Art Space

Proposals for: Exhibitions/Events/Performance

We welcome proposals from artists, collectives and curators for solo and group exhibitions, events or  performances. If you are still at the ideas stage, please contact us to discuss them. We are happy to assist artists and curators to seek funding and can help by provide advice and letters of support. We prefer the applications to be made via the online forms but if you are have difficulties, please don't hesitate to contact us directly via the phone, email or by making an appointment to discuss your proposal in person.  Please consult the exhibition information for current costs, terms & conditions. Links to Adobe pdf downloads on sidebar.

Please note submissions for 2012 exhibition program are now closed. 

We are still accept proposals for performance's for 2012 

History of the Art Space

The Cowwarr Art Space came into being when Carolyn Crossley purchased the old Cowwarr Butter Factory in November 1992. It took six months of extensive renovations before it opened as the Cowwarr Art Space in June 1993 . Carolyn was led by her own personal vision to create a highly flexible, inclusive Art Space. It is through relationships that this vision is achieved. She created Cowwarr Arts Network Inc. (CAN Inc.) an independent, not for profit, arts organisation, that has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of both the arts and the local community. She has developed strong links with local artists, arts organisations, both regional, state and national and has been involved with many arts and tourism forums, panels and focus groups at all levels of government. When Sculptor Clive Murray-White joined as her partner at the Art Space, in 1996, it created a new dimension with the addition of the Australian Marble Sculpture Studio. Gallery image includes works by Jim Thalassoudis and Clive Murray-White.

History of the building
It started with Gold

The discovery of Gold at Walhalla in 1862 created great expansion in the surrounding townships as they provided services, provisions, accommodation and horses for the Gippsland diggings. Cowwarr was originally called Forty  Second, because the 42nd clause of the Land Act of 1865 was enacted specifically to apply to the region to restrict selections to 20 acres and only for a limited number of years, this was to release land for the production of food crops and an alternate employment for failed gold miners.  After much local farmer lobbying, claiming the small plots were not viable, the act  was revised in 1869 to allow for selection of 320 acres.

Dairying  begins

Dairy farms were developed and The Fresh Food and Storage Company opened a creamery around 1880. In 1897 The Cowwarr  Cheese and Butter Factory Co. Ltd. was formed and constructed a wooden building in the main township of Cowwarr  and in 1918 the current factory was established near the railway station. (now redeveloped as a Rail Trail from Traralgon)

Architectural Significance Heritage Victoria Listing

The former Cowwarr Butter Factory is architecturally significant as a rare example of an industrial building employing Federation Arts & Crafts design traditions. Built in 1918 it combines innovative end of WW1 building construction methods with the honest, substantial and moralistic features of the William Morris initiated Arts and Craft movement. This went on to form the basis of the architectural work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Walter Burley Griffin. The distinctive styling and concrete construction define the building as an extraordinary example of a factory, particularly in the context of the many other cheese butter factories built in Victoria in the early 20th century. Many of the original elements of the butter factory including, boiler mountings, draft channels and brick chimney still remain.