The ‘second Coles’ site next to Coburg Station is about to open as a performance, arts and studio space run by not-for-profit organization Schoolhouse Studios. Schoolhouse has been active in the northern suburbs since 2012, taking over leases on disused buildings and turning them into art spaces. Their previous sites consist of a former boys college in Abbotsford, and warehouses in Collingwood and Brunswick. They’ve been known for hosting numerous events from parties, poetry and gigs to activist meetings and markets, and providing studio space for artists of every medium.
Schoolhouse Director Hollie Fifer (who, after some uncouth harassment by the Meddler, still generously spoke to us) was enthusiastic when asked about plans to engage the local community.
Hollie said the studios had recently held two community meetings in Coburg for anyone interested, to hear what people wanted to happen at the venue. “What we heard was different artists and groups saying they wanted more community programming and they wanted to have a space where they could either learn about different cultural experiences within the area or give a space to their own expression”. She added that Schoolhouse were keen to have the program co-created as much as possible by the local community: “If anyone has an idea about what they want to do- any community programming events or different offerings, then we’re willing to change our model to fit that. We basically want to have a yes mentality”.
The Coburg site is currently decked out with 31 studios with the potential for a further 22, however Schoolhouse are keeping the architecture responsive to what people might want. On that note, we were excited to learn that there is currently a big area left free which, for the moment, has been termed the ‘roller disco space’ (we were told to keep 30 July free!).
We asked Hollie about the temporary nature of the lease, and she explained that Schoolhouse Studios is used to this model: “We normally take over meanwhile spaces… we basically move every 5 years, and each time we do we more than double our capacity. It would be great in the future if we could find something longer term, say 10+ years, but with being in Melbourne and running a space as big as we are, that’s always a challenge”. The land, which is owned by Moreland Council, is still being leased to Coles, who are now subleasing it to Schoolhouse studios for a 5 year period.
It is telling that Schoolhouse’s former Abbotsford site is now due to be turned into high-rise buildings. Similarly, the Coburg site has been marked for redevelopment after the 5 years are up.
Hollie was polite about Schoolhouse’s current landlord, saying Coles as well as Moreland Council had been quite generous in allowing the Studios to move there. However, the Meddler can perhaps better afford some open scepticism here (but that could be easily changed -please sponsor us!). It is surely in Coles’ best interests to have a non-food related lessee for the space, and perhaps even in Moreland Council’s to have a pro-community stop-gap. We note that the Coburg Development Plan 2020 was severely delayed because of the pandemic, and so potentially the developers for this site still need to be sourced. What we can say for sure is that we would like to see this new project, as well as many community projects, be secure, long term and unconditional.
We are excited to find out what experiences we’re in store for, and hope that others are too. Hollie emphasised that Schoolhouse Studios are not interested in being a “highbrow exclusive art space… Melbourne has way too much of that” she said. “We try to make the space as fun and accessible as possible so that people from any kind of walk of life can access the arts, and produce something or exhibit something.” However non-permanent their stay, it will surely be a fun one.
For enquiries, contact hello@schoolhousestudios.com.au
And don’t forget the roller disco 30 July.
The Coburg Meddler 