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The Cutaway – a cavernous space beneath Barangaroo Reserve on the edge of Sydney Harbour – is reopening this May after closing two years ago for a massive $100 million transformation.
The venue, delivered by Infrastructure NSW in partnership with FDC Construction & Fitout, as well as architects fjcstudio in collaboration with First Nations artists and creatives Shannon Foster and Jake Nash, is set to become Australia’s largest and most versatile cultural and events venue, with a capacity of up to 3,000 people.
The multi-faceted venue, located a few minutes’ walk from Barangaroo Metro, includes multiple event spaces that can be used separately or all together, for everything from international concerts and fashion shows to gala dinners, weddings and more. The pièce de résistance is the Main Hall, which fits 2,300 guests and showcases the original 14-metre-high sandstone cliff wall. Another standout is the 13 striking custom-made trees that honour Saltwater Country.
There are also gallery and exhibition rooms, a massive commercial kitchen, green rooms and a First Nations education space. Accessibility is a major focus too, with Changing Places facilities for people with disabilities and step-free access from Barangaroo Metro Station.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “The new Cutaway space joins the Opera House as one of the great cultural and event locations on the iconic shore of Sydney Harbour – confirming Sydney’s status as a world-class city for arts, culture and major events.
This extraordinary space is unlike anything else in Australia – deeply connected to Sydney, architecturally striking and built to host major events that draw visitors, investment and creative talent to our city.”
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham added: “The Cutaway provides Sydney with something much-needed: a large-scale, flexible, indoor cultural venue capable of supporting everything from live performances to festivals, art installations and community gatherings.
The space is so well positioned by Sydney Harbour and so well connected to the nearby Barangaroo Metro Station. It will be a very welcome boost for the creative industries and the night-time and visitor economies.”
There are so many more things to love about The Cutaway, including that it’s 100 per cent powered by renewable energy. It’s also been fitted out with state-of-the-art acoustics – including two layers of glass separated by an air pocket to improve sound, while also enhancing natural light.
Plus, The Cutaway will be able to operate 24/7, with the first events kicking off this May.
I was lucky to get a sneak peek recently and was genuinely blown away by its scale and how it combines sustainability, First Nations culture and a sense of place so seamlessly. Safe to say I’m excited.
You can learn more over here.
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