Our Process
Commonspace by Mouthfull Collective - Image: Milan Maric
Kia ora, thank you for your interest in working with the Urban Dream Brokerage whānau.
For us to strengthen the mauri of our city we need your creative energy and fresh ideas. In exchange, we provide space for artists, creatives and social practitioners in our city. Working between property stakeholders and local authorities, the individuals and community groups we serve, UDB brokers the temporary use of space. Be it public or commercial, empty or underutilised, we look for participatory and innovative projects and activations that assist in urban revitalisation.
Have a look through our process below and criteria here - Feel free to reach out at any stage, all questions & queries are welcome - Our key focus is making relationships that allow ideas to be tested and flourish.
Need some inspiration? Have a look through the many amazing projects on our activations page… or buy the book now!
what WE can do for you
UDB assists you in negotiating use of vacant and public space for approved projects. We facilitate a licence between you and the site stakeholder, organise public liability insurance and assist to monitor and promote your ideas.
Beyond space, UDB offers a total wrap around package through our kaupapa of care that can provide advice, mentorship, publicity and resources.
We are happy to support projects that have funding of their own and need help finding space.
We are happy to discuss the various funding options.
Click here for our criteria
the process
1. Submission
To start a submission first dream up a brilliant and engaging idea! Check through our process and criteria, give us a call or send an email to discuss if need be. Once applicants are satisfied that they meet our criteria for application, please fill out the UDB Submission Form and contact the broker to confirm.
2. Assessment
After processing, the applications are assessed by the UBD advisory panel, who make a consensus decision. The proposal must receive majority approval as to matching the criteria, and they may provide advice on its best implementation. The advisory panel is important in providing outside advice and it’s important to us as it represents people from the independent arts, business, property, public art and management fields. UBD then meet with applicants to vet their application and discuss potential spaces.
3. Location
UDB proceeds to locate property or space options and commence negotiations if applicable. Applicants are also encouraged to identify spaces they think are suitable (in some instances they will actually negotiate the use of space themselves). If we think a project is suitable for a space that is available we meet with the applicant and assess the project in more detail.
4. Licensing
Once located, UDB issues any licenses needed and arranges for public liability insurance cover (a key part of the brokerage's services to applicants) and if applicable assists applicants to obtain power and other utilities (we can help with set-up but the cost of power and utilities is at the licensee's cost).
5. Monitoring
The agency then monitors the progress, and reports back to both property owners, local authorities and partners at the end of the license. We will also feature applicants' projects on our website, through our newsletter to our database and through social media. Projects that aren't temporary should plan on operating on a rolling 30 day period of use.
6. Reporting
We ask projects to complete a written report after their project and hold one-on-one debrief meetings with them. This includes keeping count of visitor numbers and collecting comments from participants.
Useful Links to Other Funding: