About West Space
West Space is an independent, not-for-profit contemporary visual arts organisation, supporting the next generation of artists in Australia, and building communities around art and ideas.
West Space presents a year-round program of exhibitions, performances and discussions reflecting the breadth of artistic practice in Australia, and the complexities of our times.
West Space advocates for artists and arts workers, and takes responsibility in leading conversations and mentoring underrepresented artists.
Programs
West Space Gallery
Our main gallery space, showcasing solo, collaborative and curatorial projects.
West Space Window
Our micro-project space on the facade of the gallery.
West Space Offsite
Our digital platform, publishing artist-led content and writing in support of our exhibition program.
West Space Studio
A fully subsidised space directly above our gallery and office in Collingwood Yards.
Values
First Nations First
We acknowledge the rich history and living culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, and operate from a position of respect and commitment to good conduct to Elders, community and Country.
Creativity
West Space empowers underrepresented artists. We work closely with artists on the development of new work, providing a supportive space for experimentation to grow capacity, networks and audiences.
Community
West Space fosters meaningful connections between artists, audiences, art, and ideas. We expand the reach of our artists across the regions, the nation, the Asia Pacific and beyond. We create space for voices across culture, class, gender, and ability.
Hospitality & Accessibility
West Space is open and welcoming. With an understanding that art is for everyone, we seek to contextualise works of art, and communicate complex ideas clearly.
Statement of solidarity
West Space stands with Bla(c)k, First Nations, Palestinian, Jewish, Arab and Muslim artists and allies in the call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Artists in our community are speaking truth to power, emboldening and activating their audiences. Globally, we are witnessing an unacceptable level of backlash, moral violence, bullying and silencing.
Artists: we see you. We recognise and support the important work that you are doing — and you are not alone.
Funding & Partners
Core funding support
West Space is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria's Creative Enterprises Program.
Project support
West Space's 2024 program is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, and the City of Yarra through their Annual Grants Program.
2024 Program partners
Agency Projects
Centre for Projection Art
Debra Porch Award: Visual Arts Residency
Multicultural Arts Victoria
PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography
Yarra Youth Services
un Projects
Sponsors
Base Design
Sibling Architecture
McCorkell Constructions
Bodriggy Brewing
Brighter Later
Heaps Normal
Network partners
West Space is an anchor tenant in multi-arts precinct Collingwood Yards — a place of cultural and artistic production, open to the public.
West Space is a member of Contemporary Arts Organisations Australia, a national network of independent art organisations that advocate for the small-to-medium contemporary visual arts sector.
West Space is a member of All Conference, a national network of artist-led experimental arts organisations.
West Space is a member of A Climate for Art, a grass-roots initiative leading the way for arts organisations to make big moves towards sustainability.
Commitment to ethical funding
We are embedding solidarity practices at the core of our work, including a commitment to ethical funding and partnerships.
We will not seek funding from groups or individuals silencing artists, supporting the genocide in Gaza, or other sites of racial slavery, conflict, social or ecological devastation.
History
Founded by artists Brett Jones and Sarah Stubbs in 1993, West Space's first space was in the western suburbs of Footscray. West Space was one of the few artist-run initiatives in Melbourne presenting a critically engaged, multi-art form program, accessible to practitioners through peer-assessed applications.
West Space relocated to Anthony Street in the CBD in 2000. In 2005, the organisation restructured our governance, forming a Board with the strategic skills to support and grow the organisation.
In 2011, we moved to a site spanning five exhibition spaces on Bourke Street. Here, we continued to expand and heighten the quality of our exhibition program, growing our mission and reputation while staying true to our artist-led ethos.
In 2012, West Space joined Contemporary Art Organisations Australia, a network of independent spaces that share knowledge, peer support and offer strategic development of ideas within the visual arts sector. We are also proud members of All Conference, a national organising network of ARIs representing a crucial stratum of the Australian arts ecology.
West Space began actively commissioning new work in 2014, and in 2017, made the landmark shift to introduce NAVA-rated fees for all exhibiting artists. As one of the few organisations of our size to take this critical step, West Space is recognised as an exemplary model for best practice to organisations particularly in the artist-run sector.
In 2020 West Space moved to a single space in Collingwood Yards, in Melbourne's inner-north. From our new site, we focus on long-term, well-supported solo, collaborative and curatorial projects. Each exhibition is developed over 12-18 months with support in the conceptual and logistical development, and to secure individual project funding.
Today, West Space combines the flexibility and creative freedom of an artist-run initiative, with the professional infrastructure and curatorial support larger public institution. This affords us a unique position. West Space acts as a conduit across the arts ecology, connecting our artists to regional, national and international peers and concerns.
Our rigorous program aims to support local and underrepresented artists at all stages of their careers, through exhibitions, commissioning, publishing and mentoring.
The cornerstone of our program is the West Space Commission series, awarding two artists or collectives a major presentation opportunity with mentorship and guidance offered from development to delivery to communication of the artist's work.
Watch Diego Ramírez's take on West Space at 30 years: