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CultureLAB

Arts House is a creative home nourishing artists’ agency and ambition. We develop and present new work in all forms.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) submissions for CultureLAB residencies between July 2025 and June 2026 open Thursday 5 September and close Wednesday 23 October 2024. 

CultureLAB is our creative development program that supports independent artists, collectives, and small-medium organisations to create new work. CultureLAB is one of the pathways through which Arts House commissions work for our presentation seasons. 

We work with mid-career and/or established artists from across a range of disciplines – music, theatre, performance, dance, visual art, digital art, experimental practice, relational projects, and anything between or beyond these mediums. Projects can be at any stage of development, and we can support in-person, hybrid, and digital proposals. 

Read about the artists and projects we have worked with across CultureLAB in 2019/2020 , 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and the current cohort for 2024/25. 

To learn more about what drives our programming and curatorial decisions, read about our commitments to inclusion via our Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2023-2028 and Equity—Builder.  

Selected projects receive fees, studio time, technical equipment and expertise to support the development of new work. 

Key Dates

  • EOIs open: Thursday 5 September, 9am AEST
  • Online information session: Wednesday 25 September, 5.30pm AEST
  • Venue tour and morning tea: Thursday 26 September, 10am AEST
  • EOI’s closed: Wednesday 23 October, 3pm AEDT
  • Notifications: Friday 13 December 

Information sessions and EOI support

Arts House EOI Info Session – on Zoom 
Held on Wednesday 25 September, 5.30pm  

Morning Tea and Venue Tour – in person at Arts House 
Held on Thursday 26 September, 10am

Click here for more information and to register.

EOI Support with Arts Access Victoria 
Arts Access Victoria is available to provide EOI support to Deaf and Disabled artists during the call out period. Contact Sarah Fiddaman (Monday – Thursday) sfiddaman@artsaccess.com.au or phone 03 8640 6007 (voice only) to arrange. 

Key Downloads

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Project support

Selected projects receive: 

  • Up to $20,000 fee contribution 
  • Dedicated studio time between 2 and 4 weeks duration 
  • Access to Arts House technical equipment, and expertise support from Arts House producers and production staff  

Arts House has a variety of spaces, suitable for a variety of purposes: research, rehearsal, technical experimentation and more. CultureLABs have a process-led, and flexible format.   

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How to apply

We want you to apply in the format that is easiest for you. You can submit these formats through the SmartyGrants EOI system: 

  • Written
  • Video 
  • Auslan (we can arrange interpretation of your video if needed) 
  • Audio 

         Please note that a proposed budget must be included to assess project viability. Download the budget template in Excel 

         Submit your EOI through SmartyGrants 

         Please contact us prior to the closing date to submit your EOI outside of the SmartyGrants system or via a recorded Zoom for access reasons. 
         

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          Selection criteria and process

          Arts House makes decisions in consultation with a panel of local and national artistic peers: 

          • Bruno Booth
          • Bernadette Fam 
          • Riana Head-Toussaint
          • Thomas E.S. Kelly 
          • Monica Lim  

          They will recommend projects that respond strongly to the selection criteria:  

          • Artistic concept  
          • Embrace risk-taking and experimentation  
          • Viability  
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              For enquiries

              If you have read our documents and attended the Info Session but still have questions, please contact: 

              Varsha Ramesh
              Acting Creative Producer
              varsha.ramesh@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
              0422 242 483 (text only) 03 9322 3720 (voice only) during business hours Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm. 

              Tish Brennan-Steers 
              Associate Producer 
              tish.brennan-steers@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
              03 9322 3720 (voice only) during business Tuesday – Friday 9am – 5pm. 

              National Relay Service (NRS) 
              TTY users: phone 13 36 77 – then ask for – 03 9322 3720 
              Speak and Listen users: phone 1300 555 727 – then ask for – 03 9322 3720 
              Internet relay users: connect to the NRS (www.internet-relay.nrscall.gov.au) – then type in – 03 9322 3720


              Image credit:
              Weredingo by Karul Projects, photo by Tiffany Garvie

              Image description: Four performers face each other; they are mid-leap into the air with their knees raised. Beams of light shine on them. The image is cropped and positioned inside a bold rectangle.

              Related News & Insights:

              CultureLAB

              CultureLAB Artists 2022-23

              CultureLAB is about new ideas coming to life.

              CultureLAB Artists 2023-24

              Arts House is thrilled to reveal the cohort of artists participating in CultureLAB 2023 – 24