Amazing world of ACMI X

Just when you thought Southbank’s Arts Precinct couldn’t get any bigger, say hello to Australia’s first major collaborative working space for the creative industries ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) X.

The new 60-seat co-working space opened at Kavanagh St last month offering a 2000sqm state-of-the-art office space to individuals and organisations working in the moving image.

Designed by award-winning architect Six Degrees, the impressive new facilities includes offices, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose events space and a library and cafe area.

ACMI X studio manager Emma Shearman said the space had been established in response to the changing nature of creative industries and a need to foster collaboration, experimentation and professional development.

“It was an opportunity to put together a group of people that could collaborate not only with ACMI but within the wider industry,” she said.

“The landscape for creative industries has really changed going from people working in bedrooms to actually having to collaborate for money because people have to make commercial realities out of the work that they do.”

According to Emma, the idea was the brainchild of new ACMI director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick, who wanted to relocate her 80 staff off three levels from its offices in Oliver Lane in the CBD to one connected space.

And the timing was also right to establish the co-working space. Emma said it was already having an immediate impact on co-workers using the facilities.  

With the constant rise in technology, Emma said the scope of the moving image art form had become “a very broad spectrum” and that it was important to bring people together to foster collaboration.

“The reason that it’s a working model is because people are really interested in skills that they don’t already have,” she said.

“It’s all about putting them in a melting pot of other people, which leads to new projects, new ideas and collaboration, which is what we’re all about.”

ACMI X has been quick to partner with a number of organisations, including local City Rd gaming design studio The Arcade, The University of Melbourne and RMIT.

Based within Southbank’s flourishing Arts Precinct, she said Southbank was “the place to be” having already established ties with a number of local arts institutions.

“There’s a lot going on here and even just those ties with the Arts Centre and NGV is absolutely critical to the success of the co-working space and for the success of the people’s businesses within the co-working space,” she said.

“It’s been a big change from being over behind Federation Square to being here and I think there’s lots within Southbank that we can look to collaborate with.”

ACMI X is seeking expressions of interest for four remaining long-term co-working spaces. Find out more by visiting www.acmi.net.au/acmi-x