● Meet Shopfront

Our Vision + Values

Shopfront continues to grow, adapt and expand to make space for the desires and dreams of the community. Another year, another new cohort of artists and Young People who develop and share their work through the space Shopfront provides.  At Shopfront, it’s not just about making art—it’s about being yourself and feeling supported every step of the way. 

Our Mission

● Purpose

Shopfront creates opportunities for Young People to engage with their creativity. They vibrancy of their work and our community is the reflection of their own experience, diversity of ability, identity, skills and social circumstance.

● Vision

Shopfront is a diverse, youth-led, accessible community where the joy of expression and the process of creating is as essential and valued as the outcome.

● Values

We believe Young People have a right to be heard - their voices are an essential component of our cultural landscape and wider society. By valuing Young People as equal collaborators, the process of creation and the outcomes are original and owned by them.

In 2024, Shopfront:

  • ● Facilitated 1,074 artistic activities

    ● Presented 19 productions/events to 4,066 audience members

    ● Supported 196 emerging artists through our Open Shop program offering 279 sessions of free space

    ● Provided 119 emerging artists to make new work within our programs

    ● Collaborated with 41 community and arts partner organisations

    ● Provided 17 free masterclasses to emerging artists, and 63 mentoring opportunities

    ● Employed 130 early to mid-career artists

  • ● Worked with 2,560 Young People across 10,415 participations. Of these Young People:

    55% identified as female

    18% identified as LGBTQIA+

    23% identified as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

    16% identified as Living with Poor Mental Health

    23% identify as Living with Disability

  • ● Of our Young People:

    86% of participants felt like they could share their ideas

    80% of participants felt and increase in confidence

    98% of participants felt safe and supported as Shopfront

    ● Of our Emerging Artists:

    93% of participants felt confident to share their ideas, thoughts and concerns at the end of the process

    85% of participants felt comfortable being themselves in creative spaces

    88% of participants felt more connected to the Sydney arts industry

Our Practice

Our Strategic Plan

Annual Reports
“I’m really grateful to Shopfront for providing free masterclasses - as a Young Person trying to make a living in the arts, money can be pretty tight sometimes and unfortunately it can be hard to find opportunities for education and development that aren’t beyond my price range. Your work to keep the arts accessible to help emerging artists is so important and appreciated!”
— Emerging Artist, Masterclasses