Meet Renae Lamb, the small business owner of Midnight Dreaming based in Newcastle, NSW
Meet Renae Lamb, the small business owner of Midnight Dreaming based in Newcastle, NSW. Renae is a proud Wiradjuri and Wongibong woman, deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of her ancestors. As the visionary founder of Midnight Dreaming Dance Studio and Midnight Dreaming, Renae dedicates her life to preserving and promoting Indigenous culture through the arts and storytelling.
“I received business coaching, financial guidance, and ongoing support and mentoring from Many Rivers. This opened many doors for me. Having the backing of such a well-known organization made a big difference—people started to take me and my business seriously.”
Read more about Renae’s business journey so far:
Renae’s Business
My name is Renae Lamb. I am a proud descendant of the Wiradjuri/Wongaibon people of central west New South Wales. My ancestral community ties are vast and wide, but my family and I strongly identify with the Dubbo, Tangie, Dandaloo, and surrounding communities.
Midnight Dreaming is my business, focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and dance, while highlighting Indigenous culture. I try to tell stories through my art and design. As the curator, founder, and CEO, Midnight Dreaming allows me to give back to the community. One of my proudest moments was when Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba and a personal inspiration, commissioned my artwork. I have an art studio at The Creator Incubator in Newcastle, and my dance studio is located at the Clyde Street Studio in the White Box Theatre.
In 2023, my storytelling skills earned me the prestigious title of runner-up in the Greater Bank Storyteller competition. My Midnight Dreaming Dance Studio was proudly sponsored at the First Nations Space at the Creator Incubator in 2024, positioning me as a beacon of cultural preservation. In the same year, I was selected for the 2024 Melbourne Indigenous Global Runway.
What were you doing before you made contact with Many Rivers? Why did you want to go into business?
Before connecting with Many Rivers, I was working casually at a school as an Aboriginal educator. My biggest passion was showcasing traditional learning. I was inspired to become an Aboriginal teacher through traditional practices, art, and dance. However, after a trip to China, where I learned about Jack Ma’s legacy, I had a change of heart.
I came back and opened my dance studio to teach Aboriginal dance, methodologies, and a specialized curriculum, about four years ago. And then when COVID hit, I lost my job, but that led me towards creating my online dance and art workshops, virtual storytelling, and selling my work online from Newcastle.
Working with Many Rivers
In 2021, I attended a workshop with Yarpa, where they recommended, I connect with Many Rivers to help me start a proper business. Tina became my business coach, and now that I’ve recently finished university, I have more time to focus on growing my business. I’m currently working with my new business coach, Bruce.
I received business coaching, financial guidance, and ongoing support and mentoring from Many Rivers. This opened many doors for me. Having the backing of such a well-known organization made a big difference—people started to take me and my business seriously.
Did you get a loan from MR? How did you use the loan?
Yes, I did get a loan from Many Rivers, and it helped fund my first production. I imported 100 pajama sets from Alibaba, using the $7,000 loan. It was an amazing experience—I sold the pajamas for a total of $35,000. With that, I launched my website, developed my business plan, and began selling and making a profit.
What did you find the most useful about the assistance from Many Rivers?
I would say both the loan and the business coaching have been the most useful for me.
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
Right now, I’m running the business on my own, but I’m working towards structuring it better and transitioning from a sole trader to a company. My goal is to create job opportunities for my community in Newcastle.
Biggest Challenge
Building capital, marketing and sourcing First Nations material have been some of my biggest challenges.
Biggest Success
Just having all these opportunities to be in spaces and places where I would have never thought to be at.
Biggest Change
This business has changed our lives completely. It has given us purpose and value to live a healthy and positive lifestyle.
Future Goals
My long-term goal is to create a legacy for my children, my community, and future First Nations artists. I want to build a globally respected First Nations brand that is iconic and loved by everyone. Another goal is to change the narrative surrounding our people.
By the end of the year, I aim to establish my company and provide jobs for local First Nations people to support our community. I also want to raise awareness, drive positive change, and increase revenue. Ultimately, I’d love to have my artwork displayed in international museums and one day curate a global show, perhaps in Miami.
Thank you, Renae for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Renae and her small business, follow “Midnight Dreaming” through the following link:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidnightDreaming.Renae
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightdreaming.studio/
Website: https://www.midnightdreaming.studio/
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