Spaces for arts activities

About our arts infrastructure

We have a range of spaces available for art exhibitions or performances in Merri-bek.

You can find out more about what we have planned to strengthen and grow our creative sector through our Arts Infrastructure Plan (2018 to 2023). This plan focuses on arts infrastructure, including spaces where art is either created or exhibited, both physical and digital.

We also have creative spaces listed through the Creative Spaces website which is a program of the City of Melbourne. You can use this site to list or explore spaces to develop, create, exhibit or perform creative work that are available to hire or rent. Their listings include artist studios, photography studios, gallery and exhibition spaces, hot desks, rehearsal and performance spaces, pop-up shops and theatres.

Starting your own creative space

Changing a traditional space into a creative space can sometimes be a difficult process. Once you establish the space you can also face challenges around continuing the space.

We have designed a resource called 4 Walls: Starting an Arts Space to help people looking to set up and maintain creative spaces in Merri-bek. It is a free resource designed to guide you through planning your creative space, covering insurance, marketing, permits and planning, liaising with real estate agents, finance and advice from various local studio founders.

For more information or to access a different format of the downloadable document, you can contact us on 9240 1111.

Our exhibition and performance venues

Brunswick Mechanics Institute: 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick

For more details or to inquire about the space, visit the Brunswick Mechanics Institute website.

  • 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick, on the corner of Glenlyon Road.

    It is a flexible venue and can host a wide range of events including meetings, classes, workshops, photo-shoots, film-shoots, rehearsals and developments or private hire events.

    The venue is wheelchair accessible, including an accessible bathroom. All bookings have access to the on-site kitchenette and WiFi.

    Brunswick Mechanics Institute is our key performing arts venue. We want to see this venue fulfill its potential as a vibrant, dynamic, arts hub that connects with our local community.

    Next Wave was awarded the contract for managing the Brunswick Mechanics Institute in 2017. They have a 33 year track record of pushing creative careers to the next level and are known for creative risk-taking, embracing cultural diversity and fostering inclusion.

  • Tram

    Train

    Plan your journey

    You can use the PTV Journey Planner tool to plan out your journey to this venue.

    Parking

    General permit parking is available in the car park directly behind the venue with entry located on David St. The car park permit hours of operation are 8am to 5pm. Parking after 5pm is free.

    There are 2 wheelchair accessible parking spaces located at the corner of David St and Glenlyon Rd, and another 2 wheelchair accessible parking spaces located a little further down Glenlyon Rd, in front of the Brunswick Community Health Centre.

    If navigating to the venue entrance from these parking spaces, you’ll need to head back up Glenlyon Rd (towards Sydney Road), in order to enter the venue.

Location

 

Counihan Gallery: 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick

For more details or to inquire about the space, go to our Counihan Gallery in Brunswick page.

  • 233 Sydney Road, Brunswick, inside the Brunswick Town Hall.

    The building is near the corner of the Sydney Road and Dawson Street intersection. Enter through glass sliding doors on Sydney Road. The Gallery is to the left of the Brunswick Customer Service Centre.

    The Counihan Gallery In Brunswick is our art gallery. It is open to the public and it's focus is on presenting contemporary art exhibitions.

    The gallery is accessible by wheelchair and has accessible bathrooms.

  • Tram

    Train

    Plan your journey

    You can use the PTV Journey Planner tool to plan out your journey to this venue.

    Parking

    There is a public car park on Dawson Street with time restrictions. Parking spaces may not be available at all times. There is a limit to street parking and it is subject to restrictions.

    There is one disabled car space out the front of the gallery. This car park is part of clearway tow-away zone from 4pm to 6pm daily.

Location

Glenroy College Performing Arts Centre: 120 Glenroy Rd, Glenroy

For more details or to inquire about the space, visit the Glenroy College website.

  • 120 Glenroy Rd, Glenroy, at the rear of Glenroy College on the corner of Melbourne Ave and Cardinal Rd, Glenroy.

    The Glenroy College Performing Arts Centre (PAC) has been refurbished and can seat up to 600 people. Their flexible seating means the centre is also suitable for standing events and exhibitions. It includes a stage area with curtains and state of the art sound and lighting systems. There is also a foyer, a well-equipped kitchen and backstage areas.

  • Train

    Plan your journey

    You can use the PTV Journey Planner tool to plan out your journey to this venue.

    Parking

    Parking is available in the grounds of the college and there is also ample parking on the streets surrounding our school.

Siteworks: 33 Saxon Street, Brunswick

For more details or to inquire about the space, visit the Siteworks website.

  • 33 Saxon Street, Brunswick

    Siteworks is a former primary school in the heart of Brunswick owned by Council. It is now open for community and creative uses. The site contains a public open space, a heritage house, the former school and a stables building. Aside from the stables building, the rest of the site is available for short-term and long-term bookings, workshops and events and as co-working and meeting spaces. Siteworks is a wheelchair accessible venue.

    Blak Dot Gallery operates from the stables building. This is a contemporary Indigenous-run art gallery and performance space showcasing modern and traditional artworks from world Indigenous cultures. The annual program connects many people and cultures to the gallery and the Brunswick area.

    Siteworks is managed as a temporary community and creative facility by These Are The Projects We Do Together, who are contracted to manage the site.

  • Tram

    Train

    Plan your journey

    You can use the PTV Journey Planner tool to plan out your journey to this venue.

    Parking

    There is a limit to street parking and it is subject to restrictions.