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About the Emerging Artist Creative Hub
With support from the Victorian Government, Council is developing an artist-driven space where creatives can develop their art practice, collaborate, meet peers, and share skills and resources. Resident creatives will be able to present small-scale exhibitions and projects, public programs and other outdoor activations.
The Emerging Artist Creative Hub will offer:
- Space for emerging artists and creative entities (collectives, businesses, and small organisations).
- One-year pilot tenancy arrangements.
- Communal space for collaborative work and hot desk working spaces.
- Presentation and project space.
This pilot initiative responds to community feedback highlighting the need for accessible spaces to create and develop work, particularly for contemporary and visual arts practice. Southeast Melbourne has a burgeoning creative talent pool, and the Emerging Artist Creative Hub will connect and support the creative community – offering a new platform for creative practice in Casey alongside the flagship cultural facilities at Bunjil Place, The Factory Rehearsal Centre for the Arts, and the Hayshed Arts Space.
The Emerging Artist Creative Hub also aligns with the Arts and Culture Strategic Service Plan 2023-27 through the following objectives.
- Enable emerging and early career artists to build pathways and a more viable creative practice in Casey.
- Address infrastructure barriers for practicing artists and creatives in the region.
- Provide new revenue opportunities for local creatives.
- Provide a platform to showcase local creative practice and broaden engagement opportunities with new audiences.
Photo of the Narre Warren Mechanics Institute hall prior to the studio fit-out.
About Narre Warren Mechanics Institute
The Emerging Artist Creative Hub will be located at the existing Narre Warren Mechanics Institute Hall. This prime location is easily accessible by public transport and within walking distance of Bunjil Place, Casey ARC, Webb Street shopping precinct and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre.
With support from the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund through its Creative Neighbourhood Infrastructure Support Program, a grant of $150,000 together with an investment of $75,000 from Council will fund upgrades to the site. Works are proposed to begin in March 2024 and will produce 330m² of dedicated creative space for future tenants.
Emerging Artist Creative Hub residency 2024-25
Once developed the Emerging Artist Creative Hub will offer one-year pilot tenancy arrangements for emerging artists and creative entities who reflect contemporary ways of working in the creative industries.
Expression of Interest applications have now closed for 2024-25.
Eligibility criteria
Applications are open to the following:
- Artists who are at the early stages of their career and/or have an emerging practice.
- Collectives, businesses, and small organisations that support emerging creative practice
- Artists from all art forms.
- Artists using art forms suitable for an ‘office-style’ studio space.
- Artists with connections to Casey or Southeast Melbourne.
- Applicants over 18 years old.
- Applicants who have undertaken a site visit to Narre Warren Mechanics Institute.
- Applicants who are not currently employed by the City of Casey.
Please view the residency guidelines for the full eligibility and assessment criteria.
More information can also be found in the FAQ.
Key dates
Applications
- Applications open – Monday 29 January 2024
- Applications close – Monday 11 March 2024, 12 am (midnight)
Online information session
The information session was held on Monday 12 February. You can watch the recording on YouTube.
Site visits
Attending the site is an application requirement before submission. Applications can be started beforehand and saved until a visit is completed.
RSVP via email to creativespaces@casey.vic.gov.au with your preferred session date.
- Thursday 8 February, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
- Friday 16 February, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
- Saturday 24 February, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
- Thursday 29 February, 5:00 - 5:30 pm (recently added due to demand)
How to apply
Applications are submitted via the SmartyGrants platform. Please allow enough time to plan, gather support material and draft your application. You can also save as you go.
The following SmartyGrants resources are also available:
Contact us
If you have reviewed the information on this page, including the residency guidelines and FAQ, and still have questions, you can contact us via creativespaces@casey.vic.gov.au.
Please note the Emerging Artist Creative Hub ( 59 Webb Street, Narre Warren) will be open for events and by appointment only.