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Ever had a day when the news seemed so overwhelmingly negative that you needed to Google “reasons to be cheerful”?
If so, you might enjoy this online magazine, founded by Talking Heads lead singer David Byrne. It describes itself as a “tonic for tumultuous times” and is dedicated to publishing stories of optimism and hope.
On November 6, poet and Managing Director Rebecca Faulkner made a post (US) election day poem from readers’ responses to the sentence starter: “No matter who wins, __________.”
She collated their affirmations and it finishes with, “I will show up, make art, I will continue to love, no matter who wins”. You can listen to it here.
As the end of year approaches, I hope you are still finding reasons to be cheerful. Thanks for those sending feedback on this newsletter. I love receiving it, so if one of these articles sparks something for you, drop me a line to let me know.
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How architects are addressing the housing crisis
The housing crisis is a hot topic lately which got me wondering how architects are creating innovative and affordable housing solutions. I found two interesting case studies in this article. Nightingale is a not-for-profit that designs, builds and sells socially, financially and environmentally sustainable housing that’s built to last. They achieve this by removing the need for car parks (and cars) by building in areas that are well connected by public transport, removing unnecessary features like false ceilings, and building a communal laundry on the rooftop rather than each unit having a laundry. Prospective buyers go into a ballot for the set price apartments.
Another model is Assemble’s Build to Rent initiative, where all properties are owned and managed by a single entity that gives long term rental options at affordable prices. Both models incorporate green spaces and encourage interaction between the occupants and prioritise occupants who face barriers to traditional ownership models.
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Substack, a growing platform for writers
Hearing a lot about Substack lately? It seems like many of those leaving X are finding a new home on this platform especially writers who want to earn an income from their content while maintaining creative control. Anyone can start publishing their writing for free on Substack but also create paid content, with the author choosing the price of the subscription. This article gives a detailed rundown and FAQ’s on how to generate income and subscribers on the platform.
Some of the relevant numbers are : Substack has 35 million readers, it takes a 10% cut of any subscription fees plus another 2.9% + .30c per payment and 0.5% for recurring payments . Substack itself provides lots of resources for creators from getting started to growing your readership as well as an free online course. New readers can search by topic or author. A quick search on architecture led me to this interesting post about The Round Gardens of Copenhagen. Could be good for some weekend reading.
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Australian content quotas for streaming services shelved again
Australia’s National Cultural Policy, launched in January 2023, included much anticipated plans for introducing quotas for Australian screen content on streaming platforms. But those plans have quietly been delayed, due to concerns they might violate our free trade agreement with the US. Despite years of lobbying, enquiries and proposals, streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have never faced the same obligations as commercial broadcasters and pay-TV to show at least 55% Australian content between 6am and midnight on their primary channel. So this particular can continues to be kicked down the road.
This article in The Conversation argues that quotas are just part of the problem and calls for better funding for public broadcasters and embedding cultural specificity requirements into funding models. When Australian drama is aired on the big streaming services it tends to be a one-off or set in Australia but filmed elsewhere. Discouraging news for everyone trying to make a living creating quality Australian screen content.
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Check out these design trends for 2025
Design trends for 2025 is a relaxing read. Yes, it’s a giant ad for Piktochart AI, a graphic design AI tool but it’s more than just a list, it gives an interpretation of each trend and its impact. In 2025 expect to see lots of textured effects, colour shading and grainy textures used to evoke warmth and nostalgia or a playful expressive spirit. Retro elements that draw from the past but re-interpreted in new ways, like 90’s inspired colour combinations, will be used to create a memorable effect. Maximalist designs incorporating a mass of details and colour can hold attention for longer while minimalistic designs, bold images, cropped photos and large fonts will also be widely used to create strong identities and focus on core messages.
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Dragon invests in audio AI making podcasting affordable
I’ve mentioned several of Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcasts in my newsletter before because they often draw me in, despite some of them running for more than 2 hours. As well as podcasting he’s an investor in tech businesses and “dragon” on the UK Dragon’s Den. He recently invested in Wondercraft.AI, a platform that enables you to make studio-quality podcasts, audio books or any audio product in any language, simply by typing. Dubbed the “Canva of audio” it has tools and templates for script writing, music and video generation and realistic AI voices. Wondercraft can also translate and dub new or existing projects into more than fifteen languages. By cutting out the cost of studio hire, equipment and editing, it slashes the cost of creating studio quality audio. Time for test-drive that podcast you’ve been planning?
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The pulling power of song
Cultural tourism is a buzzwordy term that gets governments excited, but its often used without specifics. So I was intrigued by this example from across the ditch. In July this year, the 13th World Choir Games, a kind of Olympics for choirs, proved to be a cultural and financial boost for Aotearoa New Zealand. A partnership between INTERKULTUR, the New Zealand Choral Federation, New Zealand Major Events, and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the games attracted over 11,000 singers in 250 choirs and groups from over 42 countries over the 11 days, for an audience of 25,000 people.
At a national level, the event attracted 8,310 international visitors to the country, generating 81,676 international visitor nights and $19.9M of international visitor expenditure. The NZ Government kicked in $7 million, the largest government investment into a major international arts event to date. Another significant contribution to the festival came from 400 volunteers and the registration fees of participants. That’s a decent return on investment for NZ, and no doubt, a lot of full-throated renditions of God Defend New Zealand.
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Things to do this month
- Which process didn’t go smoothly either for your team or your customers this Year? Spend some time reflecting on a better solution for the new year.
- What professional development program or event you inspired you this year? Set some priorities for learning and growth for yourself and your staff.
- Schedule an end of year office clear out, get rid of the clutter and clear the decks for the new year
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