LIFE DRAWING AT COATES COMMUNITY ARTS

Our untutored life drawing classes have been a staple in Melbourne CBD since 2008. Here is everything you need to know before attending a class: 

• All Skill Levels Welcome: Our untutored classes are open to all. 
• Materials Provided: We provide paper, drawing boards, charcoal and pencils. 
• Relaxed Environment: Feel free to bring food and drinks. Wine and beer are available by donation.
• Arrival Time: The venue opens at 6:30 PM. Please arrive before 7:00 PM.

Coates Community Arts is in the Coates Building, situated at 20 Collins Street between Spring and Exhibition Streets. Enter the Coates Building, take a lift to level 4, and walk to your left. Coates Community Arts is at the end of the hall. 

Getting Here

Tram: 
#8 Spring Street/Collins Street (free tram zone)
Trams: 11, 12, 48, and 109 at the door
Train: 
Parliament Station (140 metres from the venue)
Bike and Scooter Parking: 
Collins Street
Bicycles and electric scooters are not permitted inside the venue.
Car Parking Options: 
Undercover Secure Parking at First Parking (Parkade) at 34-60 Little Collins Street. The cost is $14 for the evening from 5:00pm if you sign up as a member via their website. 
Undercover Secure Parking is also available at Council House at 200 Little Collins Street. The cost is $10 all evening from 5pm. This car park is located 600 metres from the venue, approximately a 10-minute walk. 
Street Parking (nearby) 2-hour ticketed street parking is available on Collins, Exhibition, and Spring Streets. If you need to move your car during class, you can do so during the scheduled break from 8:00pm to 8:15pm. 
Street Parking (Lansdowne Street) Find free parking from 7:00pm at Lansdowne Street, between Albert and Flinders Streets, next to Fitzroy Gardens. This is approximately 600 metres from Coates Community Arts, around a 10-minute walk. 

Meet Our Facilitator

Louise (Lou) Klerks is a passionate contributor to the arts. In 2024, she was awarded a Lord Mayor's Small Business Achievement Award for her longstanding commitment to the life drawing community. Lou founded her life drawing class in 2008 at No Vacancy Gallery. In 2016, she moved Life Drawing to the Nicholas Building, where she established Missing Persons, a multi-arts space, where our class was based for 8 years. In October 2023, Lou closed Missing Persons and launched Coates Community Arts. Coates Community Arts is the first and only arts space in the Coates Building, a predominantly medical building at 20 Collins Street.

For 18 years, Lou has taken great pleasure in facilitating this group. She believes that her life drawing classes are a great place to meet like-minded people, build connections in the arts community, and benefit from a sense of social wellbeing. Lou is proud to work with a range of highly skilled and professional life models who are central to this small operation. 

Tickets, Exchanges, Refunds

Please let us know if you have a ticket and cannot attend.
An exchange or refund will only be issued if you request it via email before 1:00 PM on the day of your booked class. If your request is for a change of date, please include the new class date in the email. You do not need to provide a reason for your refund or exchange. Contact us at hello@coatescommunityarts.com

If your cancellation is last-minute or sent via social media, we will not exchange or refund your ticket. The best thing to do is to gift it to a colleague or friend. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to book? It’s a good idea to book in advance, but we also happily accept walk-ins! A few seats are reserved each night for walk-ins. We accept payment in cash or EFT at the door. Our class capacity is 35 people, and we'll always do our best to accommodate you. 
• How much is the class? We have casual classes for $22 per session. This cost includes our art materials, butcher paper, and drawing boards.
• What do I need to bring? Some extra dollars if you fancy a glass of wine or beer, by donation. We accept cash and EFT. BYO is welcome too! We have cups you can use for BYO drinks. We provide drawing materials, boards, and paper (this is included in your ticket price).
• I've never drawn before. Is this going to be an issue? Our classes are structured but untutored. Please give it a go. There's no judgment here.
• How long is the class? The class is 2 hours from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Our doors open at 6:30pm. Please come early, but don’t be late. We suggest that you arrive at least 5 minutes before 7:00pm so you can get ready for the class. If you need to leave before 9:00pm, we have a break from 8:00pm to 8:20pm. This is a good time to sneak away.
• I purchased a ticket and cannot attend. What do I do? We are more than happy to refund and exchange tickets if we receive an email request from you by 1:00pm on the day of your booked class. Scroll up to the section about 'Tickets, Exchanges, Refunds' to learn more.
• I'm under 18, can I attend the classes? Of course! Please note that alcohol is served in the class, but under-18s are not permitted to drink. If your parent or guardian would like to get in touch, they can email our facilitator, Lou, who is a registered teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Lou is happy to exchange phone numbers and assist parents and guardians as needed.  
• Is the venue wheelchair accessible? Unfortunately, no. The after-hours entrance to the Coates Building is 70cm wide. It is a glass door that opens outwards (towards the street) and is manually operated. The Coates Building has no accessible toilets. We have made repeated requests to the building's management to make these improvements. 
• Can I bring my electric scooter or bicycle to the class? No. We don't have storage space for them in our drawing room.
• Can I purchase a Gift Certificate for someone? Of course. We have several options, including a double pass, 5-pass,10-pass and 30-pass. Purchase your gift certificate here.
• How do I know who is modelling? You can see who is modelling on the calendar on our website. You can also check Facebook or Instagram 
• How do I become a model? Scroll down to the bottom of the 'Help' page for information about working with us.  

Contact Us

For any further questions, please contact us at hello@coatescommunityarts.com 

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