HARBOUR TOWN MELBOURNE AND RENEW AUSTRALIA LAUNCH The Docklands Art Collective – Rent-Free Space For Creatives!
Harbour Town Melbourne is delighted to announce its partnership with not-for-profit social enterprise Renew Australia. Together, the two organisations are bringing an exciting new initiative – The Docklands Art Collective – to the Docklands based shopping centre.
The Docklands Art Collective invites expressions of interest from makers, creators, artists, community groups and local enterprises to utilize space for art and cultural events and activities within Harbour Town Melbourne – absolutely rent-free.
As part of the partnership, Harbour Town Melbourne has provided Renew Australia with just over 1,200 square metres of vacant space on Level 1 that will form a shared hub for artists, start-ups and other creative talent to brainstorm creative ideas and concepts, free from the pressure of expensive overheads like rent.
Since 2011 Renew Australia has implemented a number of similar programs throughout Australia, including Docklands, to great acclaim; Harbour Town Melbourne sees the partnership as a great opportunity to invigorate the Docklands precinct during the highly anticipated $150 million redevelopment of the Centre.
Harbour Town Melbourne’s Marketing Director, Kelly Jensen, is delighted at the prospect of continuing the success of the initiative in the area. “We have absolutely no doubt this exciting partnership will create another incentive to visit Harbour Town as it continues to undergo major transformation. We look forward to inviting Melbourne’s most creative to join the Docklands Art Collective and this unique creative hub”.
Renew Australia’s Manager, Angela Simons, agrees. “Typically, one of the biggest hurdles for any of our projects is finding property owners willing to lend us sufficient space. Thanks to the generosity of Harbour Town Melbourne, not only do we have a chance to create a really vibrant and dynamic area within the Centre, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to showcase how readily the Renew model can be adapted to fit the needs of spaces undergoing redevelopment and make them viable and relevant throughout this process.”
The Docklands Art Collective is the brainchild of Renew Australia and is modelled on his highly successful Renew Newcastle project first unveiled in 2008. The DIY urban renewal scheme aims to fill empty buildings and spaces to bring new life to under-utilized and under-appreciated precincts, while simultaneously providing emerging artist and performers with a forum for showcasing their talent.
Renew Australia is currently seeking emerging artists, creative, performers, and local enterprises to submit expressions of interest ahead of the potential tenants’ site inspections taking place on 27 June followed by 1 July 2017. Applications should be submitted by contacting Angela Simons, Renew Australia +61 3 9882 0785 or via email space@renewaustralia.org