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September 2018
Running Writing Workshops
Are you? Are you a writer with an urge to teach writing? Learn all about the theory and practice of teaching creative writing in this dedicated workshop for women writers of colour and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women writers. This workshop has been made possible with donations from an anonymous donor. However, it is presented in partnership with Mascara Literary Journal. The workshop is free, but registrations are essential to secure your place. Please note that this workshop is for women and non-binary writers of colour. About Stephanie Armstrong Stephanie is a Gamilaraay woman from a large extended family from northern NSW. She is a trained primary school teacher, having taught for over 35 years in rural, remote and urban contexts. This has provided her with the skills and experiences she requires in both her consultancy business and her personal life. Stephanie is on many local committees and on the Worawa (Aboriginal girls school)…
Find out more »Queer Lady Magician
Can an overly honest person be a good magician? If you failed at something once should you never try again? And what's with all these straight White men in Orientalist drag? Queer Lady Magician tells the story of my first love of stage magic, losing the love from failure, and revisiting my childhood passion as an adult. In the process of doing so, I am forced to confront my demons: impostor syndrome, fear of failure, trauma from emotional abuse. Interwoven with autobiographical storytelling are acts that politicize stage magic to question norms about magic and society: assumptions about people's identities based on their appearance, gender stereotypes of (male) Magician and (female) Assistant, cultural appropriation in magic, and much more. Serious social and personal issues are tackled with humour, silliness, saltiness, and heartfelt sincerity. Through this show, I learn what it means to be a Queer Lady Magician, eventually taking ownership…
Find out more »Meuko! Meuko! (Taiwan) // CORIN // Yumgod // TZECHAR+Night Dives
Meuko! Meuko! Meuko! Meuko! makes her Australian debut in Melbourne on September 21st. Hailing from Taipei, Taiwan, she uses destructive drums, alarm-raising horns and far eastern gnosticism to morph sonics into palpable senses . Dark Sonic Visions of Taipei With a sound shaped by the claustrophobic intensity of metropolis life, Meuko! Meuko! creates a cacophony of pulverising kicks, razors synths and ceremonial chants to portray her dark sonic visions of Taipei. Live at Boney With regular spots on NTS LND and her latest EP ‘鬼島 Ghost Island’ on Aïsha Devi’s Danse Noire, Meuko! Meuko!'s amalgamation of Juke beats and dismantled Gabba with traditional Taiwanese instrumentation and mythology makes for a captivating live show. After playing a slew of European festivals (HyperReality, Rhizom and Distortion) she will be playing debuting her live set at Boney, on Friday 21st September. Supporting Meuko! Meuko! on the night will be javascript fatigue of CORIN,…
Find out more »October 2018
The Longhouse: Melbourne
CAAP's Longhouse CAAP’s Longhouse is a networking and information sharing program that has been building a solid and thriving Asian Australian performance community in NSW since 2015. As a result, now, CAAP invites you to attend Melbourne’s first Longhouse to be hosted by Melbourne Theatre Company. So, facilitated by Ra Chapman with an introduction by Annette Shun Wah, four of Melbourne’s most progressive and dynamic storytellers will be joining us to share their experiences within the industry in Victoria. Also, they will take part in a conversation about the current state of diversity and representation on our stages and screens. Likewise, the panel discussion will run for approximately one hour, followed by a chance to network over nibbles and drinks. Guest Speakers KIM HO (The Language of Love, Mirror’s Edge – Winner 2017 Patrick White Playwright’s Award) MICHELE LEE (Going Down, Rice – Winner 2018 Australian Writer’s Guild Award, Victorian…
Find out more »November 2018
The 9th Asia Pacific Trienniel Of Contemporary Art (APT9)
24 Nov 2018 – 28 Apr 2019 QAGOMA | Free The hugely ambitious APT series returns to QAGOMA this summer. Undoubtedly, it brings significant art from across Asia Pacific to Brisbane. Overflowing with colour and life, this free contemporary art exhibition presents a unique mix of creativity and cross-cultural insight. Moreover, you can discover more than 400 artworks by 80 individuals, collectives and groups that capture the energy of new art being created in Asia, the Pacific and Australia. In addition to that, alongside the exhibition are 3 thought-provoking film programs, 8 hands on activities for kids and 5 months of ongoing programs and special events, including daily guide tours. The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is a single institution located across two adjacent river-side buildings in the Cultural Precinct at Brisbane's South Bank. Presently, QAGOMA holds a collection of over 17,000 works of historical, modern and…
Find out more »Anita Ratnam: Bringing Neo Bharatam to Australia
Dr Anita Ratnam, based in Chennai (Madras), India, is highly respected as a performer, writer, speaker, arts entrepreneur and culture mentor. She has been described as an ‘intersectionist’, whose work weaves the many disciplines of dance, theatre, spoken word, ritual, archaeology, dramaturgy and women's issues. For over 40 years, her distinguished career has witnessed over 1000 performances in 27 countries. In 2018, she was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for contemporary dance by the President of India. This is Ratnam’s first performance tour of Australia and will include the following events. Solo Performance of Ma3Ka and Artist Talk at Chunky Move for Mapping Melbourne 2018 Saturday, 1st Dec 6 pm to 8 pm Chunky Move 111 Sturt Street, Southbank, VIC 3006 Buy Tickets She is energy, exuberant in play. The joy of experience passed on generously from within. She is a confluence, a woman, owning her powers. She is Ma3Ka. Woman. Earth Mother, three times and…
Find out more »January 2019
The 9th Asia Pacific Trienniel Of Contemporary Art — Guided Tours
24 Nov 2018 – 28 Apr 2019 QAGOMA | Free Guided Tours--2 Jan to 18 April, 2019 The hugely ambitious APT series returns to QAGOMA this summer. Undoubtedly, it brings significant art from across Asia Pacific to Brisbane. Overflowing with colour and life, this free contemporary art exhibition presents a unique mix of creativity and cross-cultural insight. Moreover, you can discover more than 400 artworks by 80 individuals, collectives and groups that capture the energy of new art being created in Asia, the Pacific and Australia. In addition to that, alongside the exhibition are 3 thought-provoking film programs, 8 hands on activities for kids and 5 months of ongoing programs and special events, including daily guide tours. Guided Tours: There will be volunteer guided tours as well as snapshot tours. The schedules of these tours can easily be checked at https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au. So, lovely souls! QAGOMA looks forward to welcoming you to APT9.…
Find out more »Midsumma Festival
Midsumma Festival Announcement: Midsumma Festival is proud to announce the recipients of Midsumma Futures. It's a nine-month development , and mentorship program for emerging artists and culture-makers, kicking off in October 2018. Besides, Midsumma-Futures provides opportunities for early-career-artists for advancing their skills, deepening practice, gaining exposure and leading the future of queer-culture. Moreover, the program brings together a range of emerging cultural-practitioners, creating a unique space for the intersection of ideas and modes of practice. Undoubtedly, the artists range from producers, socially engaged practitioners, community leaders, and culture-makers. Midsumma Festival 2019: Midsumma Festival will reveal itself in all its finery once again. Yes, it'll bring a kaleidoscope of preeminent queer arts and cultural festivities from 19 January to 10 February 2019. It's since 1988 that Midsumma Festival has been celebrating LGBTQIA+cultures. It's been offering Melbourne audiences a diverse array of performances, talks and social events with leading local and global artists.…
Find out more »February 2019
CHINESE READING AND WRITING FESTIVAL 中文文学节
Chinese Reading and Writing Festival Launch (22 Feb to 8 March, 2019) Hello friends, get ready. We are celebrating a vibrant reading and writing festival focusing on Chinese and Chinese-Australian literature with an exciting program full of events and activities. Indeed, we aim at encouraging cross-cultural connections and promoting the power of reading and literature to enrich lives. Moreover, the festival will include author talks, writing workshops, poetry readings, calligraphy demonstrations and discussion panels. To add colour to these, we are including presentations by award winning author Melanie Cheng, and co-writer and creator of The Family Law Benjamin Law, Chef Elizabeth Chong. Melanie Cheng 郑素莲 will speak about the complexities and challenges of writing stories from a Chinese-Australian perspective. Besides, our artist and illustrator Queenie Chan will set up workshops in this context. Join Us Therefore, join us to celebrate the opening of Whitehorse Manningham Libraries inaugural Chinese Reading and Writing Festival.…
Find out more »March 2019
Discussing Australia’s history of race and power
Discussing Australia’s history of race and power Those Monuments Don’t Know Us coming to Bundoora Homestead Those-Monuments-Don’t-Know-Us, a new exhibition at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, pushes the limits of Australia’s current political and cultural landscape. Indeed, it engages in conversation with a colonial history that defines Australia. Exemplified by the opulent British architecture of Bundoora Homestead, the works of these artists provoke questions about who we are and where we are going. Artists in the exhibition speak to the social, cultural and political structures that continue to shape national discourse. Most work, among other things, touches on the deep issues around culture, racism and power that still define us. Besides, the exhibition features recent works and new commissions. The artists of these works bring diverse perspectives and cultural narratives to notions of ‘belonging’ in Australia. The exhibiting artists include Khadim Ali, Timmah Ball, Hayley Millar-Baker, Phuong Ngo, James Nguyen, Nabilah…
Find out more »April 2019
The Inaugural 2019 Light Up Melbourne Festival announces ICD Property as Naming Rights Sponsor
Melbourne has yet another signature event on its calendar with the announcement of the 2019 ICD Light Up Melbourne Festival. This is the first large lantern event of its kind in Australia, with previous displays showcased in China, Singapore, US, Canada, Germany, France, Netherlands and Belgium. The Festival is an initiative of the Association of Australia Sichuanese and will be held on April 6-9 at Birrarung Marr, set along the North Bank of the Yarra River. President of the Association Jolin Zhou said appearing over 2,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty, lanterns have remained a staple in Chinese history and traditions: “The Association of Australia Sichuanese Inc. has always had a strong belief in sharing Chinese culture with the wider community. In 2019, we are proud to bring to Melbourne such an internationally recognised Lantern showcase. Hopefully with this event, the Association can continue to serve our community as…
Find out more »May 2019
Brisbane Street Art Festival
Brisbane will welcome a plethora of acclaimed local, national and international street artists from around the globe this May, as the city opens its door to Australia’s biggest street art festival program - Brisbane Street Art Festival (BSAF) from May 4 - 19. This free public art event has 46 commissioned artworks across Brisbane CBD and surrounding suburbs. With a program of live music, panel talks, exhibitions and workshops, BSAF will have something on offer to suit every age group over the two-week period. Festival Director Lincoln Savage said the public can expect to see more diversity and creative license for artists in 2019, with the program doubling in size from 2018. Savage said, “Our goal is to help create one of the most vibrant and culturally rich cities in Australia that supports the development of emerging artists and continues to empower its creative industries through BSAF.” BSAF has support…
Find out more »Opportunities — 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art fosters excellence and innovation in contemporary Asian and Australian culture through research, documentation, development, discussion and presentation of contemporary visual art. We believe that Asian cultural thinking will have an important impact on the future. 4A’s aim is to ensure contemporary visual art plays a central role in understanding the dynamic relationship between Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. 4A has a distinctive approach to addressing Australia’s cultural diversity through a dynamic program including local and international exhibitions, public programs, workshops, seminars, symposiums and community activities. These have been recognised locally and internationally as having raised awareness of Asian-Australian art and culture and Australia‘s place in the Asia-Pacific region. Opportunities: 4A Curators' Intensive -- Applications open in April 2020 4A Beijing Studio Program -- Applications open in May 2019 4A Emerging Writer's Program -- Applications open in May 2019 4A x World Square Studio Program…
Find out more »4A Emerging Writer’s Program — May 2019
About the 4A Emerging Writer's Program Following the inaugural offering in 2016, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is pleased to announce the fourth consecutive 4A Emerging Writer’s Program that will support an emerging Australian writer to travel to Indonesia in 2019 and realise two publication outcomes. 4A Emerging Writer’s Program is open to all Australian emerging writers and suits individuals with a keen interest in fieldwork research in art and culture from the Asia Pacific region, and someone who can demonstrate a flair and passion for writing. The selected writer will undertake up to a two-week research trip to Indonesia in late 2019. Facilitated by 4A and its networks, the writer will be asked to conceive and deliver two writing outcomes for publication in 4A Papers and program supporter Art Monthly Australasia. This may include a critical essay, historical research, interview, review, profile, or feature with accompanying online audio-visual…
Find out more »4A Beijing Studio Program — 2019
Applications for the 2019 Program open in May 2019. The 4A Beijing Studio Program is now in its eighth year and provides Australian artists with a valuable opportunity to research new projects in rich cultural surroundings, build professional networks and observe the changes taking place in one of the most important cities in Asia. The 4A Beijing Studio Program is a unique initiative that sees three Australian artists embark on a month-long residency in September at the studios of internationally renowned Chinese-Australian artist Shen Shaomin. This experience provides a unique opportunity for artists to be mentored by a leading international artist, undertake research for new works, develop professional networks and witness first-hand the changes occurring in one of the world’s most vibrant capitals. The program covers airfares, accommodation, daily meals, travel insurance, and a small stipend. In 2019, for the first time, this special 4A initiative is being supported by…
Find out more »nomnomnom
Fresh from winning the Melbourne Fringe 2018 award for Innovation in Culturally Diverse Practice and sell-out shows in Iceland, nomnomnom is a site-specific, participatory event in which YOU the audience role-play as time-travelling food delivery people. Explore time travel portals at nomnomnom HQ (aka Testing Grounds) and deliver fresh meals and your winning smile to households around the world. We’ll provide the visors – all you need to bring is an open heart and your passion for customer service! Tickets are limited so lock in your first shift now! This project is supported by City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program and the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Development support by Moreland City Council. Between Thursday 9 May 2019 6:00 PM and Sunday 12 May 2019 7:30 PM Image by: Vy Nguyen
Find out more »Ethnic City –a brand new variety show in Melbourne
A brand new variety show exclusively featuring performers of color: Imagine a Melbourne stand-up comedy show where comedians of colour dominated centre stage. You won’t find it, until now with the inaugural Ethnic City, a live comedy production showcasing the best up-and-coming performers from diverse backgrounds. Creator and producer of Ethnic City, Brendan Wan, is set to change Melbourne’s demographics of comedy. “It’s no secret Melbourne’s creative arts industry lacks diversity. I know far too many incredibly talented ethnic actors, writers and comedians who need to create projects in order to pursue their artistic goals as their ethnicity isn’t regarded as marketable,” says Mr Wan. It’s easy to see why Ethnic City is tipped to attract an incredible reception with its all-star line up of acts including Margot Tanjutco, 2019 Golden Gibbo nominee at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, who blew audiences away for her performance in Vanity Fair Enough.…
Find out more »June 2019
Joyful Strains
Following on from his landmark 2010 anthology Joyful Strains: Making Australia Home, editor and poet Kent MacCarter speaks to authors Dmetri Kakmi, Maria Tumarkin, and Chi Vu about writing cultural displacement and the experience of being an immigrant in an ethnocentric society. Panelists: Dmetri Kakmi, Kent MacCarter (chair), Maria Tumarkin, Chi Vu
Find out more »The Art of Poetry
That the word poem derives from the Greek word "poiema" or "made thing" is indeed quite telling. How does a poet turn experience into poetry? Whose experience is it? Are imagination and inspiration personal or universal? How does a poem work and move and sound, and why? In the spirit of the famous Paris Review interviews this in-depth discussion about the aesthetics and praxis of poetry takes us into the "mindfields" of poet and researcher Dr. Lucy Van and celebrated poets Michelle Cahill, Dr. Tina Giannoukos, and Ouyang Yu. Panelists: Michelle Cahill, Dr. Tina Giannoukos, Dr. Lucy Van (chair), Ouyang Yu.
Find out more »The Word and the Image
Location: Library Join poet and researcher Dr. Lucy Van as she speaks to award-winning poets Bella Li and Stavros Messinis about the relationship between the written word and the image in avant-garde poetry, and the narrative possibilities that can be produced in their work. Panelists: Bella Li, Stavros Messinis, Dr. Lucy Van (chair)
Find out more »The Politics of Language
Location: Mezzanine How does literature from marginalised communities challenge the colonial monolingualism of the Australian literary landscape and broader national narrative? Dr. Lucy Van finds out when she explores the topic with the inimitable poet-activists Π. Ο. and Sista Zai. and acclaimed author and First Nations community activist Dylan Coleman. Panelists: Dylan Coleman, Π. Ο., Sista Zai, Dr. Lucy Van (chair)
Find out more »Please note: Peril provides these details as a courtesy, but we’re not in charge of the events, so please don’t harrass us if the Facebook page is down for a particular event – unless we make that really really clear, in which case you’ll know because we’ll probably be hounding to you come along.