About CONVERGE

About CONVERGE

As a disaster recovery initiative, CONVERGE is designed to bring new life and energy to Lismore’s CBD. It plays a part in the continued growth of Lismore as a thriving cultural hub, celebrating its unique character, community, and world-class creative industry.

Temporarily enriching vacant commercial spaces, we aim for CONVERGE to provide participating creatives with:

A working environment for making and developing projects
A series of professional development and entrepreneurial programs
Community interaction and engagement
Opportunities to exhibit artworks and present outcomes to the public.

Throughout the program, CONVERGE participants will access professional and creative input organised by Lismore City Council in partnership with key arts, business and education stakeholders. Housed within a secure, temporary, high-visibility CBD space, CONVERGE aims to nurture a strong nucleus of creative skill along with the business knowledge to support participants toward future economic success. With an ‘open-door’ ethos between participants, the space, community, and industry professionals, CONVERGE aspires to have a ripple effect beyond the confines of its ‘bricks and mortar’ premise.

CONVERGE runs from June to December 2024.

This project is run by Lismore City Council with funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

About the Expression of Interest process

Expressions of Interest were invited from emerging and established artists, performers, creatives and entrepreneurs who are local to the Lismore Local Government Area, and interested in this incubator program within a collective working space. Expressions of interest closed 15 April 2024.

The CONVERGE selection process was extremely competitive - thank you to all the extraordinary creatives who expressed interest.

A panel assessed eligible CONVERGE Expressions of Interest according to the Selection Criteria for Participants.

Successful applicants are provided access and programs within the CONVERGE residency space within the Lismore CBD. We aim for the CONVERGE venue to include various creative, collaborative, administrative and gallery / public presentation spaces.

At various times, in respectful ways aligned with participants’ projects, CONVERGE will integrate with the public through exhibitions and studio open days. Care is taken to nurture a safe and supportive working environment, that motivates and inspires highest potential creative outcomes.

Throughout the program, various speakers, facilitators and guests will be arranged by the CONVERGE Project Team to assist participants with business acumen and professional development.

CONVERGE will provide space and knowledge. Materials are to be supplied by each participant relevant to individual need and artform. There are no fees charged or paid to CONVERGE participants.

We look forward to sharing updates about CONVERGE venue, program and participants, as details are confirmed.

Selection Criteria for Participants - considered in relation to other CONVERGE applicants, collaborative possibilities, available space and public programming opportunities:

Capacity for creative development and delivering outcomes
Value of CONVERGE participation to applicant’s professional and business development
Overall quality of the application and support material.