An ARIA-nominated Mongolian throat singer playing a horse-head fiddle. A ceramic seal. A Peruvian fusion of jazz and classical. A delicate necklace, made entirely out of plankton fossils. These are just some of the objects and experiences you might come across as you step foot into Local Edition, an eclectic hub in the heart of Glebe that fuses art, music, stories, and ideas in celebration of Australia’s multicultural community.
With a “passion that knows no bounds,” Local Edition’s mission is simple, yet profound: to foster opportunities, and celebrate art in an environment full of creativity and imagination.
You’ll feel both included and inspired as you enter a space adorned with carefully curated artworks and globally sourced handmade treasures. Using art as its main form of communication, each item and experience at Local Edition tells an important story about Australia’s diverse cultural landscape.
LCA sat down with the store’s founders, Shimana, Majid, and the space and events manager, Hamed, to learn more about this cutting-edge corner of the city.
LCA: Could you briefly introduce yourselves and your background in art?
Shimana: My name is Shimana, and I’m from Iran. obtained my bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design in Tehran, before moving to France, and then to Slovenia, where I taught children illustration techniques, before deciding to move to the US in 2014. There, I obtained my Master’s degree in Art Therapy, which has been the main area of my passion for so long. I’ve always wanted to work in a space that promotes the interaction between art and people. When I graduated from this degree, I moved back to Iran, and came out to Australia about two and a half years ago.
Majid: My name is Majid, and I’m also from Iran. There, I was the owner of seven bookstores, where I began working at age 20. I have a love for books, art, and community, so I started to work on this initiative. I love working with people, and creating community in the process.
LCA: It’s lovely to meet you both, and to hear your stories. How did the concept for Local Edition come about?
Shimana: As an immigrant, I have struggled to feel connected and included in many of the different parts of the world I have travelled to. For the past ten years, I have been searching for a sense of belonging; in the US, in France, and even when I returned to my home country, where there were so many things that had changed internally.
Moving from my country to Australia at this age and with a newborn baby, I knew I would lose many things in the process: You really need to adjust to the different systems and culture, as well as many other hidden aspects of the country you are adjusting to. For me, the idea of Local Edition primarily came out of a sense of fear. With a newborn baby, I thought to myself, if I wanted to raise a son and build a life here, “What if I don’t belong?” What would happen?
So, we decided to create an environment where we felt we could belong, to create our own country in a creative way, where there are no borders, and no visa requirements to get into this country, as a mindset. Here at Local Edition, everyone is welcome to join us. All those who have the capacity to appreciate art and have something to share are invited.
LCA: Why do you feel it is important to have a space that promotes this kind of activity?
Majid: Not only did this emerge from a personal need: at the same time, it feels good to contribute to our host country as well. We want to showcase our dedication and appreciation for living here in Australia, whilst at the same time also creating space for people who feel they don’t belong.
LCA: What art in particular do look to include in your store?
Hamed: We keep three main things at the centre of our approach when choosing our artists, creatives, and collaboratives: Diversity, innovation, and originality. We want to provide a space for those artists to deliver this in the way they want. So this might take form as an experience, like a musical performance, or as a painting, where people might wish to take time to just explore it.
It’s important to consider that the cultural spaces in Sydney are limited, even shrinking. Local Edition is a flexible, fluid space which evolves according to the needs of each new idea. We don’t want to create three different, independent spaces: we want one fluid and constantly evolving area which will foster diversity and communication, and has the power to create even more opportunities and spaces in the future, as a result. After all, buildings can’t achieve anything without the communities that fill them.
LCA: What’s one unmissable upcoming act that captures the essence of Local Edition?
Majid: On June 29, we’ll be hosting Sandy Evans and her trio, who will play across a spectrum of styles, namely a fusion of Jazz, Iranian and Japanese music.
LCA: And one more thing! Where can we find you?
Shimana: We are located at 279, Broadway, Glebe . You can visit our website, where you can find the latest news on upcoming events, and check out our products. We also have an Instagram page.
Local Edition has something for everyone. All are encouraged to drop in to explore new artistic horizons and celebrate the beauty of expression, one masterpiece at a time.
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