Brookvale Arts District (BAD)

Brand identity delivered by Kayapa Studio. 
Placemaking Strategy, stakeholder & community engagement, grant writing, public speaking and planning and execution of an event.

Transforming Brookvale: A Visionary Placemaking Exercise.

The story of Lara Allport, Director of The National Grid and Vice President of Brookvale Arts District (BAD), who participated in Enterprise NSW’s Uptown Accelerator program.

Through this program, Lara and the BAD team secured seed funding for a visionary placemaking exercise aimed at showcasing the extraordinary potential of Brookvale as an Arts, Industry, and Entertainment precinct. 

This case study explores the challenges faced, strategies implemented, and the positive impact created by BAD’s efforts in transforming Brookvale.

BAD Poster!

Together with BINYAN studios and artist Ben Brown, we developed a series of augmented reality posters to be installed throughout Brookvale.

Featuring 15 posters measuring 1.2 x 1.7m in size, these feature Augmented Reality animations by Ben Brown and are strategically positioned within the BAD precinct, encouraging onlookers to take the whole district in.

Additionally, two giant Frankenstein & bride paste-ups, standing at an impressive 10 meters in height, now grace the corner of Orchard Lane / Road and a second one the side of Entertainment Venue LABEL.

Goals and Objectives

The main goal was to develop a placemaking exercise that would highlight and showcase Brookvale’s extraordinary potential.

The specific objectives of the project included:

• Transforming Brookvale into a vibrant arts and entertainment hub, working with the Government (both Federal and State), Department of Planning, the Live Music Office and APRA AMCOS to establish Brookvale East as a special Entertainment precinct and lift stifling regulatory restrictions. 

• Attracting talent, tourists, artists, creative industries, and businesses to the area.

• Engaging the local community and fostering a sense of pride and ownership.

• Boosting tourism and the local economy.

Strategies Implemented

To address the challenges and achieve BADs goals, team BAD implemented the following strategies:

Comprehensive planning: 

We conducted extensive research and collaborated with experts to develop a detailed plan encompassing infrastructure development, marketing strategies, and community engagement initiatives, including a comprehensive response to Northern Beaches Council’s Structure Plan released late 2022.

Community involvement: 

BAD organised town hall meetings, workshops, and public consultations to involve the community in decision-making processes and gather their feedback.

Collaborations and partnerships: 

BAD reached out to artists, creative industries, and local businesses, fostering partnerships to leverage resources and expertise. BAD also collaborated with government agencies, tourism boards, and educational institutions to create a network of support.

Marketing and promotion: 

The BAD team designed a comprehensive marketing campaign to raise awareness about Brookvale’s transformation, targeting both local and regional audiences through building a comprehensive website and ecommerce platform, social media, digital advertising, and participation in relevant conferences, events and exhibitions.

Outcomes and Impact

The visionary placemaking exercise  yielded significant outcomes and continues to have a transformative impact on Brookvale:

Vibrant arts and entertainment hub: 

BAD is fast becoming a thriving centre for artists, performers, and creative industries, attracting talent from across the region. 

Surge in culture: 

BAD will see a huge surge in cultural activities, festivals, and exhibitions, as we endeavour to make this region a self sustaining precinct.

Economic growth and employment opportunities: 

The transformation of Brookvale into an arts and industry precinct will result in increased tourist footfall, job creation, and boost local businesses.

Community revitalisation: 

The project is installing a renewed sense of pride and ownership among the local community, fostering social cohesion and community engagement.

Recognition and accolades: 

Brookvale’s transformation is garnering national and international recognition, positioning it as a model for successful placemaking initiatives. We have been approached by representative from the South Coast to roll-out our placemaking template in their region over the next 12-24 months.