Getting in touch about Melbourne's laneways and arts

Most of what ends up in these notes starts with a message from a reader: a tip about a new mural in a back lane off Flinders Lane, a heads-up about a small gallery opening in Collingwood, or a correction to a walking route that no longer works because a laneway has been closed for building works. If you have something along those lines, it is always welcome.

What is useful to send

  • Street art and laneway changes. Murals in Melbourne's lanes are painted over constantly, which is part of their character. A note on where a new piece has appeared, or a well-loved one has gone, helps keep the laneways guide honest.
  • Independent arts spaces. Artist-run galleries, small theatres and pop-up exhibitions are easy to miss. Tell me the suburb, the kind of work shown and where readers can check opening details for themselves.
  • Days-out ideas. Routes that link a few precincts on foot or by tram, quiet spots for a break, or accessibility notes for particular lanes and venues.
  • Corrections. Venues move, close or change their programs. If something here is out of date, please say so.

A few things to keep in mind

Laneway Notes is an independent journal. It is not connected to any council, venue, festival or gallery, and it cannot sell tickets, take bookings or pass on requests to the places it writes about. For event dates, prices and opening hours, the organiser's own website is always the reliable source.

Tips are read with interest, but not every suggestion turns into a story, and coverage is never paid for. If you are an artist or run a space and would like your work considered, a short description and a sense of what makes it worth a visit is the best place to start.

While you wait for a reply, the archive holds earlier pieces on precincts, galleries and walks around the city, and the places section collects the venues that come up most often.