Empty shops in Footscray are set to get a new, creative lease on life.
Beginning in December, the Creative Places Initiative will convert several vacant shopfronts in the Footscray Central Business District into places for artists and creative businesses to showcase their work and connect with residents.
It’s hoped the pilot program supported by Maribyrnong council and funded by Creative Victoria will foster community involvement, stimulate the local economy, and address the need for accessible and affordable venues for local creatives.
Maribyrnong council chief executive, Celia Haddock, said the Creative Places Initiative would involve a variety of creative pursuits.
“The pilot is seeking to host a range of creative activities, including art exhibitions, public art installations, artisan pop-ups, and co-working spaces, offering a platform for artists and makers to connect with the community,” Ms Haddock said.
“Running from 10 December 2024 to 31 March 2025, the pilot will assess the potential for long-term activation of these creative spaces. If successful, the program could help establish permanent creative destinations in Footscray, supporting both cultural vibrancy and economic growth,” she said.
“This initiative is a key step in building a sustainable creative economy and fostering Footscray’s growth as a cultural hub.”
Along with filling vacant shop fronts, the Creative Places Initiative will also brighten the streets themselves with a public art project displaying images from a local photographer in large-format decals, as well as a new billboard aimed at bringing art directly to the streets.
Maribyrnong council is currently calling for expressions of interest from landlords to identify potential locations for the pilot and have stressed that landlord engagement and support for the program is vital.
It’s hoped that as the pilot unfolds, more landlords will express an interest participating in future iterations of Creative Places and establish a precedent for re-purposing underutilised spaces elsewhere.
Empty shops and landbanking have long been issues in central Footscray, particularly towards the top end of Barkly Street and the area around the intersection of Paisley and Albert streets.
For more information on the Creative Places Initiative, visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/creativeplaces
