MCA ARTBAR was launched by Founder Kym Lenoble.
The refurbished Museum of Contemporary Art Australia sought an event to attract a new audience to its vibrant new environment. Event Director Kym Lenoble redefined the attendee experience by conceptualising and producing a monthly night featuring performances, live music, DJs, workshops, talks, and film screenings. Esteemed Australian artists, including video and performance practitioner Sean Gladwell and electronica duo Chicks On Speed, served as guest curators, further elevating the event's prestige.
MCA ARTBAR Producer - Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia
SITUATION:
The museum required world-class programming to align with the unveiling of a $54 million upgrade on Sydney Harbour.
TASK:
An arts event was created from scratch, Kym Lenoble utilising exceptional negotiation skills to coordinate four levels of music, art, and performance with multiple stakeholders, including:
Monthly artists: Often anti-establishment.
Sponsors: Pushing a commercial agenda and brand.
Building services and paid event spaces: Ensuring audience safety and compliance within a complex art program while not affecting paying event clients on other levels.
Curatorial staff: Concerned that an arts event might cheapen the artistic experience and damage the gallery spaces.
ACTION:
Active listening and cooperation were engaged, aiming for gradual compromise to align vastly different agendas. Rigid guidelines were adhered to while gradually building trust to enhance the program's quality, leading to its longevity and success.
RESULT:
Winner of the Best Arts Event at the FBI SMAC Awards in Sydney, Australia, hosted by Carriageworks.
Achieved sold-out monthly events with an attendance of 1,000 people.
Established a waitlist for emerging and international artists to curate parties by the second year.