I R R E G U L A R

A hyperlocal festival of ideas and actions for the community of people who live, work, and play in North and West Melbourne

Have you ever had an idea that reimagined our public spaces or the ways in which the community of North and West Melbourne connects? What if others within the community have had a similar idea or would support your idea if they could?

Perhaps you would like to enlist support for a regular “bike bus” to encourage more local kids to ride to school in a safe and fun way.

Or maybe you have walked past the Telstra Exchange building on Chetwynd St and wondered whether a concept like silo art could be brought to the inner city to transform an eyesore into a tourist attraction, co-funded through a campaign driven by the entire local community.

Maybe your ambition is even bolder, and your idea envisages transforming local streets through the introduction of Barcelona-style “super-blocks” and you believe you can generate a groundswell of support to make it happen.

As part of Melbourne Design Week 2024, and under the theme of Design the World You Want, the North and West Melbourne Precinct Association (NWMPA) is proud to be presenting I R R E G U L A R – a hyperlocal festival of ideas and actions for the community of people who live, work, and play in North and West Melbourne.  

I R R E G U L A R will be held at Cobblestone Pavilion, North Melbourne Meat Market from May 23 to 25. The very best ideas from our community will be exhibited over three days in a variety of visual formats, with keynote speakers and presentations, panel discussions and workshops.

This festival of ideas and actions has been created to showcase the incredible depth of talent and diversity of expertise and perspectives within our local community, facilitate connections and collaborations that may not otherwise exist, and provide inclusive and interactive forums for the entire community to participate.

I R R E G U L A R takes its name from an influential newsletter that was started more than 50 years ago by two local urban activists, Ruth and Maurie Crow. As a festival, it will give the community an opportunity to unite and not only reimagine the future urban spaces and ways in which we will connect but also play a meaningful role in helping to shape that future.

Further details:

• Invitations to submit an idea are now open to the community, with submissions due by Friday, April 12.
• Go to irregularfestival.com.au for a copy of the submission form, and all the details you will need.
• A panel of judges will shortlist submissions against the assessment criteria published on the form, and the NWMPA will help shortlisted contributors create a visual presentation of their idea for the exhibition.
• The panel of judges will award prizes to the best ideas under different categories and there will be additional prizes for those ideas that resonate most with visitors to the exhibition.
• Tickets to speaking events will become available when the Melbourne Design Week program is launched in early April. The exhibition will be open as a free entry. •

For further information you can contact Dylan O’Donnell by email [email protected]