News : Documentary: The Last Year of The Arthouse

Plans for a documentary celebrating iconic Melbourne live music venue and local metal hangout The Arthouse have been announced by venue fanatic Sean Callanan. Currently living in Toronto, Canada, Callanan has been following the recent news out of Melbourne concerning live music venue closures and stricter liquor licensing laws in the Victorian capital.

“I grew up in Melbourne, have always played in bands and have always called The Arthouse my second home.”

“In January 2010 I caught wind of Melbourne’s new liquor licensing laws and the subsequent closure of The Tote. I never spent much time at The Tote but definitely appreciate that many generations of bands have got their start there and adore the place as I adore The Arty. The thought of coming home to a Melbourne with no Tote was definitely a strange one. Around this time, many articles began to spring up in newspapers speaking of live music venue closures – including the closure of The Arthouse.”

“The closure of The Arthouse, to those who’ve spent much time at the place, comes as no surprise. Many of us know the basic story of the place – getting a 20 year lease, fighting to stay in the building etc – but seeing an actual closing date printed in one of the newspapers was definitely shocking. It made me, and I’m sure many others, realise that the countdown has begun and our beloved Arty will soon have to shut it’s doors.”

“I know that saving The Arty is near impossible but what is much more achievable is to make the absolute most of this last year and document the whole thing so we can remember this occasion not as a death in the family (pun definitely intended) but a celebration of the place our little community loves so dearly.”

Callanan is calling for anyone interested who has old photos and/or stories of The Arty, owns a decent video camera, has knowledge on documentary making techniques and video editing, writing etc, to contact him at seanjcallanan@gmail.com.

For more information, and to get in contact with , please visit www.arthousedoc.blogspot.com and visit www.thearthouse.com for all gig listings and news from the venue!