Part1: SthSthKingSt is Dead
Thank you.
Part 2: Stay afloat …
We managed to raise approx. $10,000 in donations to assist in the move which is amazing, thank you. Unfortunately the whole move ended up being over $30,000, but we have moved in to our new premises at 9 Fitzroy St Marrickville. and are open for business.
The commercial realities of being in Sydney are very crude, we need to get this place functioning with the additional side hustle of running the space as a cafe/gallery/bar, and all efforts are currently underway to achieve this. I know times are tough but every dollar counts in getting this dream sustainable. So if you can’t donate please come to one of our many drawing nights … bookings here.
And if you can donate, then thank you x
Donate today
SthSthKingSt is the home of Nudenight Lifedrawing, it has taken some 8 years to build this fiercely independent venue of art and (yes surprisingly) an arts community, and 2024 has never been better. We now have 55-70 people come through every week from all over Sydney, and even regular visitors from interstate (Now that I think of it we even have some big fans overseas). SthSthKingSt is a place to pause from life for a couple of hours and draw, and make the new.
The warehouse SthSthKingSt and by association Nudenight are however in real immediate trouble. I hate asking for help, but I know I need it, if Sthsthkingst and Nudenight are to survive. Donate now to secure your original design T-shirt in our first print run in 2 weeks.
[I have no issue in transparency as the warehouse and myself Paul Stuart Wallace are fundamentally entwined. I physically built everything here, half from things I found on the street. I live in the rafters of the building. I bore and annoy you all while you draw by talking about whatever nonsense is on my mind. And I run a design business here which is essentially just me funding the warehouse.]
I need your help due to ongoing constant property development pressure and my inability to service rental demands that started at $52Kpa and is now $137Kpa (and due to increase again in Feb). The result is that I will be closing down on Sept 23. I will be open as usual every day I can till Sunday 22 Sept, so please don’t stop coming, but there will likely be less furniture at the end. I’ve considered everything including just shutting the doors, and despite Sydney being a tough place for grass roots to survive, I am not going quietly into the night, and have already started looking towards the next version.
Essentially this is an issue which can be fixed with money (It’s Sydney). I’ve always tried to keep everything running on a shoestring budget, and kept prices along the way as low as I could. Might have been a mistake, but I still actually think the prices are right, as I can tell that some people who come can’t even pay the full price. This however does not sate the needs of property developers and power companies etc. who seem to never miss their price hikes. I question if I can do it again by myself. I like to think I can exist outside of the greater political world, but this issue is a little bigger than me. What is the beautiful dirty human and local arts scene to look like if we can’t house it in a sustainable way.
I’ve sourced alternative more sustainable priced venues in this same local area, but it will cost money and probably a few energetic hands to help make the transition. I will do it by myself if I have to, but if anyone can help it will be appreciated.
I want to keep everything as transparent and transactional as possible, so I’ve created this portal with a hope of raising $15-$25K I don’t know how much it ultimately will cost to build the new world, but I do know it will be more than that. I don’t mind doing the heavy lifting, I just need a start.
Our good friends at Publisher & Textiles have offered to help with printing this limited edition run of T-shirts designed by P S Wallace (Stuntmullet) of PEOWPEOW so you know the quality will be good. All donations of $100 or more will receive their choice of 1 of 4 designs. Anyone gracious enough to donate $1000 or more will become an official ‘Friend Of Nudenight” and will be entitled to a night of venue hire in the new SthSthKingSt venue (typically charged at $1200 in our current space). All donations under $100 will be offered a chance to take part in an exclusive hands on screen printing workshop (yeah I need to get some volunteers to print the shirts). If you wish to remain anonymous that’s perfectly fine, but if you don’t I can see a nice oak wood honour board with gilt written names on it, like a golf or bowls club you;d have.
Every year these places are becoming rarer, can anyone offer real tangible help in me keeping Nudenight alive. Knowledge, advice, and introductions are also interesting and valuable in a time of need. Contact Paul.
NB: The above shirts are indicative only. I will update them when Mark and I have more accurate representations. Also some of the models may be more attractive than you, we can’t change this. The shirts are good though.