Our creative community
The Northern Beaches is home to a higher than average percentage of artists, creatives and cultural workers.
Our local creative community generated $1,16m in economic output and $790 million in value added for the Northern Beaches Council area in 2018/19 (4.2% of Greater Sydney's total Cultural and Creative Sector value). Our artists and creatives are the drivers of a vibrant local economy.
The Northern Beaches creative sector has the 2nd highest number of jobs in NSW for specialised design and photographic services, book and magazine publishing and arts education and the 3rd highest number of jobs in NSW for architects, artists, musicians, writers and performers. Our creative economy supported 7,050 local jobs (6.5% of total jobs in the LGA) and provided employment for 13,207 residents (8.5% of all employed residents) in 2018/19.
Find out more about our local Northern Beaches cultural and creative sector.
Are we friends yet?
Keep in touch with arts and creativity on the Northern Beaches with Creative News.
Our Local Creatives
Each month we showcase some of the talented people who live and work in our community, exploring the diversity of artistic and creative practices on the Northern Beaches.
Find more of our creative community on Instagram through the hashtag #creativenorthernbeaches. With 900+ posts, join in and use the hashtag to share your own local creative practice.
If you would like to apply to be or nominate a Local Creative, please email us at creative@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Creative of the month
Heidi Lee Warta
Heidi Lee Warta grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and started her career in the arts in the early 2000s. Heidi had her first solo art exhibition in Akuna Bay in 2008, and today she’s a full-time professional artist and art teacher, with a rich history of works, exhibitions, sales, and inspirations.
Today Heidi’s work includes the use of a broad variety of mediums - paints, pencils, dyes, resins, textiles, wood, tree leaves, flowers, fabric, found objects and more.
Most recently, Heidi’s practice has revolved around her love of Aboriginal culture. Heidi was a recipient of a 2020 Northern Beaches Council Arts & Creativity Grant to develop the exhibition Ochre Woman at Curl Curl Creative Space, 1 – 10 July 2022.
