We are thrilled to announce the incoming residents at our Room to Create Studios at Collingwood Yards!

The Yarra Room to Create Studios at Collingwood Yards is an initiative co-funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation (LMCF), offering open plan studio space to artists at a discounted rate within Collingwood Yards.

Following the inaugural group of artists who took residence at our studios from 2020 to 2021, a new cohort of artists have been announced for the next chapter of affordable creative studios in Yarra.

These artists include:

• Torika Bolatagici
• Jay Davies
• SLO Collective (Gabriel Francis, Ranima Montes, Mimo Muki, Ivy Mutuku, Kalu Oji)
• Luke George
• Mira Oosterweghel
• Elvis Richardson

These artists were selected following an Expression of Interest, which was assessed by a panel including representatives from the Room to Create Advisory Panel, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Yarra City Council and Collingwood Yards.

The Room to Create Studios offer open plan studio space to artists at a discounted rate within the Collingwood Yards precinct. The studios are offered to artists at 70% discount from commercial rents usually charged, assisting creative practitioners to remain in Yarra and thrive at Collingwood’s new home of the arts, Collingwood Yards.

Collingwood Yards spans over 6500sqm in the heart of Collingwood, offering permanent and affordable space for scores of artists and independent arts organisations working across music, visual arts, performance, digital media, creative industries and beyond.

To keep up to date with the Room to Create Studio artists and their developments, subscribe to our monthly e-news and follow us on Instagram.

About Room to Create

Securing affordable spaces to work and live for creative people is a constant challenge for gentrifying cities across the world. Almost 10 years ago, we started thinking about how to help keep artists and arts organisations in the City of Yarra as land prices started to grow and more warehouses were being converted to residential developments.

Room to Create was born in 2014 and a single purpose charitable fund was established with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation to raise money to fund creative infrastructure, in perpetuity. In 2020 Council’s affordable creative studios, Room to Create Studios, were launched after six years of fundraising and planning.

Learn more about our Room to Create Program.