Case study: Eleven new projects unveiled via creative deadline
On the 2nd of June 2026, South Coast Arts saw eleven new creative projects preview to an enthusiastic online audience. The preview was the culmination of the Deadline Party, a six-week coaching and accountability course run by convener, Rebekah Lambert from Unashamedly Creative and Freelance Jungle.
The Deadline Party concept is fairly simple – creatives apply to work on a self-directed project as part of a group that meets on a weekly basis to learn, track progress and make each member accountable to a deadline. Each project works towards establishing momentum within the project itself while considering how to present the outcome to a public audience. All while learning new skills such as challenging self-doubt and imposter syndrome, energy management, and pitching the final product.
The combination of ‘peer pressure for good’, sharing tips and advice within the cohort, and actively making time to make incremental progress on often neglected or sidelined creative work helps not only shape the new work, but a new mindset in each participant.
The Deadline Party format
- Each person has 5 minutes to present their project.
- Participants share what they made, why they made it, how it was made.
- Previewing new works in front of a public online audience.
THE DEADLINERS
Lisa — The Goldfish of Aker, a theatre piece set in rural 1980s Australia with myth sitting underneath the everyday
Ann-Maree — Building a sustainable model for hand-painted tote bags as a creative business
Belinda — A 52-card songwriting system designed to move artists from idea to finished work
Millie — Returning to painting with a small series and a large experimental canvas for exhibition
Liama — A mother–daughter collaborative exhibition combining two very different art styles into one shared piece
Suzanne — Structural editing and refinement of a fantasy novel, Whispers of Destiny
Phuong — A mixed-media autobiographical work combining writing, poetry, and visual work
Nick — Finishing the second draft of a feature film script, Shirt
Michelle — Completing illustration of a self-authored children’s book
Rebekah — New installation for an artist residency, including work around grief, expressive practice, and community engagement
Zara — Curating creative pieces for her Malaysian creative residency
WATCH THE DEADLINE PARTY FOR YOURSELF NOW
Duration: 01:32:28
Shareable link: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/XZeW0gm5iOgnzambFQpMbOrC1oDm-fasBeBPUC6xz6MbzP99VD2UU1M4_sq0FQB8.-nb3DQTPgF7-3w5r
Passcode: 77pY+nR^