GCOH NIGHT AT SWELL -
Wed 17 Sept
As we finalise our exclusive list of buildings, places and interesting tours for 2021, we will reveal all you can see and do along with the untold stories of the making of our city.
As we finalise our exclusive list of buildings, places and interesting tours for 2021, we will reveal all you can see and do along with the untold stories of the making of our city.
GOLD COAST OPEN HOUSE | THE POWER OF PLACE: WHERE ART, ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN MEET
Book your ticket
Early bird tickets ($95 + booking fee) are available until 27 August. Regular price is $120 + booking fee.
Join us for a lively discussion with a dynamic panel of artists, architects and designers as they explore how creative disciplines shape the way we live, work and connect. From coastal pavilions to large-scale installations, the conversation will explore how the built environment, and the stories it holds, shape our understanding of place.
What’s included:
- A guided twilight walk through the iconic SWELL Sculpture Festival, where over 80 large-scale sculptures transform the coastline into a captivating outdoor gallery.
- You’ll then be welcomed with an arrival drink, and invited into the exclusive SWELL Art Party marquee, where you’ll enjoy grazing boards and great company.
- As the sun sets, settle in for a delicious beachside paella dinner in a relaxed, creative atmosphere.
- The evening culminates in a thought-provoking panel discussion—The Power of Place: Where Art, Architecture & Design Meet—moderated by Joe Snell of Studio Snell. This engaging conversation will feature Indigenous culture specialist Shannon Best, SWELL co-founder Natasha Edwards and artist/architect Gerard McCormick. Together, they will explore the connections between their creative practices and the environments we inhabit.
Event Details:
When | Wednesday 17th September
Time | 4.00pm – 8.00pm
Where | Fringe Pavilion, Wallace Nicoll Park, Currumbin Beach
Cost | $95 + Booking Fee (Early Bird) Ends Wed 27 August
Event Schedule
4:00 PM – Arrive to the Wallace Nicoll Park, ready for an unforgettable experience.
4:10 PM – Embark on a Guided Sculpture Experience through SWELL Sculpture Festival, led by artistic leaders and curators.
5:10 PM – Arrive at the exclusive SWELL Art Party marquee for welcome drinks and abundant grazing boards, surrounded by great company and ocean views.
6:00 PM – Enjoy a delicious paella, mingle with fellow guests and soak in the creative atmosphere.
6:30 PM – Engage with leading voices in the arts during a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring themes of public art, creativity, and connection.
8:00 PM – Event concludes.
All proceeds support the Gold Coast Open House program, helping to keep design, architecture, and urban storytelling open and accessible to all.
Meet Your Panel Host: Joe Snell
Joe Snell is a Registered Architect with extensive experience across architecture, interior design, urban installations, and lighting. The Director of Studio Snell, Joe approaches each project as a unique creative opportunity, blending typologies to deliver award-winning outcomes in retail, commercial, and event design. He is the Creative Director of The Goods Tube, a bespoke corporate gifting company led by Laura Snell, and the author of Your Best Home, a practical guide to transforming key rooms in the home. Joe is also a familiar face on Australian television, having served as a Judge and Co-Host on Australia’s Best House, Co-Host on Dream Homes Revealed, and Judge on House Rules (Seasons 1–4).
Book your ticket
About SWELL
Each year, SWELL transforms coastal landscapes into expansive outdoor galleries, offering large-scale public art experiences that connect people, art and place. Through its major annual festival and a growing suite of year-round programming, SWELL invites audiences from all walks of life to experience art in engaging and accessible ways – across beaches, parks, galleries and public spaces.
SWELL makes art, culture, and creativity accessible to all. Reimagining natural and urban environments through sculpture, performance, and installations, the festival produces meaningful, sensory-rich experiences that stay with audiences long after they leave. SWELL is for everyone—an inclusive, intergenerational platform that fosters belonging, joy, and reflection.
Now in its 23rd year (2025), SWELL continues to provide a world-class platform for artists—from emerging to established—supporting sustainable creative careers and encouraging bold artistic expression. Through storytelling, education, and immersive programming, SWELL promotes wellbeing, fosters social cohesion, and strengthens cultural identity across Queensland and beyond. Discover more about SWELL here
Gold Coast Open House proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our events are held, the Kombumerri and Yugambeh Language Group families of the Gold Coast. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters, wildlife and extended communities throughout South East Queensland.
