Arts & Culture Strategy
Nicole delivers strategic projects and plans that foster meaningful community and cultural development. Her approach is grounded in co-design and collaboration, ensuring outcomes are holistic, inclusive, and genuinely impactful.
Isaac Arts and Cultural Strategy 2026-2031
Nicole worked closely with Isaac Regional Council, community members and key regional stakeholders to develop the Isaac Region Arts and Culture Strategic Plan 2026–2031. The strategy is deeply grounded in community engagement and shaped by the people who live, work and create across the region.
From the outset, Nicole partnered with Council to understand their aspirations for the strategy, their approach to community engagement, the resources available to support implementation, and the outcomes they hoped to achieve. While Nicole leads the strategy development process, she sees her role as that of a collaborator rather than an external consultant. She brings experience, ideas and strategic thinking to the table, but firmly believes that the vision and priorities within the strategy must belong to the region itself.
For Nicole, every strategy should reflect the unique strengths, opportunities and challenges of the community it serves. This commitment informed the engagement approach undertaken throughout the project.
To ensure local voices were genuinely captured, Nicole spent two weeks travelling throughout the Isaac region, visiting townships and delivering a series of creative community engagement workshops. These sessions provided opportunities for people to come together, connect with one another and engage in creative activities, while also sharing their hopes and vision for the future of arts and culture in the region.
Rather than relying solely on traditional consultation methods, the workshops created a relaxed and welcoming environment where people could contribute openly and authentically. The result was a strategy informed not only by data and planning principles, but by the lived experiences, ideas and aspirations of the community itself.
Kenilworth Arts
As a facilitator Nicole provides knowledge and experience while leading participants to achieve strategic outcomes. The Kenilworth Arts Council engaged Nicole to develop a new model of delivery for their annual art awards. Co-design with community and the Arts Council formed the backbone of a new plan which provided an inspired vision and practical implementation, into the future.
Keppel Coast Gallery Business Plan
In partnership with Keppel Coast Arts Council, Nicole led the development of a strategic business plan for the operation of three newly funded gallery spaces. This process involved in-depth stakeholder engagement to co-create a practical, community-owned plan that reflects local needs and aspirations.
Public Arts Projects
The Maryborough Story Trail
The Maryborough Story celebrates the magic of Mary Poppins within the heritage-listed building where author P.L. Travers was born. This iconic site has been transformed into The Story Bank—a place where stories are treasured, traded, and brought to life.
At the heart of this project was the Maryborough Story Trail, a public arts initiative designed to share and celebrate the region’s unique stories. Through community consultation, it became clear that Maryborough locals are deeply connected to the rich history and remarkable tales of their town.
"As you cross the threshold, you will enter a world where fantasy and fact intertwine. Tales and yarns, myths and legends, memories and stories – share in their retelling and their creation."
Nicole collaborated with local and regional artists to build skills and co-create public artworks, including bronze sculptures, mosaics, and immersive multimedia experiences. Community engagement and co-design were central to the project, ensuring that both the process and the outcomes reflected the identity and creativity of the region.
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
Community Art projects are an exciting way to bring community together to share, connect and create. The creation of a large mosaic artwork for the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery was an exciting way to encourage engagement. Fifty community members participated in making a large abstract wave that was installed at the entrance to the venue.
Interested in working with Nicole for your arts strategy or public art development? Please contact her via email.