SITE EIGHT (previously RMIT School of Art Gallery) is a gallery situated in the heart of the School. It derives its name from its physical location in room 8 of RMIT's Building 2.
SITE EIGHT is a dynamic multi-purpose art space that professionally services the various needs of the School’s programs and student communities. The gallery maintained a regular public program of exhibitions from 2005 to 2014 but is now publicly programmed on an ad hoc basis.
Location: RMIT Bld 2 Lv 2, Room 8. Bowen Street (off Latrobe St), Melbourne, VIC, 3000
Opening Hours (during exhibition periods): Varies by exhibition.
Artworks
Artworks for exhibition at SITE EIGHT must consider the Occupational Health and Safety of gallery staff and patrons. This is the responsibility of exhibitors. Hazardous materials and risks must be considered and reported in advance such that a risk management plan can be formed. This includes manual handling issues of large or heavy artworks. Works which are to be moved into the gallery must have clearance of the building, elevator and gallery entry ways (max width 90cm, max height 190cm, max depth 190cm, consideration of dimensions should take into account crating and moving equipment being used) and require appropriate moving equipment (i.e. adequate bed-sizes and load bearing capacity). RMIT has the right to refuse artworks which do not comply.
Walls
Material: MDF Cladding with Plasterboard behind it.
Fixings: Nails or screws can be used to attach lighter work to the wall. For heavier items larger screws or multiple access points may be required. Due to the fact that these walls are MDF, please note that wall plugs are not required to hang work.
Floor
Material: Vinyl.
Notes: Any material attached to or left on the floor must be able to be removed at the end of the exhibition, leaving no damage to the floor or its finish. Artists cannot drill into the floor. Any pours, drips, and laying of material on the floor must be discussed with INTERSECT staff.
Ceiling
Material: Plasterboard.
Thickness: Approx. 18mm.
Fixings: Small screws may be used in the ceiling. However, to hang works of any real weight (eg. > .5 – 1 kg; a projector for example) it is recommended that a relevant ceiling anchor (such as a toggle screw) be used.
Notes: There are metal and concrete supports, as well as ventilation ducts and equipment for lighting, which criss-cross the ceiling. Any installation which requires you to hang something from the ceiling must work around these fixtures. There are General Power Outlets located at various points in the ceiling.
Lighting
The entire gallery is fitted with fluorescent lights of a cool-daylight hue. Additionally, there are lighting tracks installed throughout the gallery, which allow for a number of different lighting options: spot (small area), flood (large area), wide flood (large wide area), wall wash (large wide area with diffuse boundaries; good for lighting an entire wall evenly), custom crop (barn door system allowing for precise lighting of an artwork).
To use the fluorescent lighting, switch on the four switches closest to the bottom left corner of the lighting panel. Please ensure fluorescent lights are switched off when leaving the gallery space.
Pole
There is a concrete pole in the centre of the room. This is a structural pole. It can have work clamped or adhered to, however exhibitors may not drill into the pole.
Air Conditioners
SITE EIGHT has two air conditioners. The remotes are inside the lighting cupboard door. Please ensure these are turned OFF when leaving the gallery for long periods of time, especially overnight.
Ladder
The ladder for SITE EIGHT is housed in a large floor to ceiling cupboard outside the gallery. Please ask RMIT Intersect staff or supervising technician for the key to access this cupboard.
Power Points
There are a number of power points around the gallery on the black skirting board close to the floor. Additionally there are power points in the ceiling.