Last week, the Minns Labor Government unveiled The Cutaway, Sydney’s newest cultural and events playground that will operate 24/7.

What was once a concrete shell housed beneath Barangaroo Reserve, is now a highly-stylised, world-class cultural and events space. Sitting at a massive 10,000 square metres, including two mezzanine levels and a total capacity of 3000, The Cutaway is well-placed to become the go-to tourist destination for a variety of cultural and entertainment events.

“The new Cutaway space joins the Opera House as one of the great cultural and event locations on the iconic shore of Sydney Harbour,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said. “It confirms Sydney’s status as a world-class city for arts, culture and major events.”

Delivered by Infrastructure NSW in partnership with FDC Construction & Fitout and architectural practice fjcstudio with Shannon Foster and Jake Nash, the fitout embeds First Nations cultural expression and sustainability throughout the design

Notwithstanding its remarkable capacity and direct access to Barangaroo Metro Station, the venue comprises refined acoustics and purpose-built facilities such as a gallery and exhibition rooms, green room, ticketing office, commercial kitchen and multiple event spaces for festivals, exhibitions and installations alike.

Built for scale, shaped by culture and craft 

With the growing demands of sustainability in architecture, The Cutaway comprises 13 sculptural trees using up to 115 timber pieces puzzled together per tree. Each piece weighs between seven and 950 kilograms and is between seven and 17 metres tall.

“This extraordinary space is unlike anything else in Australia,” Minns said. “It’s deeply connected to Sydney, architecturally striking and built to host major events that draw visitors, investment and creative talent to our city.”

The Cutaway represents the NSW Government’s plan to inject a shot in the arm of Sydney’s visitor economy by providing easy access and relaxing nighttime trading restrictions and concert caps through the work of Minister for Planning, Paul Scully.

“We’ve set The Cutaway up to be a must-visit destination for locals and visitors who can expect to attend everything from festivals to art exhibitions, performances and community gatherings at the new venue,” Scully says. 

With the venue’s first event nearing, Scully has high hopes. “Now just a few weeks away from hosting its first event, the Minns Labor Government has made sure Sydney’s growing event calendar can make the most of The Cutaway, by enabling it to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week as needed,” he said.

Steve Kamper, Minister for Jobs and Tourism predicts The Cutaway will be the “beating heart of Barangaroo”, boosting local economy and establishing Sydney as a must-visit global destination.

“This world-class indoor cultural venue shows what’s possible when we invest in great design, sustainability and culture, supporting local jobs and energising our night-time economy for years to come,” Kamper said.

In a city hailed for its cultural landmarks, The Cutaway is sure to break barriers in scale, diversity and sustainability.

The Cutaway will open with a weekend of events and creativity in May. The free opening event will feature live music alongside access to the new gallery spaces, workshops and tours. The Cutaway will undergo final event preparations over the coming months and open from 1 August for bookings.

Photography by Toby Shain.