Michael Cohen, now director of City People, devised and implemented an arts lab ‘incubator’ model for Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) as a way of generating activation projects that speak directly to the identity (past, present and future) of Darling Harbour and The Rocks, two of Australia’s most visited destinations. Emerging from the first laboratory was The Rocks Windmill.
For many years, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) ran an evening music and market activation offering in The Rocks. However customer satisfaction and attendance at the event was waning and the activation did not represent the brand pillars for the precinct. Furthermore, the precinct had become stigmatised with a reputation for excessive drinking and antisocial behaviour, creating a precarious night time economy.
During 2011-2016 Michael Cohen, now director of City People, produced several projects that endeavoured to address the lack of Aboriginal stories visible in the public domain of The Rocks – the landing place of Europeans in Australia.
