A larger-than-life art installation that brought tens of thousands of visitors to Prahran Square has been crowned Australia's Best Small Event for 2025.
Iwagumi Air Scape by ENESS at Prahran Square won a Best Event Award at the 2026 Australian Event Awards on 21 October, recognising the City of Stonnington's delivery of the spectacular interactive public art experience that launched the Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan.
The free installation transformed Prahran Square into an enormous interactive rock garden inspired by the Japanese reverence towards beautiful rock compositions found in nature. Featuring nature-inspired sounds, towering inflatable sculptures reaching up to 13 metres high, the artwork transformed with illumination at sunrise and sunset.
The power of art in boosting visitation
During the installation, Prahran Square welcomed 48,612 visitors, with 70 per cent coming from outside Stonnington.
A post-event survey also found that two-thirds of respondents visited local shops, cafés, restaurants or bars before or after the experience. Based on visitor numbers and survey findings, an estimated $2.38 million in local spending was associated with the event.
A great outcome for Chapel Street
The installation was delivered as part of Council's Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan, which aims to attract more visitors, support local businesses and create a safer, cleaner and more vibrant precinct.
Iwagumi Air Scape at Prahran Square is a great example of how creative activations can help achieve these goals - bringing new people into the area, encouraging them to explore local businesses and giving visitors another reason to experience all that the Chapel Street precinct has to offer.
The national award is a welcome recognition of the strategic role of arts, culture and events in driving visitation and supporting a thriving economy.
Council continues to deliver a range of initiatives through the Chapel Street Precinct Improvement Plan, from exciting events and activations to improvements in safety, cleanliness and business support.
