When funding falls short, good design loses

Posted Wed 25th Feb 2026 | katie.evans@ohm.org.au

Open House Melbourne has launched their Good Design Matters campaign, calling on the Victorian Government to commit to long-term, stable funding for our organisation.

For nearly 20 years, we have opened doors to Victoria’s most significant and unique buildings and places, giving tens of thousands of people direct access to architecture and design. Our programs make complex design, planning and development issues tangible, showing people how well-designed buildings, streets and public spaces shape daily life.

At the end of 2025, Open House Melbourne’s four-year State Government funding agreement was reduced to two years, with no option to extend. The shortened cycle creates a funding cliff in 2027 and limits long-term planning, places pressure on our much loved public programs and reduces our ability to reach audiences across Victoria.

Chair Sam Redston said sustained investment is essential. “Building public understanding of good design is a long-term investment. You can’t deliver impact year-to-year. Stable funding allows us to plan confidently, maintain partnerships and reach communities across Victoria.”

Open House Melbourne’s 2025 audience research demonstrates our reach: 25 per cent of the Weekend festival attendees were new to design events and 54 per cent said Open House Melbourne was their only touchpoint for design. Our audience reflects Victoria’s diversity and 80 per cent of our programs are free and open access.

Executive Director Tania Davidge said public understanding of design has never been more important. “Decisions about housing, neighbourhoods, public space and climate change affect everyone. When communities understand good design, conversations about growth and change become more constructive and less polarised.”

The warning comes amid wider concern for the arts sector. ArtsHub recently asked, Is the creative state crumbling?, highlighting the impact of funding cuts. The Guardian reported Australia risks becoming an “artless country” as creative course enrolments fall, while The Australian described the state’s “cultural heart” as broken following arts funding reductions.

Open House Melbourne is the only statewide cultural organisation focused on architecture, heritage and the built environment funded through the Creative Enterprises Program.

“This is about keeping the doors open to good design,” Mr Redston said. “Good design matters and so does Open House Melbourne.”

Advocate for good design and sign Open House Melbourne’s petition.