Sydney Airport Pty : New creative hub gets $100,000 boost thanks to Lost Property Auction

• Sydney Airport to provide $100,000 grant to 107 Projects as part of annual Lost Property Auction
• Awarded through partnership with Sydney Community Foundation, the grant will help provide new creative community hub at Green Square's Joynton Avenue Creative Centre
• Members of the public asked to BID FOR GOOD when auction gets underway on Wednesday, 11 October

Local charity 107 Projects has been named the recipient of a $100,000 major grant using proceeds of the annual Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said the announcement followed a partnership with Sydney Community Foundation to deliver the proceeds of next week's Lost Property Auction.

The grant furthered the airport's commitment to performing and visual arts, and would help create a welcoming space for emerging artists and the community at the soon to be opened Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square.

"We're delighted to award the major grant to a charity that is creating a real sense of community in the local area," Ms Mather said.

"The grant will help fund 107 Projects' newest space for emerging creatives, following the strong success of its Redfern facility.

"This is another way we're supporting the arts within the Sydney basin, and creating spaces that unite people and foster brave new ideas in the airport's local community."

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said over the last 15 years, 107 Projects had grown from a small artist-run space in Surry Hills to one of the city's most successful creative arts centres.

"We're thrilled 107 Projects has received this significant grant as they embark on their biggest project yet, at the helm of Green Square's new creative hub," the Lord Mayor said.

"Their experience working with creative practitioners and artists of all disciplines and their passion for engaging the community in diverse projects makes them perfect for this new venture in the heart of our new community and cultural precinct.

"It's fantastic that Sydney Airport's Bid for Good program is enabling great community initiatives such as this, which focus on enriching our community"

107 Projects Managing Director Jess Cook said the grant would be a game changer for the communities served by the charity.

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"107 Projects exists to encourage people to live creatively, make positive social change and support emerging communities to be more connected and sustainable," Ms Cook said.

"The Bid for Good grant will seed fund our expansion to a second property at Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square.

"We're excited to partner with Sydney Airport and Sydney Community Foundation - their investment will support the Centre's first year operations and help us house over 25 artists, creative practitioners, organisations and start-ups

"The grant will also fund creative education and cultural participation activities for residents and visitors."

Sydney Airport has partnered with the Sydney Community Foundation this year to select the recipients of Lost Property Auction proceeds. Organisations with DGR1 status were asked to apply for grants in July.

Sydney Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jane Jose said 107 Projects was a most deserving recipient for the major grant in an extensive field.

"We received so many inspiring funding requests and are thrilled that the project selected by Sydney Airport will build belonging and community life," Ms Jose said.

"The grant will support a place for a new community to connect, gain skills, training and friendships.

"By supporting grassroots programs that communities themselves want, Sydney Community Foundation builds belonging and transforms places into stronger communities."

The Joynton Avenue Creative Centre will be managed by 107 Projects in Green Square's new 278-hectare community and cultural precinct.

The centre is set to be home to a broad spectrum of music, performance, spoken word poetry and visual arts in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

The grant is funded by proceeds from the Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction, which gets underway on Wednesday, 11 October.

The event - titled Bid for Good - will see the airport auction off unclaimed items left at the airport, with money raised distributed to successful local grass roots charities in the suburbs surrounding Sydney Airport.

Additional grants will be distributed to other charities after the auction.

Members of the public can take part in the auction by visiting https://buy.pickles.com.au/lostproperty/.

Sydney Airport is Australia's gateway airport, serving over 42 million passengers a year and connecting Sydney to a network of close to 100 international, domestic and regional destinations.

Located just eight kilometres from the city centre, Sydney Airport contributes $30.8 billion in economic activity a year, equivalent to 6.4 per cent of the NSW economy. Sydney Airport is a major employer in NSW, generating more than 306,700 direct and indirect jobs, equivalent to 8.9 per cent of NSW employment. Some 29,000 of these jobs are at the airport itself.

Sydney Airport media: 0437 033 479

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (ACN 082 578 809)

Central Terrace Building, 10 Arrivals Court, Locked Bag 5000, Sydney International Airport, NSW 2020 Australia T +61 2 9667 9111 www.sydneyairport.com.au