who we are
We build stronger communities and better places through arts and culture. We create experiences and tell stories of place that are electrifying, authentic and uniquely Gold Coast.
As the City of Gold Coasts leading independent arts organisation, Placemakers* Gold Coast puts culture first when planning for a vibrant, liveable and evolved city. We are solutions-focused, creative and flexible in realising cultural activations as part of a broader planning and development strategy. While we thrive on the creative arts practice, we are meticulous in meeting the tightest deadlines and adhering to the strictest budgets.
Whether were embedding art, culture and the voice of the community into the planning and visioning of public spaces or rolling out tailored community events in the neighbourhood, we consistently exceed client and community expectations, delivering out of the box, unexpected and transformational cultural experiences that shift perceptions of a place and build community.
We have an excellent reputation for delivering large-scale place-based experiences (check out Bleach* The Gold Coast Festival; our city-wide place-based contemporary arts festival).
We believe everybody wins when arts and culture have a seat at the table at the outset of planning and development projects, embedding the voice of the community and enhancing the social, economic and cultural life of our city.
We value community consultation and engagement. We do this for our own projects and can help our partners on their projects too.
our team
Creative thinkers, producers, marketers and technical specialists bringing unrivalled experience to the table.
We blend strategy, curatorial and technical expertise to build culture-led experiences for both the public and private sectors.
We’d love to work with you.
Rosie Dennis
As a kid, Rosie Dennis moved between Pottsville and Murwillumbah on the NSW Tweed Coast but many of her adolescent adventures were played out on the Gold Coast. These days her favourite place on the Gold Coast is Natural Bridge, the spectacular natural rock and water feature in the hinterland. After buildng her arts career in Sydney over the past 20 years, the last six as director and CEO of Urban Theatre Projects, Rosie is loving re-discovering the Gold Coast as CEO and artistic director of Bleach Festival and Placemakers Gold Coast. “Creating new work with and for a place is something I really love to do and has been a part of my artistic practice for a long time.”
For more than 15-years’ Rosie has curated and delivered large-scale cultural experiences with and for a range of stakeholders. She is a well-respected arts leader who is best known for developing and delivering projects in collaboration with diverse social and cultural communities. Her work has contributed to a national conversation about contemporary place-based practice and the role arts and culture plays in building community and liveable cities.
Prior to joining Placemakers* Gold Coast, Rosie was the CEO/Artistic Director Urban Theatre Projects. During her tenure she curated the award winning BANKSTOWN:LIVE, conceived and directed the theatrical triptych, Home Country and directed two documentaries, Bre & Back and One Day for Peace.
Matthew Wilson
Matt is deeply connected to Currumbin Beach and its famed, rivermouth surf break, The Alley. “I check the surf there most days and surf there whenever I can,” says Matt. “I grew up swimming and surfing there, now my kids swim and surf there. It’s a central part of our lives on the Gold Coast.” Matt combines this enviable, coastal lifestyle with an impressive career as a proven leader in the global sports and major event industries, with over 20 years’ experience. He’s held positions at the senior management and executive officer level for state, national and international sporting organisations before segueing to his dream job in the Arts with Placemakers Gold Coast. Matt’s also a recent graduate in Master of Business Administration (MBA) supported by a Bachelor of Business Degree with majors in Sport Management and Tourism and a Post Graduate Certificate in International Sports Law.
Nicole Klein
Nicole moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast when she was four, where her father managed the Grand Hotel at Labrador, and her family connections to the Coast run deep. After studying in Brisbane and travelling overseas, the pull of the Coast lured her back to pursue her career and raise a family. “I love taking the kids for a surf at Kirra, bike riding along the Oceanway through to Coolangatta and then stopping at Greenmount for lunch is the perfect day out,” she says. Nicole has worked in a range of marketing and communication roles across brand strategy and campaign delivery in the public and private sectors, including not for profits, local and state governments and her own marketing consultancy business. Her role as Marketing and Communications Manager with Placemakers* Gold Coast has seen her deliver two festival campaigns including a collaboration with Festival 2018, the arts and cultural program of the Commonwealth Games in 2018, which attracted over 400,000 people.
Claire Carlin
Claire moved to the Gold Coast from Brisbane 12 years ago, so is almost considered a local. “I was born and raised in Brunswick Heads so I’ve only ever lived about a 100kms either side of the city,” she says. “The Jellurgal ‘Oceanview Track’ walk is my favourite place on the Coast. It’s a beautiful walk through such a special, spiritual place. Take in the amazing view, hopefully spot a whale or some dolphins and finish up with a dip in Talle Creek.” Claire has over 10 years’ experience working in an eclectic mix of events in a variety of industries including universities, not for profits, craft beer and hospitality. Claire has been at Placemakers Gold Coast for four years and has a passion for large scale, site specific work. Claire graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Applied Theatre in 2006 and returned to complete her Master of Arts and Media in 2015.
Jo Morton
Jo grew up in Brisbane and spent most of her weekends on the Gold Coast before the pull of the Coast drew her here full-time. “Our first place was overlooking Tallebudgera Creek and I fell in love with the lifestyle and everyday beach days!” she says. “I then moved to Mermaid Beach which was amazing, being able to walk to the Nobby shops, restaurants and bars. I now live in Elanora which is extremely centrally located so I can still enjoy the best of the Gold Coast. I love so many places on the Gold Coast but one of my favourite spots is Burleigh. There is always so much activity, places to eat and of course the surf to watch on the hill.” Jo worked in an accounting firm for seven years before moving into providing accounting expertise to the Gold Coast’s leading arts organisations, Placemakers Gold Coast, The Farm and Everybody Now to name a few.
Chris Paget
Chris is most often seen on the Gold Coast overseeing staging, lighting and sound systems for any one of dozens of Bleach* and Placemakers* Gold Coast events each year. But when he’s not busily managing elaborate staging challenges, his favourite parts of the Gold Coast are the vibrant and diverse food scene of Broadbeach and the village atmosphere of Tugun. Chris has directed the technical requirements of Bleach* – the Gold Coast Festival since its inception in 2012, overcoming any and all meteorological events and technical challenges to ensure the show will go on. Chris hails from Brisbane but spends much of his time travelling around Australia with other festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and Woodford Folk Festival plus international tours with well-known contemporary Australian artists including Safia and Set Mo. Chris spends half of his year connected to the Gold Coast through the management of Bleach* – the Gold Coast Festival and other Placemaking activations across the city.
Lindsay Wallace
Lindsay has lived on the Gold Coast since 1984 and holidayed here as a child prior to that. These days, her favourite places are the beaches and waterways of the northern end of the Coast. “We hit the shores of Main Beach most days with an early beach walk and we love spending weekend time on the Gold Coast Broadwater,” she says. With a Bachelor of Business, Hospitality Management, Lindsay has worked across the tourism sector on the Gold Coast for more than 30 years in hotel management, destination marketing and management, stakeholder engagement and most recently as part of the team transitioning The Arts Centre Gold Coast to HOTA Home of the Arts. As a board member for Destination Gold Coast, she also advocates for the tourism industry. “As a Mum to two young adults, we all love the Gold Coast spirit and I’m proud of our creativity and resilience.”
Jo-Anne Driessens
Jo has been fortunate to work on the Gold Coast since 2014 and alongside great creative industry professionals and key community members who are also passionate about the arts and culture transformation throughout the City.
Having been raised in Brisbane, frequent trips to the Gold Coast and surrounding hinterland areas was part of family life and becoming independent with my own wheels, there were many more trips down the highway to go to the beach whenever I could.
Between 2014 and 2019, Jo was fortunate enough to deliver the annual South Stradbroke Island Indigenous Artist Camp and have unique ‘on country’ experiences alongside all of the artists involved over the years. If I am able to get back over to South Stradbroke more regularly I would, however I am more than happy to connect with other special places on the coast like Tallebudgera, Currumbin or Jellurgal (Burleigh headland) for a swim or walk throughout the natural areas.
She has successfully worked across government for 25 years, including a photography cadetship completed in 1999 at the State Library of Queensland, is passionate about continuing to document people and places especially through the arts. Later evolving into the City of Gold Coast, Arts and Culture unit and more recently as the First Nation Curator at Placemakers*. I love working in the creative arts industry and especially working in a city with a beach lifestyle.
our board
Placemakers* Gold Coast is a not-for-profit organisation governed by a Board of independent directors. Our Board bring together experience, creativity, governance and dedication to deliver year round culture-led experiences.
Tony Hickey OAM | Chair of the Board Governing all legal matters regarding Property Development, Tourism and Construction Law and Commercial Litigation. He has also held the position of Chairman for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, Director of Titans Rugby League Pty Ltd and Chairman for the Somerset College School Council on the Gold Coast.
Andrew Arthur | Director Starting as a sports journalist for Seven Network and working overseas for several years at BBC in London, Andrew is now the Chief of Staff for ABC Gold Coast. A keen interest in business and business management, Andrew recently completed an MBA with Griffith University in 2016.
Marion Charlton | Director Currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Gold Coast Airport after joining the company in 2004. Marion has strong ties with many Gold Coast tourism organisations through her past work on the Tourism Advisory Board for Bond University. In 2008 she was awarded the International Woman’s Day Leadership Award for the Gold Coast.
Peter Doggett | Director Recently the CEO of Connecting Southern Gold Coast, Mr Doggett’s career in tourism spans over 4 decades, with more than 30 years in the Gold Coast’s theme park and hotel industry. He held senior management positions with Warner Village Theme Parks and Sea World Resort in the areas of communications, business development, relationship management and international marketing. He is as an Honorary Life Member of Gold Coast Tourism and the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC)
Peta Fielding | Director CEO, Burleigh Brewing Co, and Chair of the Craft Beer Association. Currently holds directorships with Gold Coast Tourism and newly appointed as a board member of Major Events Gold Coast.
Darryl Gregor OAM | Director Dr Darryl Gregor is a leading Gold Coast ophthalmic surgeon. He specialises in cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange surgery and has an interest in high-end intraocular lenses. He is a member of Bond University Council since 2013 and in the 2014 Australia Day Awards.
Aaron Lavell | Director Managing partner and founding member of WMS Chartered Accountants. Over twenty years’ experience in the accounting industry after commencing his career at Ernst & Young.
our clients
We’ve partnered with a range of clients to deliver culture-led placemaking experiences to sold out audiences.
We’ve collaborated with Opera Australia to stage the ambitious Opera on the Beach at Coolangatta, with QT Hotel Gold Coast and Peppers Soul on the immersive arts experience, Hotelling. We’ve delivered the Jewell International Kite Festival for the Yuhu Group, curated programs for Tourism Australia conferences, officially opened and programmed entertainment for major shopping precincts and the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Welcoming Ceremony. Our productions have won the Sydney Myer Group Award in 2019 and the Helpmann Award in 2018 for Tide in collaboration with The Farm.
our story
as curators of one of Australia’s most exciting site-specific arts festivals, our role in developing the city’s authentic sense of place is notable.
Placemakers* Gold Coast started as a small Fringe Festival alongside the World Championship Tour Quiksilver Pro surfing event, held on the Southern Gold Coast. This festival, Bleach* Surfing the Fringe, launched in 2012 as a pilot with a budget of $40,000 and attracted an audience of 30,000 over the 16-day duration. The founding director was Louise Bezzina. Its early success demonstrated the strong demand for the performing arts in the Gold Coast region and led to a commitment of ongoing funding and support from the City of Gold Coast.
From humble beginnings, Bleach* Festival, has become one of Australia’s leading and most exciting site-specific contemporary arts festivals and has attracted close to one million people (including Festival 2018, the Commonwealth Games cultural festival).
Just as our centrepiece project has grown and evolved over time, so too has our company. Bleached Arts Ltd was formed in 2015 to facilitate the growth of the Festival and sector. Our ability to adapt and respond to this growth continues as we evolve from Bleached Arts to Placemakers* Gold Coast.
We’re really proud of some other things we have achieved along the way including these highlights:-
Winning a Helpmann Award
for Best Visual or Physical Theatre Production for TIDE by acclaimed Gold Coast Dance Company, The Farm and Bleach* Festival in 2018. We’ve also received an additional 4 Helpmann Award Nominations.
In 2019 the Festival was awarded Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award (Group Award)
More than $35M
of reported economic impact.
More than $12M
of combined media value.
Employment of over 3,000 artists
and creatives with more than 2,000 of these being Gold Coast locals.
More than 500 performances
including World, National and State premieres and over 50 key commissions created.