What lead you to develop Northern Beaches Creatives?

The Northern Beaches is a bustling hub of creative energy, full of talented individuals across every creative sector. But how do you find them? As the owner of Old Mate Media, a company that makes and publishes books in Mona Vale, I wanted to find other local authors and artists for collaboration and cross promotion. However, I struggled. I found that creatives don’t usually show up in location-based Google searches or local business directories. My only option was word of mouth or posting in local social media groups.

Frustrated with this, I created the concept for Northern Beaches Creatives. Simple at heart, it solves the problem of discoverability. It provides a location based online directory for creative individuals and businesses in the Northern Beaches.

The goal is to provide one searchable point for consumers and businesses, who want to buy locally created products or commission local creatives. To invest in local small businesses. As well as build connectivity to foster a stronger local arts culture.

How do you hope this directory will help the Creative Community?

Northern Beaches Creatives will enable actors, writers, designers, musicians, artists, dancers, videographers and more to find each other, collaborate or refer work to each other. Even just describing the concept makes me excited by the possibilities.

As such, Northern Beaches Creatives will provide a very timely promotional boost to the local creative community. Our social channels will showcase local creative’s work, and promote their events, programs and services. By bringing all our creatives together under one umbrella we will have a much greater impact and reach. So important in this disconnected time.

Plus, in allowing consumers to be able to easily choose to buy locally, we hope to improve the incomes and mental health of local creatives.

What makes the Northern Beaches so creative?

We are so lucky to live in an area of such amazing natural beauty that takes its forms in so many different and striking ways. I believe many creative people are attracted to this area as the beauty and ease of access to nature inspires and restores their creative drive.

We also have fantastic arts programs across many disciplines in local schools. This is helped by the strong mentor ethos amongst our creative community where experienced professionals are generally quite willing to share their expertise with younger or less experienced individuals.

Finally, I am always impressed by the efforts made by the Northern Beaches Council to engage creatives and create opportunities and spaces for the sector to thrive. I believe that support is quite unique to our area.

Any parting words of inspiration for Artists looking to promote themselves?

Collaboration and cross promotion can be some of the most effective and low-cost methods of reaching a bigger audience for your work. The only cost in participating in the Northern Beaches Creatives directory is your time to upload information on your profile. It’s FREE!

I encourage you to take this opportunity and grab it with both hands. Create your profile, share your events/products/promotions with our team and let us help you by showcasing you to more people. Then look for like-minded creatives in the directory and consider the possibilities.

 

I understand for many artists promotion can feel challenging, all you want to do is focus on your creative practice. If that’s you, I would suggest flipping the narrative about promotion in your mind. Rather than thinking about “selling” and “persuading” and “pitching”, instead consider that you are sharing your passion with a very deserving audience.

 

Your work will be amazing and a beautiful gift that brings endless joy to the right person, so don’t be afraid to lean into that passion and share the heart behind your work with the world. The more people can understand you and your practice, the more likely you are to reach and connect with the person that is the perfect match for your work.

Get listed in the Call Out for Northern Beaches Creative’s Directory

Want to be included in the new Northern beaches online creative directory?

Visit Northern Beaches Creatives to find out more.