The Iglu Guide | Blog

Embrace your creative side in Summer Hill

April 27, 2022

When the Semester really starts to take hold and the study deadlines loom, there’s nothing more important than finding time to take a break.

Refreshing your body and brain with something entirely different can actually make you far more productive when you get back to your books.

And the best news is, at Iglu Summer Hill you’re in the right place! Get your creative juices flowing at some of these local inner west venues – and you’ll never be far from home.

Get your creative buzz on

Crank up the creative side of your brain with a self-guided street-art tour in Marricksville. Head to Faversham Lane and just wait for your jaw to drop as you discover over 100 murals adorning the walls – and bins – of this industrial laneway. Once your mind is suitable infused, you can unleash your creative ideas at Marricksville’s Reverse Garbage. Here, your artistic tools will actually be materials saved from landfill, renewed and rescued by community groups to bring artistic projects to life. It doesn’t get much more satisfying than that.

Feeling artsy?

Head over to neighbouring Annandale on a Monday morning and pop into the local Community Centre. Upstairs, you’ll find a regular drawing group that meet up each week to share ideas and offer support. It’s a popular hangout, so if the morning group is full try out for the afternoon session instead. On Fridays you’ll find a craft group gathered in a similar fashion as they peacefully bead, sew, knit and crochet together. It’s the perfect way to relax your mind, learn new skills and stimulate your senses. And if your fingers are twitching for more action, try your hand at pottery for something different. Marrickville’s popular Clay Sydney offers classes for all levels of potters, from those just starting out right through to experienced ceramicists. If you fancy trying it out, book up a taster session or grab some mates and head to the wine and clay night. What’s not to love?

Acting out

Embrace your inner alter egos and enjoy the immense power of the theatre experience – there’s certainly plenty to choose from. Enjoy some live music or stand-up comedy at Newtown’s iconic Enmore Theatre or head to the much-loved New Theatre – one of Australia’s oldest continuously active establishments. Set up in 1932 by the grassroots community, it relentlessly pursues an outstanding commitment to diversity and storytelling with every production. And if you fancy a slice yourself, Ashfield’s Spark Theatre is the perfect place to begin. A safe space for young people up to 25 where they can explore their curiosity and passion, the regular workshops offered focus on unleashing creative potential, growing confidence and building community connections.

Festival scene

Whether it’s through art, music, performance or culture, Sydney has a festival for everyone to enjoy. Embrace your ooh la la at So Frenchy So Chic every February in neighbouring Glebe. Here, you can channel your inner Parisian vibes, grab a French champagne and dance the daily stresses away to the best French tunes of past and present. For more alternative performances and unique to the creative inner west, Sydney Fringe Festival comes to town every September and is the largest independent arts festival in NSW. Spread across five cultural hubs and churning out over 400 productions from over 70 different venues, this truly is a genuine platform for Sydney voices to be heard. And for something too good to pass up, don’t miss out on Inner West Fest. This new series of mini festivals is happening right on your doorstep giving you the perfect stop gap between study sessions.