Vacant To Vibrant

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Introduction

The Vacant to Vibrant program invites artists, creatives, property owners, and real estate agents to activate vacant shopfronts through temporary art, lighting, and creative advertising installations within the Burwood LGA. This initiative aims to beautify vacant spaces, support local artists, and demonstrate the potential of short-term pop-up opportunities for property owners and developers. Installations will align with Burwood’s Cultural Strategy and may include:

  • Art studios and exhibition spaces.
  • Lighting and digital art displays.
  • Creative advertising and branding activations.
  • Other artistic interventions that enhance the public realm.

Council will facilitate connections between real estate agents, property owners and the creative industry to activate these spaces while also providing employment opportunities for local artists. 

Objective

  1. Enhance public space to transform vacant shopfronts into vibrant, engaging, and visually appealing areas.
  2. Support local artists to showcase their work in visible, public-facing settings.
  3. Encourage collaboration between artists, property owners, and tenants to activate spaces.
  4. Stimulate economic activity by turning underutilised spaces into attractions that increase foot traffic.
  5. Foster community engagement to create pride and a sense of ownership in the streetscape.

You can find full details on the Vacant to Vibrant initiative in the Licence to Play Policy.

Apply for Vacant to Vibrant

View Licence to Play Policy(PDF, 3MB)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vacant to Vibrant program?

The program encourages artists, creatives, property owners, and real estate agents to temporarily activate vacant shopfronts with art, lighting, or creative advertising to beautify spaces, support local artists, and demonstrate pop-up opportunities for property owners.

 

 

Who can participate?

Eligible participants include:

  • Property owners and real estate agents with vacant shopfronts in the Burwood LGA.

  • Artists, designers, and creatives seeking to install temporary activations.

  • Businesses collaborating on creative shopfront projects.

 

What types of installations are allowed?

Installations may include art studios or exhibition spaces, lighting and digital art displays, creative advertising, and other artistic interventions that enhance the public realm. All installations must be safe, visually appealing, and non-obstructive to pedestrians.

 

 

How do I apply?

Participants must submit a proposal via the expression of interest application form and include:

  • Concept, materials, and intended impact.
  •  Safety measures and pedestrian flow considerations.
  •  Proposed duration of the installation.
  •  Collaboration agreements with property owners or tenants.

Council assesses applications based on creative merit, feasibility, safety, and alignment with program objectives.

 

What responsibilities do participants have?

Eligible participants must:

  • Fund design, installation, maintenance, and removal costs.
  •  Ensure installations are safe, visually suitable, and compliant with regulations.
  •  Maintain a clear pedestrian pathway of at least 1.8m
  •  Restore shopfronts to their original condition after the installation period.
  •  Hold a minimum of $20 million Public Liability Insurance.
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