The Lab

UNSW Creative Practice Lab (CPL) is a specialised arts unit within the School of the Arts & Media that supports teaching and practice-led research across a diverse range of subject areas. We manage the School's performance venues, rehearsal studios and technical resources. 

CPL staff members are industry professionals, technical magicians, filmmakers, producers, sound-makers and production designers. We work closely with students, researchers and artists to develop new work, and hold a range of inspiring events throughout the year. 

Our Resources

We have resources and information in all areas of production for live performance and screen arts. There are many performance and rehearsal spaces attached to the school as well as costumes, sets, props and equipment that you may find useful. 

You can use any of our performance venues for filming, just make sure you book ahead as they are in high demand. There are also rehearsal studios on the third floor of the Robert Webster building.

The CPL team support the creative practices in the School of the Arts & Media. The many facets of the CPL's work include producing, supporting and instructing in the development of performance and cross-media works, operating and maintaining resources and facilities, and linking the University with the professional creative industries. 

For more information on the facilities, props and costumes, technical resources and range of venues and spaces available for hire, visit Venues and Hire. 

SAM Alumni Creative Residency & Grant
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The School of the Arts & Media (SAM) Residency Program supports recent graduates in their professional creative endeavours. This flexible residency program is designed to bolster the development of your creative project through access to UNSW facilities, resources and networks.

This opportunity is open to SAM alumni from all creative disciplines; selected artist(s) will be awarded a grant of up to $5,000 and you will be empowered to shape your own residency.

For up to four weeks, you will have to access to the resources and expertise of the Creative Practice Lab (CPL) and the Arts & Social Sciences Technical Resource Centre; including technical, production and design advice as well as access to industry networks. You can also connect with relevant academic teaching and research staff (where appropriate).

Overall facilities could include:

  • Rehearsal and performance spaces
  • Recording studios
  • Audio-visual equipment
  • Workshops
  • Props and costumes stores

Applications for 2021 will open in late-2020. 

Recipients of the 2020 Residency & Grant will be announced shortly.

Visiting Artists & Creative Projects

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We work with industry partners from artist development to production, and incorporate artist processes and outcomes into teaching and research. Visiting artists provide opportunities for researchers and students to engage with their work, providing expertise in specific disciplinary fields and access to creative networks. 

There are also many invitations to showings and works in progress. We encourage you to attend, ask questions and give feedback. 

Creative Practice Lab team
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Su Goldfish, Manager/Producer - email or call 9385 5684
Contact for: general enquiries and programming 

Mark Mitchell, Production Manager - email or call 9385 4863 
Contact for: equipment hire and technical assistance

Paul Matthews, Designer - email or call 9385 5378  
Contact for: costume, set and prop hire; production and graphic design assistance 

Elizabeth Chua, CPL Coordinator - email or call 9385 1238
Contact for: venue hire and general enquiries

Tom Hogan, Communications & Technical Assistant - email or call 9385 5684 

If you require assistance, please contact us and make an appointment.

How To Find Us
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Photo of the outside entrance of the D8 Theatres building in UNSW

We are situated in the newly built D8 Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab building. View the campus map here.

Enter the UNSW Kensington campus via Gate 2 High St and turn right at the roundabout. The entrance is immediately on your left under the concrete steps, opposite the University Terraces carpark.

The Creative Practice Lab offices are on the basement level. Enter through the glass doors and down the stairs to the left, or down the elevator and along the corridor to the right. 

Parking 

There is very limited parking in the Gate 2 area around the Esme Timbery. During the day, paid parking is available opposite our entrance beneath the University Terraces. Free parking is available from 6:30pm in the car park next to NIDA accessed through Day Ave. There are loading zones around the Gate 2 area. 

UNSW has a new digital parking system for casual visitor parking on the Kensington campus. We suggest you register for CellOPark before you come on to campus.

Registration is free. There are three ways to register:

  1. App: Download the CellOPark Australia App
  2. Online: CellOPark www.cellopark.com.au/Site/register
  3. Call: 1300 CellOPark

To use the App

Select the zone number that you have parked in or scan the QR code at the space.

Hit START to start your session and STOP to end your session.

More information

Find more information about the new digital parking system here.

For general information go to Plan Your Visit.

Organisational units
lensSchool of the Arts & Media