About
Alternating Current Art Space is a Melbourne-based artist-run initiative (ARI) located in Windsor, Victoria. Founded by artist Annette Chang in 2015, the gallery underwent extensive renovations in early 2016 before its grand unveiling in April of that year. What was once a dilapidated commercial space at 248 High Street was transformed into a vibrant, purpose-built contemporary art gallery through months of dedicated labour and a clear artistic vision.
The gallery contains four main exhibition spaces plus The Cupboard, a small project space that invites artists to work within intimate, constrained dimensions. Early and mid-career contemporary artists and curators alike feature in our exhibition program. We are part of the greater Chapel Street Arts Precinct in the City of Stonnington, contributing to one of Melbourne's most dynamic cultural corridors.
What to Expect
When you visit Alternating Current Art Space, you can expect to see work across a wide range of mediums and disciplines. This may include visual art, sound art, video and projection, installation, ceramics, sculpture, performance, and more. We have presented works ranging from delicate drawings and large-scale paintings to immersive video installations and conceptual performance pieces. Each three-week exhibition cycle brings entirely new work to the walls, ensuring that every visit offers a fresh encounter with contemporary practice.
We create a supportive, inclusive, and accessible environment for contemporary artists and curators to show their work. We encourage experimentation, creative risk-taking, and provide the opportunities for this to unfold in the gallery. Our commitment to emerging practitioners means that many artists exhibit with us at a pivotal moment in their careers, and we take pride in being part of those formative exhibition experiences.
Exhibition Program
With approximately thirty exhibitions mounted each year, our program maintains a rapid and energetic pace. Each exhibition typically runs for three weeks, with opening nights held every Friday from 6 to 8 pm. We hold two proposal submission rounds each year, usually in March/April and September/October, and we welcome applications from solo artists, curators, art collectives, organisations, and independent projects. Our gallery has hosted artists working across painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, digital media, sound, and interdisciplinary practices.
Since 2016, Alternating Current Art Space has presented hundreds of exhibitions featuring both local Melbourne artists and interstate and international practitioners. We have collaborated with other artist-run spaces, hosted residencies in partnership with organisations like Blender Projekt Space and Yarra Sculpture Gallery, and welcomed international artists in residence from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Who We Are
Alternating Current Art Space is run by a voluntary committee of professional staff. They work together on artist selection, exhibition scheduling, and event management. Our team brings together practicing artists, curators, and arts professionals who share a commitment to supporting contemporary art in Melbourne.
Annette Chang
Annette founded Alternating Current Art Space in 2015 and oversaw the complete renovation of the 248 High Street premises. Her own practice spans installation, video, and conceptual art. She holds a Masters in Fine Art and has exhibited extensively throughout Melbourne and beyond. Annette's vision for the gallery has always centred on creating opportunities for artists at critical stages of their development, and her hands-on approach to every aspect of the gallery's operations reflects a deep personal investment in the space and its community.
Polly Hollyoak
Polly assists with gallery operations, provides strategic advice, supports monthly events, and handles technical aspects of exhibition installation. She holds a Masters in Fine Art and maintains an active practice as both an artist and a sign writer. Her dual expertise in creative practice and practical craftsmanship makes her an invaluable part of the team, ensuring that every exhibition is installed to the highest standard while supporting artists through the technical challenges of presenting their work.
Sarah Randall
Sarah manages exhibition planning and event coordination. She completed her Master of Fine Arts at RMIT in 2015 and holds a Graduate Certificate in Art History from the University of Melbourne (2016). An exhibiting artist since 2008, Sarah brings extensive experience in both creating and presenting contemporary art. Her organisational skill and deep understanding of exhibition logistics keep the gallery's ambitious schedule running smoothly.
Kate Wallace
Kate is a writer and curator who completed her Master of Contemporary Art at the Victorian College of the Arts. She has volunteered at Heide Museum of Modern Art and the Melbourne Museum, and holds both a Bachelor of Fine Art and an MA in Arts Curatorship. Kate brings a considered critical perspective to the gallery's exhibition program, contributing curatorial insight and written support that contextualises and enriches the work on display.
The Transformation
The story of Alternating Current Art Space is inseparable from the story of its physical space. In early 2016, Annette Chang and a team of dedicated volunteers began transforming a neglected commercial property at 248 High Street, Windsor, into the gallery it is today. The renovation was a labour of love that involved stripping the building back to its bones, installing new walls, lighting, and flooring, and configuring the interior into the five distinct gallery spaces that artists and visitors now know. The transformation was documented on video and stands as a testament to the grassroots energy that drives Melbourne's artist-run sector.
From its earliest days, the gallery has hosted pop-up exhibitions and events even as construction was underway. Artists including Polly Hollyoak, Sarah Randall, and Linda Loh presented work in the space during its expansion phase, setting the tone for a gallery that would always prioritise artistic activity and community engagement above all else. That founding spirit continues to animate every exhibition we present.