For those of us involved in the arts, being politically sidelined and economically under-valued is the default. We have all heard the standard dismissals: no votes in it, not enough money in it, minority (elite) audiences, get a real job.
Yet, flip the language and do the math, and a different picture emerges. The ‘creative industries’ not only enrich all our lives – do you like movies, have you ever downloaded a song? – they add to the vibrancy of our communities, and especially our cities. Moreover, the arts are a vital cog in the ‘neon economy’.
Cue, an Australia-first initiative launched in October by the New South Wales State Government. Dubbed Neon Marketplace, it aims to make it easier for supply to meet demand. Briefly, it has been described as an “online meeting place for the going out ecosystem.”
Helping performers connect with opportunity is deep in Dance Informa’s DNA. It’s why we first published back in 2006; and why we were keen to reach out to the Office of the 24 Hour Economy, under whose auspices Neon Marketplace is being rolled out.
Although we were unable to speak directly with the Commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, a spokesperson for the Office, responded on his behalf.
Broadly, what we learned was that the initiative was triggered by a range of factors, some of which relate to long term negative impressions of Sydney nightlife, and others to the fact that the nighttime economy (6pm-6am) employs roughly 20 percent of all workers and contributes north of a hundred billion dollars annually to the NSW economy.
Alongside Neon Marketplace, the Office of the 24 Hour Economy has also launched its Data After Dark program. Pooled from sources including public transport and spending transaction stats, it is designed to track the impact of its sibling initiative.
As an O24HE spokesperson revealed, Neon Marketplace is a digital B2B portal that is “allowing 24-hour economy participants to easily connect and collaborate, on a precinct level, in real time.”
More specifically, this means that everyone “from photographers and artists to sound engineers and DJs” can respond to listings from districts and specific businesses within them, whether they are seeking “services, support, creatives and performers for event participation, or indeed other offerings that enhance their night-time economies and local connections.”
One of the cornerstones of the roll-out is that it is location centred, meaning that the site is searchable by ‘district’. In other words, it is predicated on building localised and resilient ecosystems of supply and demand. “There are currently 22 districts showcased on Neon Marketplace,” the spokesperson said. “They are collectives of local businesses across Greater Sydney, funded to support business collaborations and promote their local areas.”
Given that we are all well-versed in the art of Googling, what does Neon Marketplace bring into play that is different or exclusive? According to the spokesperson Dance Informa contacted, “The platform allows suppliers to engage with a collective of businesses in a single transaction via the ‘district’ model. It is a one-stop shop that connects users to an entire district and all the businesses within it. For example, if you’re a musician looking for live performance venues, a band looking for future events and gigs to play at…you can secure these types of opportunities more easily via Neon Marketplace.”
And what about dance companies, we wondered. “You can use Neon Marketplace to connect with districts, venues and events looking for performers. This can help you to find new audiences…collaborate with other local businesses for events, and increase your visibility within the community.”
As with other online ‘community building’ initiatives, Neon Marketplace requires participants to set up a profile. From there, they can connect with the districts of their choice. As an O24HE spokesperson suggested, “If you are part of a business within a listed district, you can easily reach out to your district coordinator for guidance. If you are not located within a district, you can just create your profile to respond to opportunities and connect with other users on the platform.”
Although the site has 22 listed districts thus far, the plan is to expand beyond the Sydney catchment early in 2025 to include areas in Greater Newcastle, the Central Coast and the Illawarra/Shoalhaven region. “The good news is, if you’re a creative, artist or supplier, you can collaborate with districts and the businesses within them from outside of your own geographical remit.”
While Neon Marketplace is not solely arts focused (taking in hospitality, tourism and other aspects of the nighttime economy), one of its stated goals is to “foster a vibrant and interconnected creative community across NSW.” Indeed, as their spokesperson concluded, “We’re looking forward to seeing what collaborations it generates.”
By Paul Ransom of Dance Informa.
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