Our First Three Months at The Gladstone
Over the past three months, Romulus Folio has deeply engaged in transforming an empty shell into a working open studio gallery and dynamic arts hub. Nestled in the heart of The Gladstone’s social programming, this new chapter has allowed us to grow not only as an artist-led gallery but as part of a larger community of residents, staff, and local organisations working to shape a better future for South Melbourne and the surrounding Fishermans Bend precinct.
We’ve felt truly welcomed into the Gladstone family, supported by the kind and generous team, the vibrant resident community, and our extended collaborators at FBIdeas. Special thanks go to Kate Spenser for her ongoing encouragement and insight.
This space has allowed us to explore a slower, deeper, and more intentional approach to artistic development, programming, curation and exhibitions. We’ve loved seeding strong foundations with artists whose work embodies the Romulus Folio ethos: bold, brave, and full of belief. Our goal has always been to accompany artists throughout their creative journeys, and this residency has helped us begin to develop a solid understanding of how to recognise when to navigate and nurture potential for long-term relationships.
Highlights from this first residency phase include our Melbourne Design Week exhibition, the first session of Weaving Three Stories, led by First Nations artist Bianca Easton, including Les Huddleston and organised by Sarah Naarden from Initiatives of Change Australia, and the ongoing work on Angelina’s shipping pallet upcycling project, an idea that’s been simmering since late 2024 and is finally taking form.
We’ve especially enjoyed offering palette knife painting workshops, inviting the residents and public into a joyful, tactile, and emotionally expressive painting experience. Sharing this creative process with new audiences continues to affirm the transformative potential of hands-on artmaking.
It’s also been a privilege to meet and connect with people doing meaningful work in parallel spaces, such as Sarah Naarden from Initiatives of Change Australia. We are grateful for her generous spirit and have valued the opportunity to support each other’s work in organic and evolving ways.
The original three-month residency has been a season of learning, experimentation, and community building. The feedback from artists, workshop attendees, and visitors has been humbling and encouraging, and we’re excited to continue growing into what Romulus Folio can be, not just as a gallery but as a living, creative, dynamic arts hub and community ecosystem.
Scott Ross, Gallery Manager and Operations Manager has done a phenomenal and tireless job of holding the practical and logistical threads of this project together. His care and persistence have ensured that everything, from installations to last-minute tech fixes, has run smoothly and with intention. His contributions behind the scenes have been invaluable to the gallery's heartbeat.
As we look ahead to our WINTER exhibition July 9 -August 5, opening Friday July 18 5-7pm, we carry forward all we’ve learned so far and remain committed to fostering a space where art, story, and community converge.
