Activating Townsville's Creative Underground

In today’s unpredictable world, more diverse people contributing and testing more diverse ideas more often, can help solve more problems sooner, and create better opportunities for people and the planet. Unfortunately, regional towns struggle to unlock the abundant ideas and creative energy available in their communities.

Excluded from standard innovation, arts, and culture programs are everyday people who might not be considered creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial, and who may not want to start a business or change the world, yet possess untapped potential for creativity and innovation. Government and industry tend to overlook this resource, too. Therefore, this research initiative, co-led by the QUT Design Lab, the Digital Media Research Centre (DMRC), and in partnership with Townsville-based business DakTech, attempted to understand and activate the untapped cohort in the regional City of Townsville, North Queensland.

This innovative research project prototyped mixed socioeconomic advantaged and disadvantaged participants and connected members from Townsville’s ‘creative underground’ to industry resources, producing pathways and relationships required for socioeconomic development in the regional community.

In addition, the initiative was designed to combat social isolation and loneliness in low-income families and households. Supported by the Queensland Government’s Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts Communities Innovation Fund, the initiative created a safe accessible space to help people who experience social isolation and loneliness develop a sense of purpose, social connections, digital skills, and personal confidence.