Renew Australia brings creative space activation to Docklands

A new opportunity for creative doers, local champions, small business, property owners and the community in the Docklands Piazza area.

Renew Australia, a not for profit social enterprise that specialises in creative space activation, has been commissioned by the City of Melbourne, MAB Corporation, and Places Victoria, to facilitate and deliver Docklands Spaces, a pilot initiative for the Docklands waterfront Piazza area, starting in January 2013.

Docklands Spaces aims to activate some of the currently empty or underutilised retail properties in Docklands, through incubating short-term uses by creative enterprises and independent local initiatives on a rent-free basis.

Today Renew Australia is calling for Expressions of Interest from creative enterprises and other unique ventures that may benefit from this temporary commercial space opportunity to locate their activities in Docklands. Proactive people with interesting ideas are encouraged to apply now.

Docklands Spaces is based, in part, on the successful Renew Newcastle model, where new creative enterprises are given temporary access to otherwise empty spaces to incubate their creative initiatives and ideas, building local economic development.

Renew Australia is seeking makers, designers, photographers, printmakers, painters, illustrators, architects, milliners, jewellers, publishers, laptop businesses, animators, video or music makers, and other creative types. Selected participants will be given short-term access to an assortment of retail and office spaces, made available thanks to the support of the City of Melbourne, MAB Corporation, Places Victoria, and various private property owners.

“Docklands Spaces will drive activity and innovation, creating new and interesting projects that will be great for the area”, Renew Australia’s Director, Marcus Westbury, said. “These projects are a win-win for the creative participants, property owners and the local community”.

Renew Australia is a not for profit consultancy that works to activate local activity areas, bringing community and economic development.

Spaces are currently available. Expressions of Interest for the first round of pilot projects are due 14 January 2013 AEDT 5.00pm.

Expressions of Interest for Docklands Spaces will be submitted via an online application form at the Docklands Spaces website. www.docklandsspaces.org