Creative Production

As a creative producer, I am deeply passionate about fostering open-ended opportunities for both adults and children to connect through creativity.

I bring a wealth of expertise in curating, theming, staging and producing festivals and large-scale events.

RECENT PROJECTS:

WOW Festival 2022

Together with co-producer Pip Hall, I spearheaded the production of WOW (Way Out West), a large-scale children's festival that unfolded over seven days in October 2022. With a strong commitment to play and community engagement, I collaborated with over 35 artists to animate this week-long celebration.

The festival's program featured a diverse range of offerings, including a vibrant stage and theatre program, both drop-in and structured art workshops, outdoor adventure play activities, a children's sculpture walk, a youth makers market, an essay competition, and numerous themed activity spaces inspired by a specially-commissioned, central artwork by artist Katy B. Plummer. A notable highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Australian qualifier for the World Breakdancing Championship, organised in collaboration with The Street University Liverpool.

Funding for the festival was generously provided through a joint effort between Liverpool City Council, RISE grant funding, and additional financial support from Transport for NSW.

The festival attracted an impressive attendance of over 9,000 individuals, with many being local attendees who returned multiple across the course of the week.

WOW 2022 Program

WOW Festival

2023

II served as the sole producer and curator for the 2023 WOW program, inspired by themes of flight and the transformative power of imagination.

Collaborating closely with various Liverpool City Council departments, including the library, museum, environmental team, children's parliament, and youth committee, as well as local organisations like the Liverpool Art Society and The Street University, I ensured the festival was deeply rooted in the local community.

Accessibility was a top priority, with efforts to offer programs free or at minimal cost. Sensory-friendly spaces were also provided.

The festival featured diverse workshops and kinetic art activities, including a central activation with BOXWARS, where families transformed into cardboard birds using the art of green screen.

For the musical component, I partnered with Major Minor Music Australia to present a four-day program featuring children's music legends Josh Pyke and Peter Coombes.

The cultural program included a three-day installation/performance by Bukjeh Arts, focusing on migration stories.

Returning favorites like the Kids Makers Market and the BIG BUILD were highlights, and the festival culminated in an outdoor bird-themed parade by Circus Solarus.

Overall, the four-day festival attracted an estimated 4,500 attendees.

WOW 2023 Program

Surry Hills @ Play Festival

In December 2022, Reactivate Consulting invited me to lead the production of a month-long festival centred around the theme of play, facilitated by the City of Sydney's Precinct Activation Grant program.

Surry Hills @Play brought together over 75 artists and 30 local businesses, community groups, residents and designers. Collaborating closely with community, youth and local businesses, I curated a month-long series of free programs aimed at rejuvenating the suburb's CBD precinct and engaging the broader community in celebrating and embracing play within their neighbourhood.

The festival's diverse offerings included pop-up picnics, live music performances, guided bike tours, artist-led window activations, a scavenger hunt, free school holiday workshops, and a playful playscape design competition.

The culmination of the event was a takeover of Shannon Reserve and its surrounding venues, featuring a Youth Makers Market, a dog fashion parade, outdoor games and activities, musical performances, a sprawling participatory cardboard city and food and beverage options.

On the final day, over 7,000 people attended the festivities, with approximately 20,000 individuals actively participating throughout the broader program.

Art in Transit

In October 2023, I was invited by Transport for NSW, Safer Cities program to convert a disused parcel office into a week-long market showcasing local female makers in Sydney’s Inner West.

Artists were invited to apply through community call-outs and direct invitations, as well as collaborations with local arts organisations and collectives.

Drawing inspiration from the location's unique architecture and heritage, I transformed the space into a temporary pop-up-style shop. I carefully curated the venue, incorporating bespoke lighting, vintage furniture and repurposed parcel desks as display surfaces.

The space also featured a pop-up florist, drop-in card making workshop and free parcel wrapping.

The activation featured the work of over 35 artists and was extended by a further week due to popular demand.

Positive feedback received during the event was used by Transport for NSW to build a case for the restoration and activation and revitalisation of similar spaces along the rail network in 2025 and beyond.