Sydney Nightlife Gets A Boost With Grants Given To Oxford Art Factory, Hudson Ballroom & More

The City Of Sydney has today announced they'll be handing out grants to some of the city's most important venues for expansion and growth of their night-time trading. 

Over $360,000 in funding will be given to 18 local business including the likes of Oxford Art Factory, Hudson Ballroom, The Imperial Hotel, City Recital Hall, Foundry 616 and more, with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore saying that funding would help make Sydney more diverse after dark.

"No one wants a city that’s unsafe and we don’t want one that shuts after dark either," says Moore. "This new late-night grant program is part of our program of dedicated support for a thriving night-time economy. We want to do everything we can to encourage businesses to provide more diverse night-time activities.

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"These grants will help venues across the city introduce new night-time performances, talks and film screenings, and fund important infrastructure upgrades to enable and improve live music for artists and audiences alike.

"We know the NSW Government’s lockout laws have had a significant impact on Sydney’s night-time economy, so we are finding practical ways to help local businesses and live music venues get back on their feet."

Projects funded by the grant will start in April and must be completed within a 12-month period. The next round of applications is now open to Sydneyside venues, head here for more info.

Check out the full list of grant awardees below and how they'll be using the award

• New staging and audio equipment to allow the return of live jazz and acoustic performances at The Roosevelt in Potts Point
   
• Regular live music and performance nights featuring local artists at The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville
   
• Upgrades to the mixing equipment, speakers and PA systems at the Oxford Art Factory in Darlinghurst and The World Bar in Kings Cross
   
• Upgrades to audio equipment and in-house musical instruments at Hudson Ballroom in the city centre
   
• Acoustic upgrades at the Knox Street Bar and Freda’s in Chippendale and Staves Brewery in Glebe
   
• A monthly program of music trivia, slam poetry and live music in the foyer of the City Recital Hall in the city centre
   
• An after-midnight live music and dining program at Foundry 616 in Ultimo
   
• Fortnightly ‘paint and sip’ evenings and ‘beanbag and popcorn’ arthouse movie nights at The Tribecreative retail store in Darlinghurst
   
• Small-scale cabaret performances between theatre seasons at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst
   
• Fortnightly ‘in conversation’ evenings with local authors at Ariel Bookshop in Darlinghurst
   
• New flooring, staging and lighting at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre in Darlinghurst