Why there's a colourful shipping container in Wollongong's Crown Street Mall

The space will be used as a studio for established and emerging artists over the next two months as part of Renew Wollongong's initiative to activate vacant spaces around the CBD.

Renew Wollongong project manager Alice Henchion said it's an "anything goes" attitude with creative businesses like artists, makers and musicians demonstrating their skills, holding exhibitions, events, and workshops. While the offering would change up every fortnight.

It's one of several new pop-up spaces which fall under the Renew banner, in the hope to entice other businesses to pickup long-term leases in a space and draw foot traffic back to the area.

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Fashion designer Gina Barjeel recently opened a store in the former Optus store on the corner of Crown Street and Church Street. Mrs Barjeel helps migrant and refugee women to learn and find jobs in the industry, whilst producing sustainable and stylish clothing.

The former Telstra shop at 1 Globe Lane has been flagged for the 3D Studio collective which includes a screen printer, music producer and visual artist.

While Arts Eclectic - a female collective with visual artists and a furniture upholsterer - will soon be moving into the old Payless Shoes building near Globe Lane.

Each short-term tenancy under the Renew program is free or low cost.

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Ms Henchion said the concept has taken some time to get property owners on board, but it was now going really well.

"We've had one participant sign a lease - that's Hidden Harvest and Society City," she said.

"We've had One space where the actual premises has been leased ... we see that as a win for the project as well, because it also shows to possibly hesitant property owners their space can be leased. It can benefit the leasing strategy by having an active and cared for space."

The Renew project funded by Wollongong City Council but is part of a national initiative and has already been rolled out in other regional cities like Geelong, Broken Hill and Warrnambool.

Creatives wanting to apply for the Renew project can CLICK HERE.

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