Melbourne’s rich cultural heritage comes alive with this colourful annual music and arts festival presenting amazing new refugee and emerging artists who have recently settled in Australia.
Kicking off with a massive one-day cultural celebration at Fitzroy Town Hall on Sunday 19 June, Emerge Festival continues for six sensational weeks with a series of amazing performances and unique cultural experiences encompassing music, dance, visual arts, film, exotic foods, ancient crafts and ceremonies happening all over Melbourne.
Presented by Multicultural Arts Victoria, Emerge Festival commemorates United Nations World Refugee Day and celebrates Refugee Week in Victoria. Refugees are survivors who have been forced to leave their whole lives behind due to persecution and they have survived because they have had courage, ingenuity and creativity. The only festival of its kind, Emerge unearths the incredible talents these people have brought to Australia and provides an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to share and celebrate rich and undiscovered cultures all the way from Africa to the Far East, from the traditional to the contemporary.
Dance to rhythms from Sudan to Burma whilst inhaling the aromas of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony and exotic foods from around the globe at the festival Main Event; join us for the world premiere screening of short films from Melbourne's Pacific Islander community at the Pacific Stories Film Screening; experience traditional songs and dances from Burundi and be blown away by the sound of the ingoma drums at Burundian Independence Day Celebrations; feast your eyes on stunning visual arts works by prizewinning refugee artists entered in the Heartlands Refugee Art Prize at the Heartlands 2011 exhibition! Just a few of this year’s festival highlights!
Established in 2004 by Multicultural Arts Victoria, the Emerge Festival promotes diversity, social inclusion, respect and the breaking down of racism. Over its seven years the festival has steadily grown to attract audiences of 10000+ with an annual program of inspiring and entertaining events all over Melbourne.
From June 15 to July 30 Emerge Festival will be a chance for people from all cultures to make music together, sing, dance, learn about each other, showcase and be proud of their culture, hear each other’s stories and make long-lasting cross-cultural connections and friendships.
www.multiculturalarts.com.au
EMERGE FESTIVAL MAIN EVENT
Freedom From Fear: Celebrating Refugee Week in Victoria
Sunday 19 June, 12-5pm @ Fitzroy Town Hall & Napier St, Fitzroy FREE
PUBLIC RALLY: UNITE AGAINST MANDATORY DETENTION
Sunday 19 June, meeting at 12.30pm @ cnr Nicholson St & Gertrude St (forecourt Melbourne Museum)
and marching to Emerge Festival to arrive at 2pm.
HEARTLANDS REFUGEE ART PRIZE 2011
Wednesday 15th June – Saturday 25th June
Gallery Opening Hours: Tue – Fri 11am – 5pm, Sat 12pm – 4pm
@ fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne FREE
REFUGEE WEEK PUBLIC FORUM: LABELS & LIABILITIES
When is a refugee no longer a refugee?
Wednesday 22 June, 6.30 – 9pm @ fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne FREE
Bookings Essential: 9349 4122 or eccv@eccv.org.au
PACIFIC STORIES FILM SCREENING
Exploring Pacific Islander Identities through Film
Saturday 25 June, 4.30pm for a 5pm start @ Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland St, Footscray
$5 Adults - children under 12 free
Bookings essential before June 10 http://pacificstories.wordpress.com
BURUNDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
Saturday 2 July, 2 – 6pm @ The Castle, Hemmings Park, Princes Hwy, Dandenong
Entry gold coin donation at door – arrive early to avoid disappointment!
URBAN VOICES MUSIC VIDEO LAUNCH
Saturday 9 July, 7-9pm @ Loop, 23 Meyers Pl, Melbourne FREE
EMERGE AT THE DRUM
Saturday 16 July, 11am – 4.30pm @ The Drum, Dandenong Town Hall, 226 Lonsdale St, Dandenong FREE
MUSIC BUSINESS SKILLS WORKSHOPS FOR WORLD MUSIC ARTISTS – DON’T BE LEFT OUT IN THE CALD
Saturdays in July, 12- 5pm @ Melbourne Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. FREE
Bookings essential 9417 6777
A unique opportunity for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and world music artists to learn more about the business of music,
the Australian music industry and how to get heard! Workshops will be presented by industry experts and will include:
July 2 Regional and Remote Touring; Getting Into the Festival Circuit
July 9 I Manage My Music; Connecting with the Media
July 16 Going Digital; Making Waves on Air
July 23 Make Your Music Work for You – Part 1 & Part 2
July 30 Effective Grantwriting – Part 1 & Part 2
