ART+ UNVEILS MAJOR ART ACTIVATION AT FORUM DOUBLE BAY

One of Sydney’s newest premium workplace destinations has unveiled a major art activation designed to transform the traditional office experience.

Contemporary art curator ART+ has partnered with Forum Double Bay to deliver a curated art program throughout the recently opened workspace, anchored by a large-scale mural from Australian artist Vicki Lee in the building’s central atrium.

The collection also includes works by internationally recognised artists Sebastian Magnani, Alan Walsh, Terry O’Neill, Tyler Shields and Alexander Calder, creating what the partners describe as an art-infused environment that integrates culture into the everyday workplace experience.

Rather than treating art as a decorative addition, the program has been designed to form part of the building’s identity, creating moments of inspiration and engagement throughout the day for members and visitors alike.

ART+ founder Jay Lyon said the collaboration reflected a shared vision between the curator and developer to create workspaces that offer more than desks and meeting rooms.

“This is a unique moment to shape the way people experience workspace: not just as a place to work, but as a place to be inspired. Fortis and Art+ share that vision,” he said.

The activation comes as workplace design continues to evolve, with premium operators increasingly incorporating hospitality, wellness and cultural experiences into office environments as businesses seek to attract employees back into physical workspaces.

At Forum Double Bay, the result is a workplace that combines flexible office accommodation with a carefully curated aesthetic experience, positioning the development as a destination rather than simply a place to work.

Artist Vicki Lee said public art had the power to create an emotional connection with a space.

“What I want is for people to walk in and feel something; a connection, a surprise, a moment of beauty. That’s the power of public art,” she said.

Forum Double Bay recently opened at 377 New South Head Road and has been delivered under the development management expertise of Fortis. The project follows the success of Forum in Melbourne’s Cremorne and is operated by The Commons.

According to the release, all works within the building have been leased as part of the curated program, highlighting Fortis’ commitment to creating boutique workplace environments that blend design, hospitality and culture.

The collaboration also reflects the growing role art is playing within commercial real estate, where developers are increasingly using curated collections and commissioned works to create distinctive environments that foster creativity, community and a stronger sense of place.

For ART+, which specialises in sourcing and commissioning contemporary artworks for luxury residential, commercial and hospitality projects, the Forum partnership represents another example of art being integrated into the fabric of a development from the outset rather than being added after completion.

Australia trails Singapore and Malta in a new Commonwealth index, while national testing shows fewer than four in 10 Year 10 students meet the standard for digital literacy.

Australia has ranked third among 56 Commonwealth countries for youth AI readiness, with researchers estimating that artificial intelligence could lift the level of Australian GDP by $80.6 billion after a decade under their middle scenario.

The Ayre Think Tank released the index at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Australia scored 71 out of 100, behind Singapore on 77.6 and Malta on 75. The United Kingdom followed closely on 70.8, with Canada fifth on 70.2. Only 15 countries reached the study’s benchmark of 53.

What the $80.6 billion figure measures

The researchers applied International Monetary Fund estimates for broad groups of economies to Australia’s 2025 GDP. The resulting scenarios put the potential lift in Australian GDP after 10 years at between $40.9 billion and $120.3 billion, with $80.6 billion representing the midpoint.

The figures describe how much larger the economy could be at the end of the period under each scenario. They represent a change in the level of GDP in year 10.

Digital literacy falls as schools roll out AI tools

Australia scored 8.7 out of 10 for access to technology and 7.5 for digital, data, media and AI capability. Separate national testing found that 37 per cent of Year 10 students met the proficient standard for information and communications technology literacy in 2025, down from 46 per cent in 2022. About one in 10 students reported receiving substantial teaching on AI-related tasks. National assessment results

The report points to two state initiatives aimed at building those skills. Queensland began rolling out an AI education platform in state schools in 2026, while Victoria introduced free specialist training for workers looking to develop AI skills or move into related roles.

The index draws on 1,128 sources and examines the conditions facing people aged 15 to 29, including access to technology, education and pathways into work. Australia had usable data for 76 of the 102 indicators used in the rankings. The researchers found too little comparable evidence to score an eighth area covering critical judgement and people’s ability to exercise control over AI systems.

Professor C. Justin Robinson, campus principal of the University of the West Indies’ Five Islands Campus, said young people should be equipped to question and improve AI tools and supported in building alternatives suited to their needs.

The report calls for affordable access to technology, more practical education and stronger links between training, employment and entrepreneurship. It also urges governments and educators to support AI tools suited to local languages and give young people ways to challenge automated decisions.

ART+ UNVEILS MAJOR ART ACTIVATION AT FORUM DOUBLE BAY

A new collaboration between ART+ and Forum Double Bay is bringing museum-quality artworks and a large-scale mural into the workplace.

A new study models a potential $80.6 billion lift in Australian GDP after a decade, as national testing shows a decline in Year 10 digital literacy.

What the $80.6 billion figure measures

Digital literacy falls as schools roll out AI tools