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Stellar line up for Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival by Sarah Bond 10 January 2014
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ollowing the success of its inaugural year in 2012, the Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival (MIAF) returns in February 2014 to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture with a diverse range of events spanning music, theatre, dance, cabaret, visual arts, film and conversations. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne is proud to present the MIAF, which will run from 5 to 16 February 2014 and showcase 42 events in a variety of key arts venues across the City of Melbourne. “Following its inception in 2012, I am pleased that the City of Melbourne will again showcase the best that the Indigenous arts scene has to offer at the second
Melbourne Indigenous Arts Festival in February,” the Lord Mayor said. “Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander art, and artists, are key contributions to our city’s renowned cultural reputation,” the Lord Mayor said. “We are delighted to present a festival that is dedicated entirely to this important chapter of our city’s culture and history.” Chair of Arts Portfolio, Councillor Rohan Leppert said MIAF is a crucial event on Melbourne arts calendar. “MIAF is a great celebration of Indigenous culture and art. The City of Melbourne is committed to supporting Indigenous expression through art and programs and events such as MIAF,” Cr Leppert said. “We want as many people as possible to experience the great events in the festival, so we have
ensured that most of the events are free.” The 12 day festival will open at the Melbourne Recital Centre with the talented soprano and MIAF ambassador, Deborah Cheetham, will share the unique and intimate story of her journey of discovering her belonging. Til the Black Lady Sings features music by Catalani, Cilea, Dvorak, Puccini, Strauss, Vaughan Williams and Cheetham. “MIAF is a wonderful platform to recognise and celebrate Indigenous arts and culture and the critical role this has in our history, and the present,” said Deborah Cheetham. The opening weekend of the Festival is packed full of free music at Federation Square with an outstanding selection of Australia’s finest performers, including the legendary Archie Roach (pictured), multi-talented songstress Jessica
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Mauboy, Nathan Lovett-Murray’s Payback Records Hip Hop Showcase, Yung Warriors, Christine Ward, X Factor’s Ellie Lovegrove and many more. The highly anticipated event, We Still Live On, where pioneering Aboriginal reggae rock artist, Bart Willoughby, will perform on the Melbourne Town Hall’s iconic Grand Organ. Willoughby and his guest, Deline Briscoe, will pay homage to the late poet and activist Kevin Gilbert as they meld traditional Indigenous culture, didgeridoo and the classical pipes of the Grand Organ. Another coup of the festival’s program set to captivate audiences is the world premiere of Tiriki Onus’ William and Mary, which tells the story of activists Bill Onus and Mary Kelly using elements of theatre, storytelling, classical folk song and operatic performance. Traditional dance groups from around Victoria will come together for Koorioboree - a cultural gathering and dance event that will celebrate a resilient culture through dance and song. Afterwards, experience a special performance from the Australian Capital Territory Torres Strait Islander Dance Group. Acclaimed Indigenous dance artist Albert David will teach some of his best dance moves at the free and family friendly 1st Friday Dance Club on Friday 7 February. There is a strong theatrical contingent in this year’s program. Noel Tovey’s brave autobiographical monologue, Little Black Bastard at Arts House; and Jane Harrison will present a reading of her latest play The Visitors at the Melbourne Theatre Company. A massive hit at the 2012 Festival, the unique and heartwarming Blak Cabaret returns with the ‘deadliest’ mob of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers to present another wonderful cocktail of comedy, music, poetry, drag and dancing.
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Bart Willoughby will be in the lineup for the Melbourne Arts Festival. Image supplied
Head down to the Birrarung Marr Lower Terrace and meet the Ghost Net Weavers from far North Queensland who will be weaving discarded fishing nets into works of art. Experience more visual art at the The Koorie Art Show, and see the diverse talent of Victoria’s Indigenous visual artists in one inclusive space at the Koorie Heritage Trust; and experience a demonstration of possum skin cloak stitching at The National Gallery of Victoria. Art historian and curator Djon Mundine will give a free talk on the relationship between dreaming and the shadow in your soul by using a selection of Australian films as illustration – The Creature from the Id at ACMI. If vibrant discussion and debate is more your thing, join in the free public forums on offer: Blak Theatre: Stories about diversity, change and survival and Blak Literature: Stories About Writing Blak at The Deakin Edge. There will also be a Q&A with acclaimed director Warwick Thornton at ACMI after the screening of The Darkside – Thornton’s fresh interpretation of a modern day ghost story. Browse and pick up some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, crafts, food, music
and dance at the Koorie Night Market at Federation Square on the opening weekend or head on the award-winning Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the beautiful Botanical Gardens, check out the Children’s Workshops on offer and Culture Love, a photographic projection work created by young people in collaboration with artist James Henry and there’s even a Blakfulla Soapbox to look out for in Parliament Gardens. Tickets are on sale now for the Melbourne Indigenus arts Festival to be held from Wednesday 5 February to Sunday 16 February 2014. The festival will be held at the following venues: Federation Square – various, Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne Town Hall, National gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Arts House, FortyFive Downstairs, Arts House, Queensbridge Square, Birrarung Marr, The Deakin Edge, ACMI, Koorie Heritage Trust, Royal Botanical Gardens, Parliament Gardens, SIGNAL, ArtPlay, City of Melbourne libraries For more information please visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/miaf