The history of Schoolhouse Studios
We’ve been around for a decade now and in that time we’ve supported more than 1,500 creatives and held more than 1,800 art and cultural public events.
Rupert Street
Collingwood
Since then Schoolhouse Studios hasn’t stopped. In 2015 we relocated to Collingwood and opened another site in Brunswick, allowing over 140 artists to join the SHS community.
Between the two sites we were proud to boast a woodworking and tool room, cafe, gallery, bar, event spaces, and of course, a village of artist studios. Over the years, we’ve brought together filmmakers, graphic designers, activists, photographers, prop designers, social enterprises, performance and drag artists, painters, fashion labels, illustrators, and more.
Nicholson Street
Abottsford
SHS started with a simple vision, that of Alice Glenn and Elizabeth Barnett to establish a space for their creative practice that was more community-focused than what they felt was around at the time, especially in terms of welcoming the young kids they were both juggling. When the Abbotsford site opened its doors in 2012, the dream was realised for 25 creatives with a gallery, orchard, creative events and many, many parties.
Victoria Street
Coburg
Today, Schoolhouse Studios Coburg houses 65 studios, a bar, gallery and event space, welcoming over 500 people through the building each week. It functions as both a working studio complex and a vital meeting place for artists and the wider community.
2012
2015
2021
Melbourne Art Library
With support from Schoolhouse Studios, Melbourne Art Library relocated to the former Coburg Train Station, where it now operates a free public lending library and a community space available for events and hire.
Albion Street
Brunswick
In partnership with Nightingale Housing, we opened a Little Schoolhouse space on the first floor of their Wurru wurru bikk residences on Albion Street. With 15 new studios, it was the first time Schoolhouse Studios became the first tenants in a new build. Our arrival helped catalyse the full occupation of the floor, laying the foundations for a thriving community of aligned residents and organisations.
2025
