We’re intrigued. What is Idea Bombing all about?
Idea Bombing is a creative and cultural exchange. It is a pop-up event and is part meet-up, part talk series, and community brainstorm. It’s a new way for Gold Coasters to engage, surface creative ideas, and promote ways of turning those ideas into reality. Idea Bombing is a grassroots way of exploring the ideas of the locals, and of understanding how they envisage the Gold Coast.
Tell us a little bit about the first Idea Bombing event?
We are so excited for our first Idea Bombing event where the topic of the night is ‘How do we make the Gold Coast more creative’. The event is being hosted at Burleigh Brewing Co. where the brew bar will be open, we will have some awesome live music by Benny D Williams, and Siguenos and Wheel & Spoon will be there to fill everybody’s bellies. We are beginning the night with three awesome and diverse speakers to get the creative juices flowing, we then turn the night over to the people to bomb back their ideas (be them legal, illegal, far-fetched, or simple). We will display them on the brewery wall as they are written. Then we facilitate the creative exchange as everyone begins to see and understand the awesome ideas surfacing.
What inspired you to personally step up to the plate and initiate an Idea Bomb on the Gold Coast?
I have a passion for social change and community development and so when I heard John O’Callaghan (the original creator of Idea Bombing in Sydney) speaking at an event in Melbourne dedicated to designing for social change, I was instantly fascinated by his concept. I wanted to see if his idea would work on the Gold Coast, to see if we could tap into the thoughts of the locals and use their ideas to collaboratively create the kind of places and spaces desired by those using them.
What are some of the topics the speakers will cover?
We have not given our speakers specific briefs, apart from wanting them to share their ideas on enhancing the creative scene of the Gold Coast. We want to let their creative flags fly without restricting them. They each come from very different sectors so I know their ideas will also be diverse, which is exactly what we want.
So, how do we make the Gold Coast more creative?
There are so many ways, and it all depends on people’s personal interests. For instance some people might be more focused on improving the music creative scene, or the helping local start-ups. Personally I would like to see dead spaces activated, to see more pop-up events or businesses in these dead spaces to bring them to life.
What do you hope to achieve from the event?
Getting these ideas direct from the local community and having this momentum behind us, we will share this information via social media to promote the ideas that require a change agent to drive delivery. We will also provide some ideas direct to local and state government, if it’s something they can address. Basically we want to see if we can turn some of the ideas into reality!
What’s your blue-sky dream for the Gold Coast?
Oh boy where do I start?! I think one of the most important things is we need to alter the global perspective of the Gold Coast and let people know we have moved on from just being a coastal holiday town, home of Schoolies and a glitter strip. We now have more culture, more creativity, awesome start-ups, entrepreneurs, and a ridiculous amount of amazing coffee shops! We have begun to get a more ‘city’ vibe with art galleries and cultural events and we need to let everyone know this so they can explore our local talent rather than just our beaches and nightclubs.
How would you diagnose the health of the city’s arts scene at the moment?
It is actually good, and definitely continuing to rise. Over the last five or so years we have seen a major increase in all things creative, people getting their ideas out there to the best of their abilities. Now we need to take all this enthusiasm and see if we can make changes on a larger scale to make sure we get the most out of all this local talent and all the awesome ideas that are waiting to be harnessed.
What do you believe are some of the hindrances facing creative people on the Gold Coast?
Possibly the ability to get from idea to implementation. There are so many rules and regulations, licenses and paperwork, permits and hoops to jump through that it can be exhausting to even think about. Also, there are, when you actually investigate, a lot of different things going on. But unless you are in the inner circle of this creative scene they are hard to find. So creating more connections, networks, and linkages to spread the vibe is really important.
Are there plans for any future events in the pipeline?
Definitely! We will analyse the ideas that come from this first event and group them into topics, and, based on this, use one of these topics for the next event. That way we are further exploring the ideas that come from the first event. Basically the ideas of the locals are what shape the future events, so it’s always specific to the local context.
Are there any local creative folk you’ve got your eye on?
Yes! Wired by Ben & Brylie is something I’ve seen grow from a little idea and a hobby and I’m so excited to watch them grow and see where they go. Watching what the guys at Brand X are doing in Southport by repurposing spaces for independent artists is also fantastic.
What is the best advice you’ve received in your career or life?
To stay outside my comfort zone and make my own opportunities.
Only a Gold Coast local would know … that our awesome event is on Thursday August 27 at Burleigh Brewing Co. and that the Friday is a Public Holiday (so you can drink more beer)!
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Waking up knowing it’s the weekend is enough to perk me up.
Relax … Social Brew in Burleigh Heads or any place with fresh air I can read a book.
Indulge … James Street in Burleigh Heads.
Dine … My mum and dad’s house for sure! But Bonita Bonita has wicked food for a good night out.
Be inspired … Any place I can people watch (in a non creepy way!).