ABOUT STICKY INSTITUTE

Sticky Institute is an Incorporated Association and is a volunteer run, not for profit Artist Run Initiative housed in Degraves Street Subway under Flinders Street, Melbourne. Sticky was originally conceived as a not for profit retail 'side project' in 2001 within Platform Artist Group who operate artist exhibition spaces in the subway and nearby lanes.

The three day a week shop-front idea, ‘Sticky’ began with ten artist publications for sale in the Platform office in April 2001. Since then, Sticky has stocked thousands of titles from around Australia and overseas, and has established itself as a nationally and internationally recognised specialty zine and artist book shop.

In 2007 Sticky became an Artist Run Intitiative in its own right, as Sticky Institute Inc. and receives government funding to cover operational costs.

Sticky is governed by a strong Management Committee and is coordinated by Luke Sinclair (Sticky's legendary founder and former Platform Coordinator) and Eloise Peace. The shop is manned by Luke, Eloise and a strong brigade of volunteers who keep Sticky running six days a week. In addition, Sticky is supported by a special troupe of friends within industry who assist the organisation's development and growth. Sticky loves everybody very much.

The principal purposes for which the Association is established are:

To strengthen, serve, represent and appropriately promote innovative creative expression that explores and challenges popular perceptions through Melbourne’s zine culture which encompasses visual arts, crafts, literature and design;

To encourage and facilitate self-identity, self-expression and creation of communities through the provision of space and personalised access to practical and artistic resources as part of a broader independent ‘Do It Yourself’ ethic which celebrates self-empowerment and cultural diversity;

To operate a dynamic, accessible not for profit retail outlet with public exposure in a retail environment with a simple submission process that enables anyone to stock their work and become involved in Melbourne’s zine culture, and ensuring that we charge a minimal sales commission (20%) in the retail operation, the emphasis being on returning as much of the retail price as possible back to those involved in the product’s creation.

Sticky values the vital role and contribution of volunteers to the organisation both past and present.

Sticky Institute is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.