​ Voltage – EOIs open /

VOLTAGE – A CHAMBER MADE x THE SUBSTATION INITIATIVE

Chamber Made and The Substation are pleased to announce a significant opportunity for a mid-career/established independent artist(s) to have their work produced by Chamber Made and co-presented with The Substation in September 2026.

Are you an artist working at the intersection of contemporary performance, sound and music? Do you already have a new work in the pipeline? Are you looking for producing support and a presentation context for 2026? If yes, then read on!

Read more on Chamber Made's website here

KEY INFORMATION

• EOIs open: 20 May 2025
• EOIs close: 23 June 2025
• All applicants notified: 25 July 2025
• Space for development periods: late 2025 and early 2026
• Final development and presentation: 24 August – 12 September 2026

CHAMBER MADE

Based on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm/Melbourne, Chamber Made cultivates adventurous multi-artform practice to disrupt and rewrite conventions of live performance. Interrogating the intersections of music, sound and contemporary performance, Chamber Made works speak directly to a 21st Australia enriched by the meeting and intersection of cultures. A commitment to collaboration, an appetite for innovation, and an ongoing fascination in the intersecting spaces between artforms drives the company through its fourth decade with continued energy. Our works have been presented in theatres, recital halls, lounge-rooms, galleries, on iPads and online. Chamber Made has presented over 100 performance seasons in Australia, NZ, Asia, Europe, UK, USA and South America and commissioned over 56 new Australian works and engaged countless artists since it was founded in 1988.

THE SUBSTATION

Amplifying artworks that transcend form, The Substation’s multi-artform spaces are illuminated with the most urgent contemporary arts to inspire us to refigure problematic histories, imagine possible futures, and forge new connections. The Substation is the nation’s leader in multi-arts and experimental practice. We connect our continent’s most diverse local communities in Naarm/ Melbourne’s west to the world through a program of international, national and local presentation, development and engagement opportunities.

PARTNERSHIP

Chamber Made and The Substation have a long and fruitful history of collaboration. This has included partnering on the development and presentation of new works such as Diaspora (2019) and My Self in That Moment (2022) and a key partnership in the presentation of Chamber Made’s flagship artist development program Hi-Viz Practice Exchange in its formative years. The two organisations are delighted to come together to offer this opportunity and look forward to supporting the development and presentation of an exciting new work by a Victorian artist or collective.

WHAT'S ON OFFER

In addition to cash contributions from Chamber Made and The Substation, this unique opportunity brings the successful applicant(s) dedicated in-kind producing, production and presentation support from both organisations.

CHAMBER MADE WILL PROVIDE

• Full producing support including: assistance in engaging collaborators, equipment hire, scheduling, partnership negotiations, contract administration, budgeting, grant writing assistance and auspicing where required
• Comprehensive production management
• Marketing and publicity
• Fundraising support for the artist(s) to secure any additional development funds required
• Cash support for final rehearsal and presentation

THE SUBSTATION WILL PROVIDE

• Feature placement in the 2026 program
• Studio access for development, rehearsal and presentation:
  • Small studio for 2-3 weeks development in late 2025 (as required)
  • Exclusive access to the main space for two weeks development in late-March / early-April or early May 2026
  • Exclusive access to the main space for two weeks rehearsal leading into one week presentation between 24 August – 12 September 2026
• Technical support including in-house crew
• Marketing and publicity
• Co-presentation management including ticketing, FOH, bar operations and marketing
• Cash support for final rehearsal and presentation

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Please note while both organisations are offering significant cash contributions and in-kind support towards realising the final work, it is expected that the applicant(s) will take the lead in securing any funds required for the early 2026 development phase. Chamber Made and The Substation will assist the artist in this application process.

ELIGIBILITY AND FOCUS

• The selected work should align with The Substation’s vision for presenting contemporary and experimental practice, and Chamber Made’s focus on cross-artform works at the intersections of contemporary performance/theatre, sound and music
• The work will be suitable for presentation in The Substation’s main space for a ticketed audience of maximum 120 people
• Eligible works will have already undergone at least one development phase and/or have confirmed development funding in 2025 and will be realistically tracking toward a 2026 premiere
• The successful applicant(s) will have an established body of work and track record of delivery
• We welcome submissions from artists from all cultural backgrounds, First Nations artists, and artists with disabilities
• Artists must be Victoria based and have their own accommodation in Melbourne
• Artists must be available for all key dates outlined

HOW TO APPLY

Provide responses to the following questions in this APPLICATION FORM

• Project description [max 350 words]
• How the work aligns with Chamber Made and The Substation’s producing and presentation focus (see eligibility & focus above) [max 350 words]
• Project development history and current status [max 200 words]
• List key artistic personnel, their roles and bios
• Details of any confirmed funding
• Creative support materials relevant to the proposed work (Eg. video documentation [limit 10 mins], images or text [limit 2 pages], audio recordings [limit 10 mins]
• Additional support materials such as letters of support [max 2] are not essential but can be submitted
• Applicants are welcome to submit a recorded video application outlining their proposal if they prefer not to submit a written proposal

SELECTION PROCESS

One project will be supported. Applications will be assessed by Chamber Made and The Substation. Unfortunately there won’t be capacity for feedback on individual applications.

CONTACT

For any inquiries regarding this opportunity, including any access needs for submitting your EOI, please contact: info@chambermade.org