Downtown Art Space

Downtown Art Space

Downtown Art Space was started in 2002 in an abandoned 1980's dodgem car rink in Adelaide, South Australia by artists Andrew Best, Bridget Currie, Louise Flaherty, Chris Flanagan and Viv Miller. It conducted many exhibitions in this first site, focusing mainly on the exhibition of video, performance, and other then neglected media. It also conducted exchange exhibitions with other ARIs, notably with West Space, Breadbox ARI, and artists from Toronto, Canada. Downtown was awarded state and federal funding for its activities.

Downtown later moved to new premises in Waymouth Street, in an old motorcycle machanic store. In order to receive ongoing state funding it became incorporated, and a 'second tier' arts organisation. Later directors and council members include Anne Weckert, Clint Woodger, Mimi Kelly, Sarah CrowEST, Peter McKay, Mark Siebert, Tamzin Buchan and Lucy Guster. Exhibitions continued on a roughly monthly basis, and included exchange exhibitions, such as with MOP Projects, in 2006.