We asked Australia’s top artisans (including paper engineers, chocolatiers and make-up artists) to help us create four weird and wonderful characters via a series of masks. Each mask was painstakingly made by hand, and represented not only each artist’s individual talents but also the event’s four key offerings – art, markets, performance and food. Every image used on the posters was created in-camera with minimal re-touching, celebrating the authenticity of the area.

The campaign imagery is colourful, abstract and intriguing. Each poster has become an artwork in itself, championing the skill and dedication of local artisans while collectively displaying the diversity of craft in the precinct. And it seems to have worked, with The Village Bizarre going on to record one of its most successful years ever. Over 103,000 people attended – 15% more than in 2013 – while web and mobile visits increased by 22% and 61% respectively. A truly fantastic result for The Rocks, and all of its colourful characters.