ACMI to Lead Bendigo Creative Industries Hub

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is set to partner with the local community to bring the Bendigo Creative Industries Hub to life.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced ACMI as the new operator of the Hub which will be located at the former Morley’s Emporium site on Mitchell street.

“ACMI has an extraordinary track record in delivering programs that strengthen Victoria’s creative industries, businesses and talent – and a long and proud long history of working in Bendigo and the regions.

“This partnership brings together ACMI’s industry-leading experience with local expertise to create a Hub that will address the unique needs of Bendigo’s creative community and boost local creative businesses and opportunities,” said Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley.

In addition to operating the world’s most visited museum of film, TV, videogames, digital culture and art, ACMI runs a ground-breaking creative industries co-working space, ACMI X, and a range of sought-after industry development programs.

ACMI will bring this experience to Bendigo working with local staff and partners to create a co-working space and program tailored for the region’s creative practitioners and businesses. It will also bring unmatched expertise in creative entrepreneurship having created the museum-first ACMI Xcel accelerator for creative tech entrepreneurs as well as establishing Foundry658, a creative industry accelerator designed together with State Library Victoria.

“We are eager to share the experience and skills we have learned running ACMI X in Southbank over the past three years, to strengthen and grow local capacity and innovation in the Bendigo creative industries,” said ACMI Director & CEO Katrina Sedgwick.

ACMI will collaborate with a local advisory board and recruitment has commenced for a locally-based coordinator to manage the Hub’s operations and the events program – ranging from forums and networking sessions to hands-on workshops and mentoring.

“ACMI is delighted to have the opportunity the collaborate with the Bendigo community to deliver a Creative Industries Hub in the old Morley’s Emporium,” said ACMI Director & CEO Katrina Sedgwick.

Through this partnership, a hot desk will be available at ACMI X for Bendigo-based creatives to use, while ACMI X’s Melbourne residents will also have access to space at the Bendigo Hub, providing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. 

Bendigo architecture firm e+ architecture has been engaged to develop a design that will transform the long vacant space into a co-working, events and community space that will be fully operational in early 2020.