Abbotsford Convent Foundation

About Abbotsford Convent Foundation – Arts and Cultural Precinct in Abbotsford

The Abbotsford Convent Foundation is a DGR-endorsed not-for-profit organisation and an ACNC-registered charity since 2012, managing Australia’s largest arts and cultural precinct in Abbotsford, Victoria. Established in 2001 following a successful community campaign to save the historic site from commercial development, the Foundation transformed the National Heritage-listed former convent—originally founded in 1863—into a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and learning. Further details about the organisation’s purpose, structure, and public mission are outlined on the Foundation’s official About page.

According to its official Annual Information Statement 2025 published on the ACNC Charity Register, the precinct comprises 11 historic buildings set across 6.8 hectares of gardens and open spaces and supports a thriving creative community. The Convent is home to 121 resident artists, designers, writers, performers, and wellbeing practitioners and welcomes more than 750,000 visitors each year, just 4 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.

Programs and Services

The Foundation delivers a wide range of initiatives that support contemporary creative practice, cultural participation, and community wellbeing. An overview of the Foundation’s core initiatives is available through its key programs, which span education, artist development, public events, and inclusive access to the arts.

One of its flagship initiatives, Convent Kids, provides hands-on art activities developed in collaboration with leading artists, inspiring children and families while supporting positive educational outcomes and lifelong engagement with the arts.

The Studio Residency Program provides artists with time, space, and professional support to develop new work within heritage buildings, including visual arts residencies, writers’ residencies, and the Maggie Maguire Residency. Across the precinct, flexible venues accommodate exhibitions, performances, rehearsals, workshops, conferences, and community events for groups ranging from 10 to 430 people, supported by professional catering, guided tours, and audiovisual services.

Impact and Reach

• Operates as Australia’s largest multi-arts precinct, curating and hosting more than 2,000 art projects, workshops, exhibitions, and events each year.
• Supports creative development and public access to the arts through studio programs and initiatives such as Meet the Artists, launched in 2020 to provide behind-the-scenes access during COVID lockdowns.
• Generates sustainable income through partnerships, venue hire, and events, helping preserve the precinct as a publicly accessible cultural asset.

Financial Transparency and Governance

Financial and governance information published by the ACNC shows that during the 2024–2025 reporting period, the Foundation recorded a total gross income of $5.34 million, with revenue primarily generated from providing goods and services related to venue hire and programming. The organisation employed 25.5 full-time equivalent staff and was supported by 33 volunteers.

Total assets were reported at $16.72 million, reflecting significant investment in heritage buildings and infrastructure. All financial statements are independently reported and publicly accessible through the ACNC Charity Register, demonstrating a strong commitment to transparency and responsible stewardship.

Get Involved

Community members and organisations can support the Abbotsford Convent Foundation through venue hire for events, filming, and photography, which directly funds conservation and operations. Opportunities to donate, volunteer, and visit the bin-free precinct encourage community ownership, cultural participation, and long-term sustainability of this nationally significant site.