b'gold standardleft and opposite: The Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) in Geelong, Victoria is the first childrens museum of its kind. BillieReseneGeorgieff and Tom Mahon searchedScrumptiousthe world for a similar concept before realising it was up to them to make it happen. In mid-2022, a second museum in Melbourne is poised toReseneopen, with more locations to follow.GuggenheimBillie and Tom painted the entire museum and all of its colourful exhibits themselves with Resene Adrenalin, Resene Torea Bay, Resene Scrumptious, Resene Roadster, ReseneReseneBiloba Flower, Resene Broom, ReseneCurious BlueSandy Beach, Resene Belladonna, Resene Ballerina, Resene Guggenheim, Resene Curious Blue, Resene Paper Doll, Resene Decadence, Resene White and Resene Black. Opposite image by Mandy Couzens, www.mammaknowswest.com.au. Resene ReseneWhite BroomResene ReseneSandy Beach AdrenalinResene ResenePaper Doll RoadsterResene ReseneBallerina Torea BayResene ReseneBiloba Flower DecadenceResene ReseneBelladonna BlackI t was four years ago when Billie Georgieff andAswithanybrilliantinvention,whenyoufeaturing local and international art exhibitions,most incredible brands in Australiabut never Tom Mahon were welcoming their second sonnotice that there is a gap in the market whereart and craft retail, a cafe and a nursery. Now, itmy own brand. MoPA has been so rewarding, that they realised something was missing: ayourneedsarentbeingmet,thatsamegapis home to MoPA, the Museum of Play and Art. for so many reasons, but its also been creatively A creative couple pioneersplace where their children could be boundlesslyexists for others, too. During one trip in 2018,Before the launch of MoPA, Billie had spentfulfilling because, for the first time, I am the immersed in art and creativity. in particular, it all of a sudden became clearmuchofher20-yearcareerinadvertisingclient to my own work. Im sure many creatives an innovative museumHaving children gave us a new perspective,that it was us that needed to build the ultimateandrackedupsubstantialcreativedirectionwill relate to this, but when you know your brand where kids and colour rule. says Billie. Tom and I are both very creative peoplechildrens museum we were seeking, she says. credits both for agencies and in-house retailintimately and you just know something is right, andsoughtasmuchcreativeexposureforourIn August 2019, the couple signed the leasepowerhouses.Ivealwayslovedworkingonit can then take so much energy to sell the boys, Eddie and Raff, as we could. But nothingfor a space in Geelongs Wintergardens. Built inbrands, evolving and growing them through allidea. But if you didnt have to convince anyone really captured us the way we wanted. We ended1854, the building has housed everything fromaspects of creative and advertising in particular. itwasright,thingswouldjustflow,wouldnt up travelling to Rome, Dubai, Hong Kong and thechurch congregations to army operations. OverItsinterestingthatfortwodecadesIthey? This is what Im so lucky to have with USA to seek out creative experiences for the kids. the last 30 years, it has become a cultural hub,worked on client brandsincluding some of theMoPA. Tom and I know our organisation and 52 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 53'