The Brokerage

The Dunedin Dream Brokerage brings life into empty urban and retail environments through brokering a lively programme of art project occupation. We work with property owners, artists, individuals and community groups to broker the temporary use of space – be it public or commercial, empty or under-utilised – for the temporary occupation of creative projects.

We welcome and support creative projects wishing to use vacant space in Dunedin city. We support applications, negotiate with property owners and enjoy sharing our growing experience in successful audience engagement. The Brokerage is coordinated by a Broker and overseen by an Advisory Panel.

Dunedin Dream Brokerage aims to

• Support the work of artists and increase citizen engagement and local storytelling

• Reduce vacant space and activate the city's under-utilised buildings and spaces for creative purpose

• Deliver a lively and diverse programme of experiences and events that celebrate our city

Got a project ready to go? Check out how to apply. Own a property and keen to work with us? Go here to learn more.

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Broker

Charlotte Parallel, Dunedin Broker
Email: dunedindreambrokerage@gmail.com
19 George Street (Dunedin Fringe Office), Dunedin

We employ a part-time Broker who has business, arts and project management experience. The Broker is based in the Dunedin Fringe Festival office at 19 George Street. The Broker is your first point of contact when considering applying to the Brokerage. Your application will be reviewed by the Advisory Panel, and the Broker will communicate with you the decisions or suggestions made by the Panel. The Broker will connect with the landowner/s on your behalf and negotiate temporary occupation by you and your project. They will provide an agreement for the temporary lease of the space and you will need to agree to a set of responsibilities regarding building and public safety. Our Broker will offer you advice and recommendations based on their experience, including developing media and communications material.

Advisory Panel

Our Advisory Panel are a group of volunteers with experience in art, festivals, curating, project management, marketing and real estate. They review all project submissions, and may ask for more information through the Broker. Current Advisory Panel members are Ali Bramwell, Cara Paterson, Caro McCaw, Chanel O’Brien, Craig Scott, David Marsh, Hope Wilson, Madison Kelly, Mark Amery, Vicky Lenihan, Prudence Jopson, Jos van Beek, Ruth Harvey and Amy Owen.

Hoe Ākau

The Hoe Ākau oversees the operations and provides governance for the Brokerage. The current group members are Madison Kelly, Caro McCaw, Cara Paterson, Craig Scott and Vicki Lenihan.

Partners

Dunedin Dream Brokerage runs with support from Dunedin City Council and Te Pukenga Otago Polytechnic. The Brokerage receives funding from the Dunein City Council. Te Pukenga Otago Polytechnic provides overarching support as an ‘umbrella’ organisation and helps us with our Public Liability Insurance. We are looking for future project partners and funding opportunities, please contact the Broker if you are interested in starting a conversation with us about becoming involved.

Building Owners

• The Dunedin Dream Brokerage is a funded activity by Dunedin City Council aligning with the aims of Ara Toi Ōtepoti – the Dunedin Arts and Culture Strategy

• Building owners provide the space rent-free (or low cost) for the period of the Brokered project

• While the activities we broker are for short term occupancy, these may lead to longer term paid leases at your discretion. At the very least your space will be cleaned, open to the public and become revitalised through its use. Our projects often attract media coverage, extending your property’s visibility further

•  Public Liability insurance - For the period of the Dream Brokerage project in your premises, insurance is covered by our partnership with the Otago Polytechnic

• Easy to work with - While the Dunedin Dream Brokerage are an active and experienced group with arts expertise, you will just deal with one person, our Broker, who has experience in business management and arts sectors

• A trusted process - We have been facilitating projects for over three years and have been mentored through a Wellington-based organisation (Letting Space) who have brokered 122 projects over the last 5 years, and recently won an award for their work

Property managers or owners interested in having their property listed with Dunedin Dream Brokerage should contact us (details above) and we will be in touch to discuss further the options for your building.

History

Dunedin Dream Brokerage has evolved from the Dunedin iteration of the Wellington-based Urban Dream Brokerage project, developed and grown in 2012 from Letting Space under the auspices of the Wellington Independent Arts Trust. The Dunedin programme, brokered by Tamsin Cooper, ran alongside other Urban Dream Brokerage programmes in Wellington, Porirua and Masterton. Currently Dunedin is the only Dream Brokerage in operation.

Letting Space organises and produces numerous art and public engagement projects that focus on urban community engagement. They have included many art and media projects that increase the revitalisation of public space and propose social change. Under the leadership of Mark Amery, Sophie Jerram and Helen Kirlew Smith, the Urban Dream Brokerage brokered 122 projects (26 in Dunedin) over five years, and in 2018 received a prestigious Open Source Award.

All Letting Space’s processes, license agreements, templates, forms are available for free use through a Creative Commons license –  see link below.

Are you a dreamer?

Would you like to support artists and community groups to activate our small city? Donate at the button below to give back to our creative community. Everything counts!

Links

Examples of urban renewal through art and design practices:

Letting Space Life in Vacant Spaces

Gapfiller Renew Newcastle

Communa MakeShift Spaces

Media

Recent media coverage:

Sculpture in the Garden Otago Daily Times by Molly Houseman

Tūwhana interview with Waiariki Parata-Taiapa Waatea Radio Breakfast with Dale Husband (Ngati Maru/Tainui)

Dunedin art in unexpected places Standing Room Only with Lynn Freeman

Dumped Items inspire project - Otago Daily Times & The Star by Brenda Harwood

Dunedin Dream Brokerage Bubbles success - Toi Oho Newsletter by Jo Register

Artists depict another view of Cook's arrival The Star by Brenda Harwood

Victorian Technology Brought Up To Date Standing Room Only with Lynn Freeman

The Elephant in the room Otago Daily Times by Gina Dempster

Unused retail spaces set to come alive for shows Otago Daily Times Estelle Schuler

Otago Museum Breakfast Show Radio 1 Interview with Jamie Green

Are our cities too full for Artists? The Big Idea by UDB Co-Founder Sophie Jerram

’Urban’ creative project now Dunedin Dream The Star by Brenda Harwood

OARsome Morning Show - Otago Access Radio interview with Jeff Harford