Building Creative Communities with Heart: Nicole Harper

Exploring Creativity: Threads & Bones

S2 E1: Building Creative Communities with Heart: Nicole Harper

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S2 E1: Building Creative Communities with Heart: Nicole Harper

How curiosity, connection, and good old DIY vibes drive one woman’s mission to make life more meaningful.

Bec Forde

Oct 06, 2025

Transcript

📝 Show Notes:

OMG, I’m back! Here’s the first episode of Season Two of Exploring Creativity: Threads & Bones! 🎉
I’m kicking things off with Nicole Harper - creative leader, festival director, and community powerhouse. This was such a fun chat! Together we dive into how curiosity and courage fuel a creative life, the power of DIY beginnings, and why thriving communities should be built from the ground up.

🎬 About Nicole:
I know Nicole through her work as Festival Director of the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival. She’s also the Co-Founder and Director of Loose Knit Productions, is co-director of Space Girls Festival, and sits on the boards of both CAGR (Creative Arts Gympie Region) and the Gympie Chamber of Commerce. She’s a passionate advocate for community-driven creativity and regional arts.

😉In this episode, not only do we follow Nicole’s 20 year journey to her current (and amazing) CV, but we get a BTS look at the Heart of Gold fest, running October 9th-12th, 2025, right here in Gympie, QLD.

🌟 Episode Takeaways:

💪 DIY Spirit - Nicole’s adventurous, self-reliant attitude (that her parents had in spades) has carried her through every chapter of her life.

🤝 Community First - Real impact starts from the ground up. When communities lead the conversation, creativity thrives.

🎥 Evolving Leadership - In her second year as Heart Of Gold festival director, Nicole champions openness, access, and experimentation - so many ideas but she is a wolfpack of one!

🌱 Curiosity is Key - Creativity isn’t rare, it’s everywhere and is for everyone. All it takes is curiosity and the courage to explore.