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                    Signal Young Creatives Lab past projects

                    A group of people talking in an art space.
                    Signal Young Creatives Lab provides an opportunity for young artists and creative practitioners to propose new ideas to be realised in collaboration with Signal.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​Projects supported through Signal Young Creatives Lab include:

                    Amy Marks​

                    So Embarrassing (working title): a comedic short film about a teenager dealing with the worst situation ever - the most popular kid at school seeing them in an hospital gown with a baby for a roommate…

                    Angela Anqi Lian​​​​g and Henry Nguyen

                    A Place Like Home: a series of community-building art workshops, online publication, and exhibition giving voice to unheard stories within the Asian diaspora community in Australia

                    Grace Zhang and Emily Seif

                    Notes on Notes: a multimedia, communal, introspective celebration of the human condition via the Notes App

                    Leonardu Fenech

                    The Nest: a sensory safe haven for autistic people to explore how mark making, sculpting, or writing can be powerful tools to stim and express themselves

                    Nanchok Santino Chol

                    She Will: an exhibition combining photography and storytelling film to honour and pay homage to women from the South Sudanese community within Melbourne​​.

                    ​Acacia Coates and Winter McQuinn​

                    Green Your Noise: An online carbon calculation tool designed for artists and the arts industry, launched with a live music and art event at Signal.

                    Cheryl Ho

                    落叶归根 (Luò yè guī gēn - Getting Home): an award-winning one woman show that interrogates the conflict between a woman's desire for success and her sense of duty and longing to be with her family.

                    Jeanette Tong

                    Dyke Eye: is a short-form, 6 x 8-minute online series about 'The Almost Fab Five' – five hilariously incompetent lesbians performing makeovers on straight women in a parody of Queer Eye.

                    July (Christian) Stewart

                    Brown Sugar Child​: a collaborative photography series looking at identity and belonging, representation and conflict through the perspective of a second-generation queer Polynesian (Samoan).

                    Natasha Hertanto

                    Legenda: a photographic installation centered around mythical characters from popular Indonesian folklore against modern Melbourne backdrop.

                    Abbie Pobjoy and Bonny Scott

                    Why Did She Have to Tell the World: is a short documentary exploring the lives of Phyllis Papps and Francesca Curtis, founders of Australia's first political gay rights group 'The Daughters of Bilitis,' now known as the Australasian Lesbian Movement.

                    Kiki Dévine

                    A series of vogue workshops at Signal hosted by House of Dévine and Melbourne’s first vogue ball presented to a sold-out audience at Kensington Town Hall.

                    Julia Prendergast

                    In Memory: three memorials in the work of vinyl records that honour movements and spaces otherwise lost through moving headlines.

                    Komang (Rosie) Klynes

                    Mythologies: an EP infused with jazz, drum machines and samples of voice and gamelan taken from her mother's home island of Bali.

                    Tré Turner

                    The Fae: a new performance work that explores the similarities between the origins of fairies and early colonial writings about Blak people, using sound, spoken word, dance and drag.

                    Brodie Rowlands

                    Fury: a video artwork centred on the concept of female violence and rage.

                    Yasbelle Kerkow and Alec Reade

                    A series of workshops for and by Pacifika communities, presented by New Wayfinders: a platform for Oceanic artists using creativity to reclaim identity, build community and agency in self- representation.

                    Megan Rennie Gough-Brooks

                    Melbourne Kitchen Project: a series of mixed media portraits exploring the connections between food, family, community and culture.

                    Mary Bekele and Zack Ahmed

                    BI 35: a publication celebrating arts and culture across the Black African diaspora.

                    Chi Nguyen

                    LOTUS: a one-woman comedy cabaret all about Chi’s outrageous life as a Vietnamese immigrant living in Australia.

                    Leah McIntosh

                    A poetry and performance night hosted and special print edition of LIMINAL magazine, a space for the exploration of the Asian-Australian experience.

                    Kate ten Buuren

                    Yilam yuwang-ngal-in, meaning ‘to camp together’ in the language of the Taungurung people of the Kulin Nation: a collaborative project for members of ‘this mob’, an Indigenous art collective for emerging creatives based in Melbourne.

                    Niharika Senapati

                    Imagination/Vacation: an intimate contemporary dance work underpinned by a sound​scape that guides the audience through a guided-visualisation journey.

                    Didem Caia

                    The University of Longing: a multisensory immersive play that explores how individuals influence global issues, in a chaotic and complex world of climate change and chronic illness.

                    James Werrett

                    Julia Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: a film exploring  issues of class, race and gender through the story of a young woman who returns home to Melbourne from abroad to attend her mother’s manslaughter trial.

                    ​Previous Young Creative

                    Read about a previous Young Creative’s experience of the program.

                    Frequently asked questions

                    General questions

                    Are there any reasons I might not be able to submit an expression of interest to the Young Creatives Lab?

                    You can't submit an EOI if you are: 

                    • a City of Melbourne employee or volunteer
                    • under 18 or over 25 years of age.

                    Proposals with a primary focus on fundraising or that form part of accredited study will not be funded. 

                    Can I submit more than one Young Creatives Lab expression of interest?

                    You can only submit one Young Creatives Lab expression of interest each year. However, you may apply in subsequent years.​

                    Can I submit an expression of interest to ArtPlay, Arts House and to the Young Creatives Lab?

                    Yes, but proposals must be for different projects or ideas.

                    Can I submit the same project for a City of Melbourne Arts Grant and for a City of Melbourne EOI?

                    No.

                    How many projects will be supported?

                    Four projects will be supported for development in 2023 – 2024. 

                    Project idea

                    ​How formed does my project idea need to be?

                    Your proposal must be well articulated and include what you expect the outcomes to be. Please outline what you plan to do, why you want to do it, and how you will use your creative development residency at Signal to explore your idea. 

                    While you may work towards expected outcomes, Signal acknowledges and encourages that the creative process may lead you to an unexpected outcome. 

                    Does the Young Creative Lab fund development and presentation?

                    ​The Young Creative Lab supports development only. It does not include presentation. ​

                    I have started working on my project, am I still eligible?

                    ​Yes. The Young Creatives Lab supports projects at all stages of development. You may have already done some initial research, writing, planning, or workshopping of your project. 

                    As long as the work has not been presented before and you clearly articulate how your project will benefit from further development through Signal, your proposal will be considered. ​

                    Do any additional artists mentioned in my proposal need to be confirmed?

                    Yes, however Signal understands that your creative team may change over time and as the project develops.  ​

                    ​Can I talk to a Signal representative about my idea?

                    You can contact Signal on 9658 7810 or signal@melbourne.vic.gov.au to talk about the application process but not about your idea.​

                    Budget

                    What do I need to include in my material / equipment budget?

                    Signal provides a basic range of arts and craft making tools and materials (e.g. pencils, glue, scissors, paper, hot glue guns and rulers etc.) These do not need to be included in your budget.

                    You do need to list specialist materials or equipment (e.g. film equipment, specialised paper, clay, printing costs). 

                    Please check the Signal building and spaces information and equipment list to see what equipment and infrastructure Signal can contribute. If Signal has equipment that you need for your project, please specify the item in the budget and put the cost as 'in kind / zero amount'.

                    Please note, if successful, Signal may renegotiate your budget based on the project needs after initial discussions.

                    How should I calculate artist fees?

                    Signal does not have standard artist rates for the Young Creatives Lab.

                    Artists’ rates could be between $30 and $80 per hour depending on role, task and experience.

                    As you will be undertaking a two-week residency, we suggest you propose a weekly rate for your artists, for example $1000 to $1500 per week per artist.

                    For performing arts projects, you may use the Live Performance Award as a guide. For visual arts projects, the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) has its own guide to fees and wages.

                    Can I include travel, accommodation and living expenses in the budget?

                    No. However, additional funding for access costs may include travel and accommodation for artists who need it, e.g., regional artists, disabled artists, etc. ​

                    If I am successful

                    Do I need to attend the Lab Induction in November?

                    Yes. Successful applicants must be available to attend the Lab Induction on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 November at Signal. Please include this when calculating your artist fee.  ​

                    Do I get to choose my own mentor?

                    ​Yes. You can suggest a mentor you would like to work with and Signal will approach them. If you’re not sure, we can also suggest potential mentors, based on your project and creative practice.    ​

                    When will I be paid?

                    As this is not a grant, you will not receive total payment for your project upfront.  

                    If you’re successful, we’ll work out a payment plan with you based on your project’s needs. This may include being paid in instalments.

                    Do I need an ABN?

                    If you are successful and you are an Australian citizen, you will need an ABN. This is available from the​ Australian Tax Office.

                    Do I need to be registered for GST?

                    No, you do not need to be GST registered to apply. Please refer to the Australian Tax Office regarding GST registration.

                    Do I need a Working with Children Check (WWCC)?

                    You do not need a WWCC to submit an EOI. 

                    However, if your project is successful each member of your project team working onsite at Signal will need to have a valid WWCC and provide a copy of their card. It costs $128.20 to apply for a WWCC. Please consider this in your project budget.

                    Do I need my own public liability insurance?

                    If you are an individual, you will be contracted through Auspicious Arts and be covered by their public liability insurance.

                    If you are an organisation, you are required to have public liability insurance. Read more about our public liability insurance requirements​.

                    Contact us

                    Telephone number
                    03 9658 780803 9658 7808
                    Email
                    signal@melbourne.vic.gov.au
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