Setting up an Art Space in Moreland (Making it in Moreland)

Moreland is home to a plethora of artist-run creative spaces: galleries, studios, venues, music spaces and so much more. These spaces make Moreland one of Australia’s most vibrant and creative cities – something Moreland council is immensely proud of. However, setting up and maintaining an arts space is not easy and rent pressures can make it even harder, particularly given the recent COVID-19 lockdown. This event will be a how-to in setting up an arts space: navigating planning regulations, getting grants and funding, operational models, finding the right space and how to keep on keeping on. This free workshop will feature presentations from Moreland’s Arts Infrastructure Officer, Ed Service and two practicing directors of artist-run galleries and artists’ studio spaces in Moreland (Pink Ember Studios and TCB Art Inc), with plenty of time for questions and discussion. Come and learn how to make space for creativity!

Pink Ember Studios (Speaker to be confirmed)
Pink Ember Studio is an queer-run co-operative of artists, creating spaces for artists to make and sell work and be part of a community. They are a not-for-profit encompassing: a retail shop selling affordable art; workshops and classes to share skills in our community; a multimedia gallery space (opening soon); and light-filled, open plan studio spaces. The studio opened its doors in December 2018, and strives towards making an exciting space in Coburg that supports artists and provides access to affordable art and learning opportunities. Their shop sells art, prints, zines, books, jewellery, sculpture, clothing and gifts, and their current schedule of workshop events include embroidery, drawing, floristry, zine-making, soft sculpture, and screen printing.

TCB Art Inc. (Briony Galligan)
TCB Art Inc. is an artist-run gallery dedicated to providing a space where young, emerging and established artists alike have the artistic freedom to explore, experiment and take risks within their practices. The gallery was established in 1998 by artists Blair Trethowan, Sharon Goodwin and Thomas Deverall, who identified a vital need for a non-commercial, not-for-profit space which exposed the work of young and emerging artists to a wide audience. What has developed over twenty-one years of operation is a lo-fi, high-energy project which remains entirely volunteer-run. So far, TCB has been a platform and support to over seven hundred artists — from Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and internationally — many of whom presented their first solo exhibitions at the gallery. In 2018, the gallery found a new home in Wilkinson Street, Brunswick with 2 exhibition spaces and 10 independently operating studios. Through several location shifts and an evolving collective of committee members and volunteer sitters, TCB has remained dedicated to providing a platform and support for emerging artists and curators, whilst continuing to run independently.