Hidden Sydney: Jess Scully’s Top Five Secret Spots

Vivid Ideas festival director Jess Scully is a winner of the FBi SMAC Award for best person in Sydney (okay, officially it's 2012 'SMAC of the Year'), so we knew there was no one better to ask to contribute their thoughts for our column on the city's best places, spaces and hidden treasures. The festival she founded (as Creative Sydney in 2009) has risen to meet the demand from Sydney's growing cultural sector — or, looked at another way, is part of what's prodded that sector into being.

"In the past five years I think we've seen an explosion in cultural events, particularly talks events," she says. "The growth in pop-culture has also been major, loads more temporary art spaces and events. I've also noticed a huge growth in start-up and tech culture, and more interesting co-working spaces like Fishburners, Your Desk and HUB Sydney."

Sydney's busy lifestyle does have something like a downside. "It has assured that I have stayed single and able to work all the time. Ha! Srsly though, there's a great energy and enthusiasm for new events, places and ideas in Sydney that is truly inspiring. I travel a lot and I have to say today Sydney really does stack up against other global capitals."

This year Vivid Ideas is colossal; looking at its program is not unlike looking up at the sky and trying to comprehend where it ends (our ten top picks, of Vivid, not space, can help with that). Though its smorgasbord of zeitgeist-defining conversations is broad, there's a common strand of seeing "how we can work together to create a more inspiring, sustainable and inclusive future."

Jess found time in her hectic last days of Vivid 2013 organising (today it's apparently included radio training and giving a presentation to hotel concierges) to share her five favourite spots in this city that inspires us.

1. Jack Mundey Place, The Rocks

This is a beautiful cobblestoned lane that you could easily miss in The Rocks — I spend a LOT of time down this end of town working on Vivid Ideas, and in the past on SOYA and other projects. It is home to my favourite cafe in The Rocks (shout out to Fine Foods!) aaaaand it is named after a union activist who, along with lots of other amazing activists in the 1970s, actually saved so many of the buildings and suburbs that give Sydney character — from The Rocks to Potts Point to Erskineville to Woolloomooloo.

2. Carriageworks/Eveleigh Markets

A great arts venue (with free wi-fi! I spend a LOT of time working in their lobby on weekends because I'm super cool like that) that is home to my favourite Saturday markets. I love seeing Carriageworks transformed by exhibitions like Song Dong's Waste Not or last year's Rage exhibition. It's great to have flexible spaces like this and the amazing Pier 2/3 which can remain big, empty boxes to be filled by creative imaginations.

3. Redleaf harbour beach/Woollahra Library

I love this little harbour beach in the summertime — I do love a Euro-style concrete-lined beach, like Clovelly — and the stunning Woollahra Library perches over the top of it, providing an awesome place to work on my work-from-the-cloud wanderings. I save this place for when I need a dose of serenity in my roaming work days.

4. Fish Markets, Pyrmont

Seafood! I need to take at least partial responsibility for the decimation of fish stocks cos I eat a hell of a lot of the stuff. I love riding down to the fish markets for yum cha or a slab of sashimi or sometimes even just a frozen chocolate banana. It's the ugliest, grittiest bit of the harbour and I love it.

5. White Rabbit Gallery

I love the ambition and generosity of this place. It's so amazing that this is an act of philanthropy, and it brings a bit of class to cute li'l Chippendale. I love popping in and just drifting through here whenever I can — it's brilliant to be able to get an insight into Chinese contemporary culture through this connector. I like to imagine it is the shiny cousin of little kids' plans to dig a hole through the earth to China.