Footscray Community Arts

Footscray Community Arts Footscray Community Arts is an arts precinct dedicated to sharing stories. Our vision is that all communities are valued as makers of culture.

Out internal venues are wheelchair accessible. If you have any access needs, we have a range of audio assistance available. Please call or email us if we can help plan your journey. Phone: 03 9362 8888�Email: [email protected]

Big changes are officially underway here Footscray Community Arts! Construction has finally commenced on our riverside l...
24/01/2025

Big changes are officially underway here Footscray Community Arts!

Construction has finally commenced on our riverside lawns as we revitalise and reimagine our vibrant hub of creativity and culture.

Stay tuned as we transform our beloved bluestone amphitheatre to an architecturally designed outdoor performance space, which is set to debut late this year.

Sign up to our e-news on our website to keep updated with the progress of this journey.

A friendly reminder that we have reduced our public opening hours to Wednesday - Saturday to support these works.

During construction, our riverside lawns will be closed to the public until late 2025. Please note that there may be higher noise levels onsite and that pedestrian access from Moreland Street to the Wharf will be rerouted via Bunbury Street.

We cannot wait to reveal this new space to you all.

Image: Breaking Ground Ceremony, 2024
Photography: .vy_.

In Chronotopia, Sim Chi Yin blurs the boundaries of memory, history, and fate.Sim's works reappropriate 19th and 20th ce...
24/01/2025

In Chronotopia, Sim Chi Yin blurs the boundaries of memory, history, and fate.

Sim's works reappropriate 19th and 20th century Magic Lantern slides – once used for scientific, colonial or Christian missionary lectures and projections – to conjure an imaginary landscape melding the cosmos and historical South-East Asia.

In this exhibition, time and space is suspended as Sim teleports her grandfather, who was executed for his socialist politics during the Cold War, into the same realm as her toddler son, who inherited his name.

Exhibition Dates: 4 February — 2 March 2025
Launch Event Date: 22 February 2025, 2—5pm
Venue: Roslyn Smorgon Gallery
Artist: Sim Chi Yin

Image Credit: Installation view, The Suitcase Is A Little Bit Rotten, Haus Der Kulteren Der Welt, Berlin, photo by Hannes Wiedemann, courtesy HKW Berlin.

Calling all NDIS participants! Limited spots are still available for our 2025 ArtLife program at Footscray Community Art...
22/01/2025

Calling all NDIS participants!

Limited spots are still available for our 2025 ArtLife program at Footscray Community Arts – don’t miss your chance to develop your artistic skills and explore creative industry opportunities!

Term 1 starts on January 28th, and we've got a variety of exciting workshops to choose from, including ceramics, digital workshops, and painting/watercolour. 🎨

Express your interest now by heading to our website!

https://footscrayarts.com/artlife-studio/


Open to NDIS participants only.

Host your event in the heart of Footscray! From live music to meetings, our versatile spaces and accessible location mak...
20/01/2025

Host your event in the heart of Footscray! From live music to meetings, our versatile spaces and accessible location make it easy to create unforgettable experiences.

Learn more about our packages: https://hubs.li/Q033dV680

Chronotopia draws you into a world where past and present collide, reimagining archival images and family histories thro...
20/01/2025

Chronotopia draws you into a world where past and present collide, reimagining archival images and family histories through critical fabulation.

In a sort of time travel through the archives, a colonial-era train tunnel appears to traverse decades of family narratives, forming a chronotope of space-time, and opening a portal into questions of memory and time, death and birth, fate and choice.

Exhibition Dates: 4 February — 2 March 2025
Launch Event Date: 22 February 2025, 2—5pm
Venue: Roslyn Smorgon Gallery
Artist: Sim Chi Yin

Image Credit: Still from The Mountain that Hid, 2022
Courtesy Sim Chi Yin and Zilberman Gallery, Berlin/Istanbul/Miami

Does history move in a line, or in circles?Can we remake the past we inherit, before handing it on?Are memories and trau...
15/01/2025

Does history move in a line, or in circles?
Can we remake the past we inherit, before handing it on?
Are memories and trauma inscribed in our bodies passed on generationally?

Sim Chi Yin's Chronotopia invites you to explore the echoes of history, memory, and generational inheritance through works that bend notions of time and space. From Southeast Asia’s colonial past to the tender ties of family, this exhibition reimagines the ways that we carry history forward.

Chronotopia is a specially-curated exhibition accompanying One Day We’ll Understand, a new multimedia performance exploring memory and inheritance, also presented at Footscray Community Arts.

Exhibition Dates: 4 February — 2 March 2025
Launch Event Date: 22 February 2025, 2—5pm
Venue: Roslyn Smorgon Gallery
Artist: Sim Chi Yin

Image Credit: The Suitcase Is A Little Bit Rotten, 2023
Courtesy Sim Chi Yin and Zilberman Gallery, Berlin/Istanbul/Miami.
Photo by South Ho

As we prepare for an exciting year ahead at Footscray Community Arts, we’re making a few changes to accommodate some big...
18/12/2024

As we prepare for an exciting year ahead at Footscray Community Arts, we’re making a few changes to accommodate some big developments. The centre will be closed from 20 December to 29 January for the holiday season and to prepare for construction on our new outdoor performance space, beginning 20 January. While this addition will enhance future events, please note there may be higher noise levels during this time.

In 2025, we’ll also be reducing our public opening hours to Wednesday – Saturday to support these works.

We’re thrilled to kick off the year with Asia Topa’s One Day We’ll Understand, complementing the performance is Chronotopia, a specially curated exhibition raising questions about trans-generational inheritance and archival reinterpretation.

We can’t wait to welcome you back in the new year and experience these programs with you.

Image: Bluestone Sessions
Photography: Gianna Rizzo

Closing this Saturday!Don’t miss RESONANCE, an exhibition by the talented artists of ArtLife Studio.Running from 30 Nove...
11/12/2024

Closing this Saturday!

Don’t miss RESONANCE, an exhibition by the talented artists of ArtLife Studio.

Running from 30 November to 14 December 2024 in the Roslyn Smorgon Gallery, this showcase features stunning acrylic, watercolour, printmaking, and digital works.

Each piece reflects artistic growth and collaboration, demonstrating how ArtLife Studio artists’ voices resonate far beyond the gallery walls.

Exhibition Dates: 30 November — 14 December 2024
Roslyn Smorgon Gallery, Footscray Community Arts

Image: Untitled – Alisha O’Neill, Megan Hunter & Wade Cameron

Bright colours, bold energy, and dynamic movement – experience Rhythm in Ruby Shoes by Emily Dober at Footscray Communit...
09/12/2024

Bright colours, bold energy, and dynamic movement – experience Rhythm in Ruby Shoes by Emily Dober at Footscray Community Arts!

Rhythm in Ruby Shoes is part of Alter State, presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria, a celebration of disability, creativity, and culture.

Exhibition Date: 1 October 2024 — 25 January 2025
Launch Event Date: 5 October 2024, 2—4pm
Venue: Henderson House Galleries
Artist: Emily Dober

Photography: Matto Lucas

Join us at RESONANCE, a celebration of creative expression from the incredible artists of ArtLife Studio!Running exclusi...
29/11/2024

Join us at RESONANCE, a celebration of creative expression from the incredible artists of ArtLife Studio!

Running exclusively from 30 November to 14 December in the Roslyn Smorgon Gallery at Footscray Community Arts, immerse yourself in a showcase featuring acrylic, watercolour, printmaking, and digital works.

Each piece tells a story of artistic growth and collaboration, symbolizing how ArtLife voices create waves in the community.

Don’t miss out!

What an unforgettable afternoon where we marked the start of our Precinct Upgrade! With the generous support of an $8.7 ...
20/11/2024

What an unforgettable afternoon where we marked the start of our Precinct Upgrade!

With the generous support of an $8.7 million investment from the Victorian State Government, our amphitheatre is being transformed into a architecturally designed outdoor performance space, set to debut in early 2026.

The ceremony featured a moving Smoking Ceremony and live performance by Cool Out Sun.

This milestone is just the beginning! We’re also seeking investment to redevelop our Warehouse Building, bringing to life the community’s vision of a landmark gallery for Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this exciting chapter in our journey. Stay tuned for updates as we work towards creating high-quality artistic outcomes and accessible experiences for all.

Foreground left to right: Aunty Annette Xiberras and daughter Julia Adams-Xiberras, Footscray Community Arts Artistic Director Daniel Santangeli, Maribyrnong Council CEO Celia Haddock, Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP, Footscray Community Arts Chair Julia White, Uncle Larry Walsh.

Photography by Thuy Vy

Find out more: https://footscrayarts.com/precinct-revitalisation/

This Saturday!Meet our incredible featured guests for the First Nations Emerging Music Industry Gathering! Sherene Stewa...
18/11/2024

This Saturday!

Meet our incredible featured guests for the First Nations Emerging Music Industry Gathering!

Sherene Stewart, a Taungurung/Filipino woman and Co-Lead of YIRRAMBOI Festival, brings a wealth of experience as a curator and producer, amplifying First Nations artists on a global scale. Her work champions equitable collaboration, cultural resilience, and the transformative power of the arts.

Georgia Farry, a passionate booking agent at WAT Artists, represents an impressive roster of talent including Soju Gang and DJ PGZ. Known for her strategic approach, Georgia has been instrumental in shaping the careers of some of Australia’s most exciting live acts.

Sky Thomas, also known as Soju Gang, is a First Nations DJ, designer, and activist from the Wamba Wamba, Gunai/Kurnai, and Yorta Yorta nations. Known for her high-energy sets and commitment to community, Soju Gang celebrates Black joy while advocating for greater representation in creative industries.

Kidd Benny, a Yorta Yorta and South-Sea Islander DJ, is renowned for his urban anthems and turntable skills. Having rocked venues across the country, he’s a master of creating unforgettable experiences, blending genres like R&B, hip hop, and reggae with finesse.

Don’t miss the chance to connect with these featured guests and learn more about their journeys.

This event prioritises First Nations attendees.

Date: Saturday 23 November 2024, 11am—5pm
Venue: Basement Theatre, Footscray Community Arts

RSVP: https://footscrayarts.com/event/first-nations-emerging-music-industry-community-gathering/

Join us at Footscray Community Arts for the First Nations Emerging Music Industry Gathering! A day filled with talks, fo...
06/11/2024

Join us at Footscray Community Arts for the First Nations Emerging Music Industry Gathering! A day filled with talks, food, and rich conversations, designed to build connections alongside First Nations creatives.

We’ll kick off with Ceremony led by our Elders in Residence, Uncle Larry Walsh and N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM. Followed by talks on festival programming, artist branding, bookings, and management.

🎶 Special guests include dj pgz, Sherene Stewart (Yirramboi Festival), Georgia Farry (WAT Artists), Soju Gang, and DJ Kidd Benny.

Date: Saturday 23 November 2024, 11am—5pm
Venue: Basement Theatre, Footscray Community Arts

RSVP here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Xc5BH0

Emily Dober’s Rhythm in Ruby Shoes is now open at Footscray Community Arts! Explore her vibrant use of color, dynamic mo...
14/10/2024

Emily Dober’s Rhythm in Ruby Shoes is now open at Footscray Community Arts! Explore her vibrant use of color, dynamic movement, and impactful portrayals of body diversity and gender representation in media.

Exhibition Date: 1 October 2024 — 25 January 2025
Venue: Henderson House Galleries
Artist: Emily Dober

For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have relied on plants for foods, medicines and informatio...
09/10/2024

For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have relied on plants for foods, medicines and information. These native plants—grown by local participants over the last year—will take centre stage, connecting art with nature and community.



Performance
Dates: 16—20 October 2024
Venue: Footscray Community Arts Amphitheatre

"The use of an abstract language like ‘circus’ allows a greater expression of themes and stories for First Nations with ...
02/10/2024

"The use of an abstract language like ‘circus’ allows a greater expression of themes and stories for First Nations with audiences who might not understand our language and rituals."

Read this interview from The Westsider with Harley Mann from Na Djinang Circus to find out more about 'In Place', running at the Footscray Community Arts Outdoor Amphitheatre from 16 – 20 October.

Tickets on sale now via https://melbournefringe.com.au/event/in-place/

https://thewestsider.com.au/in-place-by-na-djinang-circus-delivers-prescient-warning-about-neglecting-country/

Discover the profound meaning and importance of Country in this captivating work by Na Djinang Circus and Circa Cairns.

Join us for the launch of Rhythm in Ruby Shoes by Emily Dober! Footscray Community Arts invites you to experience Emily'...
30/09/2024

Join us for the launch of Rhythm in Ruby Shoes by Emily Dober!

Footscray Community Arts invites you to experience Emily's solo exhibition celebrating dance, movement, and body diversity.

Rhythm in Ruby Shoes is the culmination of Emily Dober’s two-year ArtLife Studio Residency at Footscray Community Arts. The residency program empowers d/Deaf and Disabled artists to produce meaningful contemporary art and pursue ambitious creative goals.

This exhibition is delivered as part of Alter State at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Exhibition Date: 1 October 2024 — 25 January 2025
Launch Event Date: 5 October 2024, 2—4pm
Venue: Henderson House Galleries
Artist: Emily Dober

Footscray Community Arts proudly presents Rhythm in Ruby Shoes, a solo exhibition by artist Emily Dober. Known for her dynamic watercolour and gouache paintings, Emily explores themes of dance, movement,…

Meet Emily Dober, a painter and illustrator known for her vibrant depictions of the female form, inspired by media and a...
23/09/2024

Meet Emily Dober, a painter and illustrator known for her vibrant depictions of the female form, inspired by media and advertising. Her watercolour and gouache works explore themes of dance, movement, and performance, drawing inspiration from musicals like Mamma Mia and Strictly Ballroom.

Footscray Community Arts presents Rhythm in Ruby Shoes, Emily’s first large-scale solo exhibition, marking the culmination of her two-year ArtLife Studio Residency. This program supports d/Deaf and Disabled artists to create ambitious contemporary art. Part of Alter State at Arts Centre Melbourne , the exhibition celebrates creativity and disability.

Exhibition Date: 1 October 2024 — 25 January 2025
Launch Event Date: 5 October 2024, 2—4pm
Venue: Henderson House Galleries
Artist: Emily Dober

Address

45 Moreland Street
Melbourne, VIC
3011

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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