Storyscape

What Storyscape does

Storyscape is a privately held, founder-led arts, community, and social change consultancy founded in 2009 by Zoë Dawkins and Pip Chandler, headquartered in Collingwood, Melbourne. The firm operates two integrated service lines: Program Design and Evaluation, which delivers research, engagement, monitoring and evaluation for governments, NGOs and community organisations using traditional and creative/participatory methods; and Creative Project Delivery, which produces films, music videos, animations, photography exhibitions, creative events and mobile apps through co-design processes with communities. Its most prominent proprietary output is the Yalinguth augmented reality mobile app, which uses polyphonic storytelling and spatialised sound within a game engine to deliver location-specific audio narratives from Aboriginal Elders and was Highly Commended for Digital Design at the 2022 Victoria Premier's Design Awards.

Storyscape serves four primary customer segments: Australian state and federal government agencies (Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria, First Peoples State Relations, VicHealth, DFAT), NGOs and community organisations (UNICEF Philippines, ChildFund PNG, Oxfam Australia, Plan International, Dardi Munwurro, Djirra, Koorie Heritage Trust), educational institutions (Sacred Heart Primary Fitzroy, The Lakes South Morang College, RMIT, University of Melbourne, Victoria University), and First Nations communities and Traditional Owner groups. The business model is professional services revenue, project-based and quote-driven with no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct relationships, long-term client engagements, project referrals, and a portfolio showcased via website, Vimeo, and social channels. Operations span Australia with selected international projects in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Mongolia, delivered through a small core team and an extended network of collaborators (filmmakers, musicians, evaluators, cultural advisors) rather than a large permanent workforce.

Name

Storyscape

Legal name

Storyscape

Website

https://storyscape.com.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Storyscape is a Melbourne-based, founder-led arts and social change consultancy founded in 2009 that designs and evaluates programs and produces participatory films, apps and events for governments, NGOs, schools and First Nations communities across Australia and selected international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Social Impact Consulting

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Issue & Advocacy Documentaries (MPADADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Branded Documentary / Nonfiction (Corporate & NGO) (MPADADAK), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

Keywords

• Participatory arts consulting
• Social research evaluation
• Community storytelling
• Creative production services
• Impact measurement consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Collingwood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Design and Evaluation Services: Research and evaluation consulting services for governments, NGOs, and community organisations. Includes design of monitoring and evaluation plans, data collection tools, training, and process and impact evaluations.
2. Creative Project Delivery: Production of creative projects including films, music videos, animations, photography exhibitions, creative events, and mobile apps for community organisations, schools, and NGOs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Storyscape designs and evaluates programs and produces participatory arts projects and media to support community storytelling and social impact. It operates two core service areas — Program Design and Evaluation (research, engagement, monitoring and evaluation frameworks using traditional and creative/participatory methods) and Creative Project Delivery (films, music videos, animations, photography exhibitions, events, and mobile apps created collaboratively with communities). Its flagship digital product is Yalinguth, a location-specific Augmented Reality storytelling app for First Nations narratives.

Product overview

Storyscape is an arts, community, and social change consultancy that offers two core service areas: Program Design and Evaluation (research, engagement, and evaluation using participatory and creative methods), and Creative Arts Production (films, events, animations, apps). Their notable digital product is Yalinguth, an award-winning Augmented Reality mobile app that uses location-specific audio storytelling to connect users with First Nations history and culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yalinguth: An Augmented Reality experience connecting audiences with places and stories told by Aboriginal Elders, activists, and community members. Expressed entirely through sound, accessible via a location-specific mobile app.

Products and services

• Program Design and Evaluation Research and engagement methods for designing and evaluating programs, using traditional and creative/participatory approaches with a focus on participation and engagement to achieve impact. Built for governments, NGOs, and community organisations.
• Creative Project Delivery Production of high-quality creative projects including films, music videos, animations, photography exhibitions, creative events, and mobile apps, created collaboratively with communities. Built for community organisations, schools, NGOs, and governments seeking to advocate, educate, and improve mental health and wellbeing.
• Yalinguth An Augmented Reality mobile app connecting audiences with places and stories told by Aboriginal Elders, activists, and community members, expressed entirely through sound using polyphonic storytelling and spatialised sound built within a game engine. Designed for audiences engaging with First Nations history and culture of Victoria.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yalinguth app contains stories from 36 Aboriginal Elders, activists, and community members
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Yalinguth project, providing cultural authority and Elder guidance for the AR storytelling experience documenting Aboriginal history of Victoria.
• RMIT UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on Yalinguth project research and development.
• University of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on Yalinguth project.
• Collective InsightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with evaluation consultancy specialising in program design, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and Value for Money assessments. Collaborated on LGBTI Equality Evaluation.
• Yarnin' PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous film production company collaborator on Yalinguth project.
• Melbourne Community Indigenous Film CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Yalinguth AR storytelling project.
• Charcoal Lane / Mission AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner and supporter of Yalinguth project.
• MAYSARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and supporter of Yalinguth project.
• Melbourne Playback Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading interactive theatre company specialising in community performances. Ongoing collaborator on creative projects including Our Minds Our World, combining theatre with multimedia elements.
• Creative VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding and support partner for Yalinguth and other creative projects. Government arts funding body.
• VicHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth promotion agency and major supporter of Yalinguth project and Blaktraks Youth Arts Program. Funding partner for multiple initiatives.
• City of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government supporter of Yalinguth project.
• City of YarraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner and supporter of Yalinguth project.
• Public Records Office of VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and supporter of Yalinguth project.
• Australian Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation listed among client and collaborative relationships.
• Berry StreetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services organisation listed as partner.
• Plan InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organisation listed as partner.
• Oxfam AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organisation listed as partner.
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian government department listed as partner for international development work.
• DjirraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal organisation listed as partner.
• Koorie Heritage TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner on Blaktraks Youth Arts Program - Koorie Heritage Trust was the client/funding partner for the program.
• Victoria PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner on Our Minds Our World community safety/mental health project.
• HeadspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth mental health foundation partner on Our Minds Our World project.
• YSAS (Youth Support and Advocacy Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth alcohol and other drug service partner on Our Minds Our World project.
• Neami YFlexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health service partner on Our Minds Our World project.
• South Sudanese Community Association VictoriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner on Understand Me project with New Change advocacy group.
• Victoria UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research support through Dr Alison Baker on Understand Me project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big hART: Australian arts and social change organisation producing participatory film, theatre and storytelling projects with marginalised communities — directly mirrors Storyscape's blend of creative production and social-impact evaluation.
• Cultural Infusion: Australian multicultural arts and education organisation producing community storytelling, performance and cultural-diversity projects — comparable in sector (community/multicultural arts) and government/education client base.
• Beyond Empathy: Australian arts and social change company producing participatory theatre, film and community storytelling with marginalised populations — directly comparable purpose, methodology and client base to Storyscape.
• CuriousWorks: Sydney-based participatory arts and screen media organisation working with culturally diverse communities on film, digital storytelling and advocacy projects — comparable model and audience to Storyscape.
• Clear Horizon Consulting: Australian monitoring, evaluation and learning consultancy for social impact programs; co-founder Zoë Dawkins was previously a Principal Consultant there. Direct competitor for Storyscape's Program Design and Evaluation stream.
• Yarnin' Pictures: Indigenous-led Australian film production company and direct collaborator on the Yalinguth project; competes for Indigenous storytelling and documentary commissions in the same Melbourne ecosystem.
• ILBIJERRI Theatre Company: Melbourne-based First Nations performing arts company producing First Nations-led storytelling for truth-telling, healing and reconciliation — overlapping cultural mandate and client ecosystem with Storyscape's First Nations work.
• Melbourne Playback Theatre Company: Australian interactive theatre company specialising in community-based performances using personal storytelling; an active collaborator on Storyscape's Our Minds Our World project and a direct peer in the participatory community arts space.

Broad incumbents

• Sandbox Films: International documentary production company focused on social-issue and science-driven nonfiction films — analogous content category (issue-led documentary) though at much larger scale and broader thematic scope.
• Nous Group: Large Australian management consultancy with a significant public sector and social impact practice that competes with Storyscape for government program design and evaluation mandates, albeit at a much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/channels/storyscape
• Facebookfacebook.com/storyscapeaustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/zoe-dawkins-0774a029
• Instagraminstagram.com/storyscapeaustralia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Storyscape