About the Event

The Dark Arts: Designing a Vibrant, Safer Night-Time Economy

How do you keep the world’s earliest-rising city awake past 9pm?

Join Bec Mac as she shares insights from her recent Churchill Fellowship, which took her to New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Berlin, researching governance, urban planning, design, and cultural programming. She explored how cities can craft a blueprint for making Brisbane the safest, most vibrant 24-hour economy in the world by 2032.

Bec also met with Cultural Olympiad Directors in L.A., London, and Paris, gaining firsthand insights into what legacy looks like – and why the work to create it needs to start now.

She’ll be joined by Tim Hunt from ARUP, a global lighting expert who has transformed spaces locally and internationally. Tim is a pioneer in creating inclusive and inspiring night-time environments and is leading a new narrative: Lighting the Way for Women and Girls.

Also joining the panel is Sophie Mathisen, Executive Director and founder of For Film’s Sake.

Together, they’ll reveal how thoughtful design, culture, and light can turn cities after dark into vibrant, safe, and unforgettable spaces.

The session will be moderated by Collab. Chair, Barton Green, guiding the conversation and ensuring your questions are answered.

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