Foley Street
Warning: browsing the 5 creative studios on Foley Street might just inspire you to pick up your own artistic hobby. Luckily, you can learn straight from the makers themselves.
Ceramic whizzes at Studio Enti, for example, will guide you through a modern interpretation of ancient Japanese repair technique, Kintsugi. Broken ceramics are mended and the cracks accentuated with precious gold (or silver). You can also get your hands dirty making a striking sculptural vase or useful bowl and spoon set. Keep an eye out for workshops from the other 4 tenants, which include a self-taught shoemaker and the metalworker behind Burton Metal Depository.
Pine Street Creative Arts Centre
Ready to really dive into something new? Pine Street Creative Arts Centre’s courses run in line in 6-8 week blocks, so you've got time to get stuck into learning printmaking, ceramics, painting or drawing. You never know: after a couple of terms you might see yourself signing up for an intermediate course or setting up your own side-hustle.
Work-Shop Sydney
It’s fair to say that when you step inside Work-Shop, you’ll learn something completely new. We’re talking hand-lettering, learning blend your own gin, making pasta or mixing your own perfume. Work-Shop has one of the most diverse (and not to mention affordable) offerings of creative courses in Sydney.
NSW Writers’ Centre
Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and start that novel, short story or poem you’ve always wanted to write. NSW Writers’ Centre run a range of courses led by published writers to help you on your way to your masterpiece. You never know, you might just be the next JK Rowling.
Australian Design Centre
Meet some of Australia’s craftiest makers and take part in inventive workshops at Australian Design Centre. Classes vary from crochet over cocktails to upcycling and object repair but you can count on top-notch teachers to show you the ropes. Inspiration guaranteed!
Pearsons School of Floristry
Brighten up your home with a DIY posy or vase arrangement: Pearsons School of Floristry will show you how. There’s a two-hour Flower Club Workshop on the first Tuesday of every month, where you’ll learn how to make a pretty bouquet from seasonal flowers. There’s also one-day workshops every Sunday on topics from table arrangements to wedding flowers.
Kil.n.it
According to the team at Kil.n.it, ceramics is a lot like cooking: if you have the right ingredients, the necessary technology and can follow a recipe, the only limit is your imagination. Kil.n.it takes an avant-garde attitude to ceramics, which is perfect for nonconformists. Take an eight-week wheel throwing course, or get right into it with one-on-one classes. Kil.in.it also hosts date nights on the last Friday of every month, where you can spend quality clay time with your bestie, partner or blind date.
Sydney Dance Company
Re-live your Fame fantasies in gorgeous studios overlooking the sparkling waters of Walsh Bay. Sydney Dance Company offers four-week introductory courses that will teach you the foundations of dance and build your flexibility, balance and strength. Upcoming courses include contemporary, ballet, tap and theatre jazz. If you want to dip your toes in before committing to a course, there are also drop-in classes throughout the week, in everything from yoga and pilates to hip hop and Zumba.
Published 4 July 2017, updated 12 December 2019
