RE/DISCOVER
YOUR CITY
EOIs have now closed

• Is it award-winning or has it been recognised by professional design peers?
• Is it innovative, pushing boundaries and/or a great addition to the city?
• Will it inspire the next generation of design professionals/future urbanists/active citizens?
• How does it respond to the 2024 theme RE/DISCOVER your City?

• Does it include First Nations Peoples’ knowledges?
• Is this an exemplar in the space of Ecologically Sustainable Development?
• Does it contribute to a more equitable, inclusive and safe city?
• Does it speak to Melbourne as a multicultural city?
• Does it represent innovation in new housing models?
• Does it provide better-designed public or social housing or address housing affordability?

• Does it tell an important story about Melbourne’s past, present or future?
• Is it a rare example of an architectural style or type?
• Is it important to Victoria’s cultural history?
• Does it demonstrate creative or technical achievement during a particular period in our history?
• Does it have a special historical association with a person or group of persons important to Victoria’s history or a present-day community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

• Does it offer insights into how the city operates?
• Does it offer a once-in-a-lifetime or special opportunity?
• How will it provide a great experience for visitors of all ages?

Whether in-person or online—programs should consider accessibility, to provide greater reach and inclusivity for visitors. This may include, but is not limited to closed captions, Auslan interpretation, hearing loops, wheelchair access and sensory friendly environments.

All applications will be reviewed by the Open House Melbourne Building Council together with the Program team.

Successful applicants will be notified via email by 5pm Thursday 14 March 2024.

This will include a link to finalise program content and process registration fee payments.

Submissions may take the form of in-person open access building or building tour, walking tour, workshop, panel discussion or talk, film or exhibition.

Most programs operate either as Open Access while some require Pre-bookings. Some have elements of both.

Online programs, tours and events should embrace their digital context by utilising virtual tours, spotlighting typically off-limits spaces or providing access to interstate or international special guests.

We encourage EOIs from locations across the city and Melbourne’s suburbs.

Submissions—whether in-person or online—should consider accessibility, to provide greater reach and inclusivity for visitors. This may include, but is not limited to closed captions, Auslan interpretation, hearing loops, wheelchair access and sensory friendly environments.

Most of the program aims to operate as Open Access. This means buildings and spaces are open for guided or self-guided tours which are free and do not require pre-booking. Visitors can simply turn up and take part.

Generally, if you can accommodate more than 20 people at a time, or will offer four or more sessions of the same program on the same day, your program should be Open Access.

Collaborators arrange for knowledgeable staff or volunteers to be on site to welcome visitors and be available to share architectural and design information or share insights or stories with visitors about the space while they explore.

Open Access programs see more traffic and exposure and offer a better opportunity for more visitors to experience your building or space. In the spirit of Open House, we strongly encourage you to offer Open Access to your building or space. We can offer volunteers to support with queue management and way-finding at popular or limited capacity sites.

Collaborators with Open Access buildings or programs are encouraged to open between the hours of 9am and 5pm across multiple days where possible. Where this cannot occur, one full day or consistent timeframes across both days is preferred.

For Open Access programs, a minimum open time of four hours is required. Programs that are not Open Access are required to accommodate a minimum of 50 people across the weekend e.g.:

• 1 x talk, tour or event with a minimum capacity of 50
• 2 x talks, tours or events with a minimum capacity of 25 each
• 3 x talks, tours or events with a minimum capacity of 16 each

Pre-bookings are required for some programs with limited capacity or security considerations like residential homes, construction sites or limited capacity tours.

Generally, if you can accommodate more than 20 people at a time or will offer four or more sessions of the same program on the same day, your program should be Open Access.

Open House Melbourne will work with you to assess the structure of your program and decide if your program requires pre-bookings.

In 2024, all ticketing for pre-booked programs will be managed by Open House Melbourne. We will work with you to understand your capacity for oversubscription to account for attrition. A small fee of $7 will apply to all tickets to contribute to the ticketing administration costs.

The Open House Melbourne Weekend 2024 will take place across Saturday 27 + Sunday 28 July 2024.

Open House Melbourne programming including Designing with Country, Modern Melbourne, This is Public and the Heritage Address will take place in the evenings surrounding the Weekend.

The Weekend occurs across Saturday 27 + Sunday 28 July 2024.

Collaborators with Open Access buildings or programs are encouraged to open between the hours of 9am and 5pm across multiple days where possible. Where this cannot occur, one full day or consistent timeframes across both days is preferred. For Open Access programs, a minimum open time of four hours is required.

We are considering adding Friday to the program for some programs/events. Opening on Friday would be in addition to your offering on Saturday and/or Sunday rather than in place of – please select if this is something you might be interested in and we will be in touch to discuss further.

Whether you’re in individual or an organisation, you’ll become a Collaborator when your submission is accepted into the program. We’ll then support you to supply the required information for the print and digital program and ensure you’re prepared to deliver your event successfully during the Weekend.

All Collaborators will be invited to celebrate with us at the Program Launch!

In 2024, all ticketing for pre-booked programs will be managed by Open House Melbourne via Humanitix. We will work with you to understand your capacity for oversubscription to account for attrition.

A small fee of $7 will apply to all tickets to contribute to the ticketing administration costs.

Open House Melbourne will create a ticketing link for your program to include in the digital program and for you to share with your networks.

Tickets are released to the public about a week after the program goes live. This allows time for people to review the program and effectively plan their Weekend.  Two releases of tickets are scheduled to increase equity of access.

When your program becomes fully booked, a waitlist will be activated. Offers of available tickets due to cancellations will be processed automatically as an offer to the next person on the list.

Reminder emails for ticketed programs will be sent 72 hours prior to your event.

You will be given access to your event via the Humanitix app which shows up-to-date registration numbers and provides scanning permission.

On the Weekend, your team (with the support of Open House Melbourne volunteers) will be responsible for checking in attendees by scanning the QR on their ticket.

If you have any questions about how ticketing works or whether your program should be ticketed, please contact us via info@ohm.org.au or +61 3 8648 8612.

Open House Melbourne undertakes comprehensive marketing and PR activities in the lead up to and during the Weekend. We have an established database of 48,000+ email subscribers, 600,000+ annual website visits and an audience of over 58,000 across social media channels. Learn more in our 2023 Event Report here.

You will be provided a marketing kit including branding guidelines and digital and print assets to share with your networks to promote the Weekend.

More information about marketing will be provided to you once your submission is accepted.

For tailored benefits and services, please enquire about Partner and Sponsorship packages with Katie Evans, Partnerships + Communications Manager via katie.evans@ohm.org.au or +61 3 8648 8612.

Before making a submission, we ask that you familiarise yourself with the Key Selection Criteria, Collaborator Commitment, applicable registration fees, important dates timeline and FAQs.

Submissions can be made via an online form. The form must be completed in one session so we recommend reviewing the full form and submission requirements in preparation and keeping your responses saved in a separate document for your records so nothing gets lost.

All submissions are required to meet the minimum requirements and will be assessed against the Key Selection Criteria by the Open House Melbourne Building Council and curatorial team. Submissions are reviewed regularly as they come in and we may be in touch throughout this process should we require any clarification or further information.

Successful applicants will be notified via email by Thursday 14 March 2024.

If your submission is successful and you are accepted into the program, you will be required to:

• submit your finalised program information
• pay the applicable registration fee
• returned your signed Collaborator Agreement.

These must be submitted by Tuesday 9 April 2024 to ensure your program is included in the print program.

Successful program submissions, upon acceptance into the Weekend program will be invoiced a registration fee.

It is free to submit your EOI submission – fees are applied to successful programs only.

Collaborator registration fees ensure we can continue to deliver the much-loved Open House Melbourne Weekend into the future. Registration fees contribute to administration costs, insurance, accessibility services, event management, volunteer recruitment and signage.

The fee structure is as follows:

• $65 (Individual)
• $120 (not-for-profit or community group)
• $260 (school, for-profit, local government)
• $440 (higher education, State government)

To discuss a payment plan or any other aspect relating to fees, please contact us via info@ohm.org.au or +61 3 8648 8612.

The Open House Melbourne Weekend celebrates good design by opening up buildings, places and spaces, inspiring public engagement in conversations about the future of our city.

Open House Melbourne is the largest and longest-running Open House program in Australia. The Weekend provides you the opportunity to:

• take an active role in advocating for the value of good design in our built environment
• contribute to broad public discussion around the role of design in creating better futures
• reach a broad cross-section of the community
• gain access to new audiences.

We love to talk with prospective Collaborators, to help you better understand how the Weekend works and how you can maximise your participation. Please contact us via info@ohm.org.au or +61 3 8648 8612. to discuss your submission idea. We ask that you do so well in advance to the submission deadline so we can best assist you.

Or, come along to our Online Information Session—12pm, Tuesday 28 November
Hear from the Open House team about updates for 2024, tips and tricks for successful participation and get your questions answered. Past and prospective Collaborators welcome! More information and a link to join will be provided.

These key selection criteria will guide the curatorial process to determine programs accepted into the Weekend 2024 program.

Represent design excellence

• Is it award-winning or has it been recognised by professional design peers?
• Is it innovative, pushing boundaries and/or a great addition to the city?
• Will it inspire the next generation of design professionals/future urbanists/active citizens?
• How does it respond to the 2024 theme RE/DISCOVER your City?

Seek to improve our collective futures

• Does it include First Nations Peoples’ knowledges?
• Is this an exemplar in the space of Ecologically Sustainable Development?
• Does it contribute to a more equitable, inclusive and safe city?
• Does it speak to Melbourne as a multicultural city?
• Does it represent innovation in new housing models?
• Does it provide better-designed public housing or address housing affordability?

Represent significant built heritage

• Does it tell an important story about Melbourne’s past, present or future?
• Is it a rare example of an architectural style or type?
• Is it important to Victoria’s cultural history?
• Does it demonstrate creative or technical achievement during a particular period in our history?
• Does it have a special historical association with a person or group of persons important to Victoria’s history or a present-day community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Provide a unique visitor experience

• Does it offer insights into how the city operates?
• Does it offer a once-in-a-lifetime or special opportunity?
• How will it provide a great experience for visitors of all ages?

Terms + Conditions for participation can be found here.