A new hub for Australian contemporary visual arts practice.
Metro Arts has transformed the Norman Park satellite site into the MAVA Workshop. The space offers accessible resources and programs that provide career pathways for artists. . With cutting-edge tools for woodworking, metalwork, and digital fabrication – artists and the general public are able to access the space to build and create works.
Location: 97 Wynnum Road, Norman Park, Brisbane, Qld
The MAVA Workshop is open Friday and Saturday between the hours of 9am and 4pm.
Background
The Metro Arts Visual Arts Substation (‘MAVA Substation’) was formerly known as Substation No. 9; and was used to supply power to Brisbane’s long forgotten tram system. There’s a bunch of these beautiful buildings around Brisbane, many of which now house various cool arts things across Brisbane. Since 2007 Metro Arts has leased the substation from Brisbane City Council – and provided the space to local artists to access.
The Substation housed our three (x3) Pathfinder artists for one year, ending July 2023. The Pathfinder professional development program was made possible through one-off Federal funding from the RISE fund. Now that funding for this program has ended, Metro Arts has refurbished the Substation space and built a brand new workshop – enabling greater use by artists, makers, creators and the general public.
The Brisbane Tool Library will also be moving on from our space – we provided emergency accommodation to them when their space flooded in 2022. We are assisting BTL to find a suitable space where they can really spread their tools out! As beautiful as the Substation heritage building is – it really needed some love, and we’re excited to share the new facilities with everyone
