Venue hire
The Bluestone Church Arts Space is a dedicated arts and performance venue available for hire. Featuring unique historic details including a rose window at the front of the building, timber ceilings and stained glass windows in the vestry, the Bluestone Church has been carefully refurbished to accommodate a wide range of functionality.
The Bluestone Church Arts Space is only available for hire for the following purposes:
- Creative workshops
- Rehearsals
- Residencies
- Performances
- Exhibitions
- Festivals
- Artist development
- Presentations, awards and panel discussions related to the arts
- Other artistic and cultural events
Location
The Bluestone Church Arts Space is located at 8A Hyde Street, Footscray 3011.
Access
The Bluestone Church Arts Space is a wheelchair accessible venue with an accessible bathroom. Accessible entry to the building is via the door located next to the Footscray Town Hall carpark. The main double doors where the box office is located are currently not accessible due to a set of 5 heritage-listed bluestone steps. Once inside, the venue operates all on one level – there are no stairs, steps or lifts within the building.
General parking is available directly behind the venue in the Footscray Town Hall car park. There is also a designated accessible parking space located on the western side of the venue. Footscray Train Station is located 500m from the Bluestone Church Arts Space, and has ramps and elevators as well as accessible toilets.
For a visual guide to the Bluestone Church Arts Space, please read this document(DOCX, 16MB).
History
The Bluestone Church Arts Space was originally a Wesleyan Church. First constructed in 1869, the church has long served as a social gathering place and contributed towards Footscray’s civic precinct.
The church gains its distinction from unusual attributes believed to be the design of local architect Charles James Polain in his 1888 extension, which draws mainly on medieval styles. The main nave window is large and circular and set within a giant pointed brick architrave. A similar architrave surrounds the door, and the bands of red brick taken across the gabled end, and the fret worked timber tracery apse windows in the vestry are quite uncommon.
The building is included in the local heritage overlay and considered a significant building.
Specifications
Offering a large open floor space with wooden floors totalling 251 square metres (including storage areas and amenities), the Bluestone Church Arts Space has been described by past users as versatile, unique and creatively inspiring. It can accommodate 80 people seated or 100 people standing, and features:
- Small internal kitchen with electric stove and under bench fridge
- Ticket booth / kiosk area
- Accessible toilet
- Wall-mounted heaters
- Chairs and trestle tables
- Portable theatre drape system
- PA System available for hire
Capacity
80 people seated or 100 people standing.
Hire costs
|
Use / Group
|
Half Day
(up to 4hrs)
|
Full Day
up to 8hrs)
|
Long Call
(8+hrs)
|
Weekly
|
|
Community (unfunded not-for-profit)
|
$42.10
|
$63.20
|
$84.20
|
$421.30
|
|
Community subsidised (funded not-for-profit)
|
$52.60
|
$73.80
|
$94.90
|
$473.90
|
|
Creative businesses/ Full rate
|
$76.00
|
$120.00
|
$150.00
|
$684.50
|
|
Hire of Public Address system with Rostra OR Hire of Lighting Equipment
|
|
$30
|
|
$180
|
|
Hire of all Tech (including PA system with Rostra AND Lighting Equipment)
|
|
$50
|
|
$300 |
Security Bond and Public Liability Insurance
All hirers are required to pay a refundable $200 security bond in addition to the relevant hire fees and are required to provide evidence of Public Liability Insurance to the value of no less than $10million. Public Liability cover may be available for purchase for Maribyrnong City Council. Please see pricing and terms and conditions in the Bookable booking platform.
Equipment Hire
Additional fees apply for equipment hire. All users must agree to the Terms and Conditions of Use, which are outlined in the Venue Hire Form.
Make a booking
You can check the availability of the Bluestone Church Arts Space and make a booking online below. Please note that you cannot make a booking without being a verified user of the Bookable platform. Ensure you register (top right of the Bookable web page) before attempting your first booking.
If you would prefer to speak to someone first, or to arrange an inspection before you make a booking please contact Council’s Arts Engagement Officer by phoning 9688 0200 or send us an email to arts@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
Make a booking or check availability
Apply for a residency or supported performance season
Artists, performers and writers can apply for creative residencies at Footscray’s Bluestone Church Arts Space. The short-term residencies provide you with the space to create new work, test and explore ideas, and develop your arts practice. Artists of all genres and mediums from Melbourne's West are welcome to apply. For more information on the Bluestone Church Arts Space Artist in Residency Program click here.
We also support performance seasons at the venue by local artists with free venue hire as part of Midsumma and Melbourne Fringe.
Amplify season at Bluestone Church Arts Space
The Bluestone Church Arts Space hosts a regular sure-fire line-up of live music and literary performances by local artists from the Western suburbs. Stay connected to our upcoming events by visiting the Amplify page here.
Stay connected online
Please follow Maribyrnong Arts & Culture socials for updates on all the activities and opportunities at Bluestone Church Arts Space: visit Facebook and Instagram and sign up to the ArtBytes mailing list.