This initiative builds on our broader strategy to support creativity at every level, to celebrate and nurture emerging community groups and to repurpose community spaces for contemporary use,” Ms Hemsley said.

She said the smaller studios ranged from 15.5sqm to 18sqm, while the larger spaces were between 22sqm and 32.5sqm. Weekly fees will be $55 for the smaller rooms and $75 for larger studios.

Spaces are available for long and short-term hire, as well as bespoke arrangements including yoga, meetings and drama and dance classes. Council says this is aimed at drawing in a mix of individual practitioners, small creative businesses and community groups throughout the week.

“We’re really aiming for this to be an affordable, desirable place for artists, creatives and small community businesses to develop their skills, either working individually or pooling their creativity to collaborate on projects,” Ms Hemsley said.

Lake Macquarie artist Alanya Van de Wiel welcomed the new venue, saying it would help address a shortage of suitable local spaces.

“We often work in isolation, but we also need a sense of real-life community, not just online, to support our well-being, creative growth and professional development,” she said.

“As a practising artist, this gives me a focused, inspiring space to develop my own work and ideas. For the broader creative community, it’s a hub where creatives can come together, collaborate and grow.

“A local creative hub also contributes to the wider community. It strengthens local connections, fosters engagement and brings new energy to places like West Wallsend.”

Council says the Sugarloaf Studios pilot will provide a test bed for how best to activate similar community buildings across the city, while supporting emerging creatives to build sustainable practices close to home.

More information, including details on available spaces and how to apply to rent a room, is available via arts.lakemac.com.au.