Philips lights up kids’ imaginations at the Sydney Story Factory

Philips Lighting has donated a range of state-of-the-art LED lighting solutions for the Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy in Redfern to help inspire young writers.

A not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people, the Sydney Story Factory offers students free one-on-one or small group tutorials with volunteers to help write stories, which it then seeks to publish. The Martian Embassy shopfront - where Martian passports, alien money, tinned gravity and SPF 5000 sunscreen are just some of the ‘Made on Mars’ gift products available - serves as an entry to the Story Factory, designed to fire up kids’ imaginations.

The Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy. Image courtesy of Brett Boardman Photography.

The writing programs are mainly designed for marginalised young people and those from Indigenous or non-English-speaking backgrounds.

“Philips is proud to be involved in the creation of the Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy,” said Michael Downie, General Manager of Philips Lighting Australia. “Our mission is to improve people’s lives through meaningful innovation. With the creativity and collaboration of Xenian and Arup, the Philips LED lighting technology now creates a Martian environment which will inspire children to write and create.”

The lighting installation includes 220 ColorFuse Powercore LED modules which provide professional-grade colour mixing to give the space a ‘Martian feel’.

The Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy. Image courtesy of Brett Boardman.

“The Arup design team are proud to have had the opportunity to creatively assist in the development of this remarkable community asset,” said Tim Hunt, Lighting Designer at Arup. “The facility encourages creativity and we believe we have helped design a space which will fire the imagination.”

The Sydney Story Factory and Martian Embassy and Gift Shop were officially opened on 21 July.

Images courtesy of Brett Boardman Photography.