The Substation to Celebrate 100th Anniversary

As the building celebrates 100 years and under the leadership of new director Brad Spolding, THE SUBSTATION introduces a new program building on the foundations of its unique architecture and key collaborations with audiences, communities and artists.

Spolding explains 80% of the new program at THE SUBSTATION is FREE, "We welcome everyone to come to THE SUBSTATION and experience our new program. We are presenting artists who work across multi-artforms with works that respond to our unique site, specific spaces and ideas that speak to our place in Melbourne's west."

Redeveloped in the late 1990s as an arts and culture venue, THE SUBSTATION's new program respects the original vision for the building as an asset for artists and audiences - this will include artists creating and presenting work across multi-artforms where audiences are at times invited to collaborate in the making of the artwork.

Launching THE SUBSTATION Season 1 program on 30 January 2016 is the biggest party of Midsumma Festival - Miss Gay & Miss Transsexual Australia. Hosted by performance artist Tristan Meecham, audiences of all ages will experience beauties from around Australia and beyond, competing for the chance to be crowned winner.

The Midsumma Festival program at THE SUBSTATION also includes new large scale billboard works by Sydney-based artist, Justin Shoulder, and the first iteration of a new work, created by new Melbourne-based company All The Queens Men (Tristan Meecham and Bec Reid), The Coming Back Out Ball which shines a light on the discrimination faced by LGBTI seniors in aged care facilities.

Throughout 2016 and as part of the new resident artist program, local artists: Plastic Loaves and The Rabble will present and create new works. The 2016, Season 1 program also includes new developments by leading independent artists: one step at a time like this, Natalie Abbott and Robin Fox.

As part of the 100-year celebration of the building and over a two-week residency in THE SUBSTATION gallery, over 30 visual artists will create new works responding to the unique history, architecture and place of the building and its history in Melbourne.

In April, Berlin-based photographer and Berghain nightclub bouncer, Sven Marquardt, will present the Australian premiere of his exhibition: FOTOGRAFIEN at THE SUBSTATION with the opening night party featuring renowned musician and DJ: Andras Fox.

With an interest in creating art in public spaces and over one weekend at the end of April, THE SUBSTATION will present The Newport Archives, a self guided audio tour of the local area created by Tamara Saulwick; the Melbourne return presentation of Flyway by Lz Dunn (Aphids); Back Story, a series of guided projection walks at dawn and dusk by Projector Bike; and a local history project with the Newport Library.
As part of Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, THE SUBSTATION Season 1, 2016 program will culminate in May with a performative lecture Unpacking the Vietnam Archive Project by Phuong Ngo and Jude Anderson (Punctum).

The SUBSTATION 2016, Season 1 program invites artists and audiences to experience the development and presentation of new work artistic works created by some of the sharpest and most curious minds from across Australia and the world.