Semi Permanent Art & Design Fair powered by Squarespace

In 2023, Squarespace, the all-in-one website and ecommerce platform, joined Semi Permanent in the creation of a 360-degree co-branded campaign that recruited the use of digital, editorial, content, and experiential touch points in support of their presenting partnership of the Art & Design Fair. 

The partnership was stretched across physical and digital applications at both our Eora Sydney and Pōneke Wellington festivals, including OOH, digital media campaigns, bespoke market stalls for product displays, as well as digital screens, website imagery, window vinyls and signage, editorial content and social video — all with the objective of supporting emerging creatives and entrepreneurs to grow their business and connect with their audiences.

Curated by Semi Permanent as part of our flagship Festival of Creativity & Design, the Art & Design Fair is a celebration of visual design practice, providing a platform for a broad range of creators to showcase their wares to festival attendees and the broader community. Vendors from across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand included independent press, publishing houses, art galleries, as well as artists, photographers, ceramicists, poster designers and digital creators.

Across both events, Semi Permanent conceptualised, programmed and produced two-day experiences that exemplified shared brand values of creativity and community, along with producing an editorial and video content series, satellite workshops and panel discussions, and after parties that drove high audience retention and engagement.

To raise awareness of the Art & Design Fair in both cities, Semi Permanent worked with local makers to produce social-first video content that told the story of their creative business and the role that Squarespace plays in giving them an always-on ecommerce offering that complements their presence at community-driven markets.

As part of the festival’s customary first day of workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses, Semi Permanent collaborated with Squarespace on programming related to the use of technology to create more immersive brand experiences.

In Sydney, Societal agency founder Josh Brown hosted a workshop on how to cultivate a creative flow state; in Wellington, a panel of studio practitioners engaged in a wide-ranging panel discussion on how to navigate the risks and rewards of establishing an independent design business as an extension of multidisciplinary practices that encompass branding, illustration, publishing and UX design.