New, streamlined guidelines will make it easier than ever before for street performers to entertain the public in Sydney.
Complex busking guidelines have been replaced with a simplified policy to encourage more diversity in Sydney's busking culture and open up opportunities in more city locations.
The policy simplifies the conditions that apply to different types of busking acts as well as the places where they can be performed. It includes a new permit system that categorises busking acts by their impact on public land and the volume and nature of sound they generate.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was the City's responsibility to ensure the safety, amenity and harmonious enjoyment of public spaces for everyone.
"We learned from the world's best busking cities and worked with street performers, residents, businesses, government agencies and the music industry to streamline our busking guidelines," the Lord Mayor said.
"Our new busking policy replaces a convoluted process and makes it easier than ever before for street performers to apply for their permits.
"This is important because we want to support cultural activities on our city streets, especially as we transition to a more pedestrian-friendly inner city. The quality of busking in Sydney has never been better and I know our new guidelines will support buskers to continue making a wonderful contribution to our diverse cultural life."
The use of busking location maps will be discontinued and replaced with criteria for self-assessing a suitable busking location. Acts will be classified under three categories:
- Low impact soloists or small groups utilising a performance space under 2m2
- High impact dance groups or acts that require a larger space and may incorporate the use of higher-risk equipment or materials
- Extended duration human statues or pavement artists creating works over a long timeframe.
The policy will be supported by a Sydney busking code – a guidebook on how best to busk, busking etiquette and the management system for high-traffic busking sites such as Pitt Street Mall.
The City will continue to work with landholders and neighbouring councils to actively increase the number of new busking pitches across Sydney. It is hoped that opening up more locations across the city will reduce the reliance on the most popular, high-traffic busking sites and disperse performers to new locations.
New permits are now being issued to buskers. Buskers with a current permit will have six weeks to update to the new permit, while the old permits are phased out.
For more details on the City's new busking policy go to www.city.sydney/busking
