I was walking along Parramatta Road, minding my own business on the way to visit a friend in Camperdown, when fate stepped in. The light turned red at Glebe Point Road, and not wanting to wait, I took a detour, thinking I’d cross further down.
That’s when I saw it: Local Edition, a shop filled with beautifully curated items. Though the door was closed, the “Open” sign invited me in. So I pushed it and entered a world of artistic magic.
A sign mentioned an art gallery at the back and live music events. Intrigued, I began exploring. The front of the shop featured a stunning collection of ceramics, jewellery and accessories – ethically sourced from around the world and surprisingly affordable. Then, I stepped into the gallery space. A note informed me the current show featured artists from Berlin. The works were small but captivating – just enough to stir curiosity without overwhelming. I guessed this was also where the concerts took place. I had to know more.
Back in the gift shop area, I struck up a conversation with the man behind the counter, Majid Shahrabi, the owner. Just then, a young man emerged from the gallery. He introduced himself as Iman Irannejad, the art gallery curator, and offered me a tour. Majid added that their live music coordinator and PR manager, Hamed Ebrahimi, would be arriving shortly. The stars had aligned!
As I connected the dots, it became clear: Local Edition wasn’t your typical concept store ─ it was something much more vibrant. Run by Majid and his partner Shimana Sadeghi, with artistic direction from Iman and musical programming by Hamed, the place is the opposite of pretentious. It’s welcoming, curious, and open – a cultural haven for experimental ideas. The shop opened a year ago and has thrived ever since.
Iman, who had artist residencies in Berlin, brought back strong connections from the scene. The current exhibition, Berlin Sydney, features work by artists based in Berlin, originally from Ukraine, Spain, France, Iran, and more. From painting to video, the pieces explore the brilliance and difficulty of being an artist in the German capital. Iman also contributes his own work. He calls Berlin the new global art capital ─ and this show brings a slice of that world to Glebe.
As for Hamed, the music curator and PR manager, he focuses on world music and boundary-pushing, innovative sounds. What began with bands from his network grew by word of mouth. Now, the space is booked three months in advance, mostly for Friday and Saturday gigs every second week. Artists have come from Korea, Poland, Mongolia, India.
More than 2,500 people have attended events in the past year. Hamed notes that while spaces like this are common in Europe and Iran – where Majid, Iman and Hamed are originally from, they’re rare in Sydney, especially in the inner city.
So, what’s next for the team? “A bigger space,” says Hamed with a smile. With their vision, energy, and the support of a growing community, it’s the least we can wish them.
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Local Edition
279 Broadway, Glebe
Open Tue to Sat, 11am – 7pm (Thu 9pm)
Berlin Sydney runs until June
www.localedition.com.au
