Chris Sheppard launches venue & festivals bookings business, Curate Connect

Former head of bookings at The Music & Booze Company, Chris Sheppard, has branched out on his own.

His new business venture, Curate Connect, boasts foundation clients such as Oxford Art Factory, King Street Carnival and The Vanguard.

Sheppard said Curate Connect will focus on carefully considered entertainment solutions for a musically diverse group of venues and festivals.

“The aim is to generate synergy between Curate Connect’s venue and festival clients, working in a way where they complement each other, and providing dedicated space for emerging talent all the way through to festival headliners,” he said.

“I’ve always had a passion for curating live performance and connecting the dots between artists and audiences, and I feel privileged to be working on a shared vision with likeminded venues and festivals in different parts of the country.”

As part of his work with Oxford Art Factory, Sheppard will join the bookings team and work alongside CEO and founder Mark Gerber and venue bookings manager Millie Lee.

Sheppard said Sydney needs Oxford Art Factory more than ever.

“The live sector is on a long road to recovery following two excruciating years of COVID shutdowns and stop starts, and six years of lockout laws prior to that,” he said.

“Now is the time to rejuvenate and thrive and I’m thrilled to be joining forces with a venue so vital to the local and national entertainment industry. The venue is dear to my heart and the hearts of so many others in the city.”