A new home for FELTspace, Adelaide’s artist-run ‘playground’
Since 2008 the volunteer-run gallery FELTspace has provided an outlet for artists to experiment, exhibit, and connect. A new, more accessible site across the CBD offers a promising future.
For nearly two decades, FELTspace has been a hub for experimental art, supporting emerging and early-career artists. Originally located on Compton Street, it has built a vibrant community and has become an important part of contemporary art practice and culture in South Australia. This year marks a new chapter for the artist-run initiative (ARI) as it holds its first exhibition for 2026 in a brand-new space.
ARIs play a crucial role for artists and curators at the beginning of their art journey, providing an opportunity to connect with fellow practitioners. Originally known as ‘alternative spaces’, ARIs emerged around 40 years ago, offering a platform for artists to present experimental and diverse works.
Established in 2008 by artists Logan Macdonald and Monte Masi, FELTspace launched with the exhibition Straight Outta Compton, which also featured Annika Evans and Brigid Noone and was curated by Rayleen Forester. Since then, the gallery has hosted many significant exhibitions that have helped launch the careers of emerging artists.
Macdonald reflects on the early days, noting, “We were very fortunate to have artists wanting to collaborate and show works with us. These things mean as much as the community wishes them to and that was the very fortunate thing, people kept on coming along and showing up.”
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FELTspace isn’t just for emerging artists Macdonald explains. “It’s also a playground for more established artists to try something different and fun.”
While the Compton Street site served its purpose well over the last two decades, there was a desire to move to a new space with improved facilities. The time has finally come and FELTspace opened its new gallery at 266 Angas Street in February with a ‘Housewarming’ exhibition featuring 39 past and present co-directors. Many of the featured artists are now well-known in the South Australian contemporary art scene. It reflects the community that FELTspace has developed, as these artists have come together to help launch the initiative’s next chapter.
Current co-chair and volunteer coordinator Isla Hannan Francis states, “FELTspace only exists because of volunteer labour, and there have been 68 co-directors and past co-directors. This was the perfect opportunity to acknowledge everyone involved. We wanted to honour the people who got us to this point.”
The previous location had limited access to amenities and wasn’t wheelchair accessible. The new venue has resolved these issues and also has a space for artist studios, allowing the ARI to further build and expand its community. Francis adds: “Having artists in the space is a really great way to activate it and being able to provide cheaper studios is important to us in the current crisis.”
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Macdonald believes the move is important for the longevity of the initiative, suggesting, “Moves like this help to recontextualise the initiative and establish new connections with the community, hopefully bringing a renewed focus.”
The Housewarming exhibition featured works that reflect on the past, such as the video work by Jenna Pippett and Macdonald, Doing Stuff with Anne.J: Episode 6 – How to Volunteer at FELTspace, a spoof filmed in 2017 at FELTspace that pokes fun at the culture associated with ARIs. Audiences were also invited to explore Polly Dance’s presentation of past catalogues, speech notes, notebooks and diaries, providing a fascinating insight into the history of FELTspace.
In March and April, a new suite of exhibitions from Adelaide’s Thea Lucia, UK artist Olivia Andrews and Angola’s Gegé M’bakudi will nudge FELTspace into the future.
When FELTspace started in 2008, no one could have imagined the impact it would have. “We always hoped for it to be a long-term initiative and make a remarkable impact on Adelaide and the South Australian visual arts community,” Macdonald reflects. “But to see how it’s become its own force is really impressive.”
Without ARIs like FELTspace there are few opportunities for emerging artists to experiment and explore their practice without commercial and institutional constraints. In such a difficult financial climate where the arts are often overlooked, it’s a testament to the community surrounding FELTspace that it has thrived for nearly two decades and is continuing to grow.
With a new chapter comes increased confidence for the future of contemporary arts, which is more important than ever.
FELTspace is open Wednesday – Saturday 10am-4pm at 266 Angas Street, Adelaide
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