Gold Coast Women of the Year: Bleach* CEO Louise Bezzina
The Gold Coast’s signature arts festival is a resounding success now, but it wasn’t easy trying to lift it off the ground when Louise Bezzina launched it six years ago.
Women of the Year
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women of the Year. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT is the Gold Coast’s signature arts and music festival that has showcased the personality of the city for close to a decade.
But for Louise Bezzina, the creator, artistic director and CEO of the Bleach* Festival, the event feels like less of a job and more like a third child.
From its launch in 2012 to today, Bleach* has grown to become the biggest employer of artists in the city.
It brought in $8.7 million to the local economy last year alone.
OTHER GOLD COAST WOMEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
For the Gold Coast Women of the Year award nominee, the growth of the festival wasn’t always an easy ride as she worked to juggle her young family with the demands of the event and to find her feet on the Coast.
“We have a really dedicated team of volunteers and employees. It is because of them we are able to get going,” Ms Bezzina said.
“The biggest challenge was our second year. It rained the whole festival, which isn’t great when it is outdoors.
NOMINATE HERE FOR GOLD COAST WOMEN OF THE YEAR
“It was pretty lonely back in those days as I was new to the coast and was only a few weeks pregnant, so I was incredibly ill.
“It is really tough to bounce back after that but here we are, planning for 2019,” she laughed.
The proud Griffith University student had her first taste of organising festivals in her home town of Mackay at the age of 23.
“I was asked to go home and put together the Mackay Festival. It was an amazing opportunity, really a sink or swim moment, but I was lucky to have a home town advantage.”
It was there Ms Bezzina discovered her ability to combine her artistic vision with her organisational skills.
GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY
“I think my mind does work through a creative lens but I do always consider how I make it work practically,” she said.
“What I learnt there was how to be a good communicator, and being inspired by the community where you are working and building trust.
“I think festivals are really important in bringing together a city, to show its authentic view and challenge people’s minds.
“It also has a great impact on tourism.’’
Her advice to others keen to take on large events is to have passion.
“Passion is it. You need to be really committed and really think about what you are doing and what you want. Great things only happen with hard work.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin’s inaugural Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year awards celebrate the city’s leading females.
Being Glitter Mum: It was doing so well I quit my job
The mother of entrepreneurial sensation Sophia Rizzo who started soaring company Glitter Girl before she was 10 has plenty of advice for parents of youngsters planning start ups.
Harvey Norman CEO: ‘No retiring or legacy talk. I think what’s next?’
Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page - fresh from expansion in the UK - opens up on her enduring belief in bricks and mortar retail while dismissing suggestion of retirement or care for legacy.