First Site Gallery
Come and explore your creative side at RMIT's student-led gallery.
Following the Victorian Government's mandate to shut down all non-essential activity in response to COVID-19, RMIT is offering a range of online events so you can continue to engage with the RMIT community.
For more information check out the Coronavirus Faqs page.
First Site Gallery is led by a student committee, who rotate on a yearly basis. The committee programs exhibitions, organise public programs and set the vision and priorities for the gallery. They have their own budget and are supported by RMIT staff.
The antecedent of First Site Gallery can be traced back to the formation of a Gallery Collective in 1968 that was created soon after the establishment of RMIT Union (now RMIT Student Life). The first gallery, known as ‘The Collective Space’ ran exhibition programs from June to December each year as well as events, such as chess club nights, music performances and discussion groups.
The union’s gallery was relocated and renamed three times over the next fifteen years until, in 1996, it was moved to its current site and named First Site. From its inception, First Site was conceived as a space to provide students with a conduit into creative practice, independently from RMIT’s teaching programs.
As its founders imagined, First Site provided students with a space where they could experiment, take risks and learn about presenting their work publicly. In the past 23 years, First Site has presented over 850 exhibitions involving 4000 students that were appreciated by audiences of over 400,000.
In line with recent Government advice, First Site is currently physically closed, instead presenting online engagement opportunities.
Physical Address: Storey Hall Basement, 344 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Australia.
Location: Melbourne City campus, Building 16
Email: alice.mathieu@rmit.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 9925 9946
First Site is accessible via a lift. The entrance is on Rodda Lane opposite Building 8. First Site has DDA compliant and gender neutral bathrooms.
First Site is committed to increasing accessibility to our exhibitions and events. If you have specific requirements please get in touch.
Acknowledgement of country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business. - Artwork created by Louisa Bloomer