Signal is Melbourne’s first arts studio dedicated to people aged 13 to 20 interested in a wide range of art forms. Signal provides opportunities to work with professional artists across all art forms. Signal is a place for making, showing, inspiring and developing our city’s new creative talents – in every medium.
We will provide first steps, next steps and launching platforms for all who come in to contact with the centre.
Signal facilities
- a workshop space
- a multi purpose (performance or gallery) space
- a computer and multimedia hub
- Les Erdi Plaza for live events
- projective windows for multimedia works
- an 18-speaker sound walk for sound based artworks
Signal location
Signal is right in the heart of the city: behind Flinders Street Station on Northbank, in the Les Erdi Plaza, at the northern end of Sandridge Bridge, and at the top of Banana Alley.
Signal is easy to get to by public transport and there is bike parking (but no car parking) on site.
The Signal building's environmental design concepts
The Signal building was once – quite literally – a signal box. It signaled trains in and out of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station.
Once the signal box was decommissioned, it was left to its own devices. The box was damaged by fire several times before the City of Melbourne recognised its potential.
Simple environmental design concepts were employed in converting the building from a disused railway signal box into its current use as a creative studio for young people in Melbourne. At night, heat is purged from the building and collected rainwater is used to flush toilets. Reclaimed timber was used on the stairwell and photo-voltaic panels feed the computers, projectors and automatic controls on efficient lighting.
Signal supporters
Signal was made possible by the generous support of Mr Les Erdi AOM of The Erdi Group. Other project partners include the City of Melbourne, the Myer Foundation, the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, the Department of Planning & Community Development and Heritage Victoria.
Signal Info Sessions
If you're interested in finding out more about Signal's programming and would like to check out our spaces and facilities, then come along to one of our information sessions, held every month.
All info sessions are held at Signal and include a presentation about Signal's vision, history and current programming, as well as a tour of the building and our various studio spaces.
Please RSVP by emailing your name and the date you're attending to signal@melbourne.vic.gov.au, or calling (03) 8696 5400.
Upcoming info sessions:
Friday 5 August, 3pm–4pm
Friday 2 September, 3pm–4pm
Friday 4 November, 3pm–4pm
Friday 2 December, 3pm–4pm
Contact