Bayside Council has received $350,000 in grant funding from Transport for NSW's (TfNSW) Open Streets program to deliver three exciting creative festival events over three years.
Creative Carlton, a transformative arts festival, is set to highlight Carlton as a thriving creative precinct in Southern Sydney.
Funded through the NSW Government's Open Streets Program, this multi-year festival will bring Carlton's streets to life with a vibrant mix of artistic expression, community engagement, and local business activation. Carlton will host a series of immersive events which will include street theatre, live music, art demonstrations, creative workshops, and food stalls that showcase the area's creative diversity.
Creative Carlton builds on the success of Bayside Council's Winter Wonderland event in Bexley North, which was also supported by the Open Streets Program.
The successful event transformed Shaw Street into a vibrant street wonderland with market stalls, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities drawing large crowds and boosting local business.
Carlton is already home to a growing number of creative institutions and the Creative Carlton initiative will build on this foundation, turning the suburb into a stage for both emerging and established artists to showcase their talents.
The initiative is also supported by Transport for NSW's Community Improvement District Pilot Program, which aims to revitalise high streets and promote economic growth through creative activation.
The Open Streets Program is part of the NSW Government's Vibrant Streets Package, which supports Councils in transforming streets into vibrant public spaces. The 2025-2028 round introduces multi-year funding, requiring councils to host annual events and implement traffic and development plans to support long-term activation.
Bayside Mayor Edward McDougall said
"Creative Carlton is a celebration of our local creative talent and a bold step toward shaping Carlton into a thriving cultural destination."
"We're proud to support initiatives that not only bring joy to our community but also drive economic growth and strengthen our identity as a creative city."
"Bayside is thankful for the opportunity and support we are receiving from Transport for NSW and their Open Streets Program to bring this vision to life.
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