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Bringing The Best Of Asia Pacific Arts To Melbourne

26 September 2016

Leading artists and arts organisations from across the Asia Pacific will converge on Melbourne next February for Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts – a multi art form celebration of creativity and culture.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley was at Arts Centre Melbourne tonight to launch the inaugural Asia TOPA program which will see Victoria’s performing arts community – including leading institutions, major organisations and independent artists – joining forces with collaborators from at home and abroad.

Stretching from Arts Centre Melbourne right across the Melbourne Arts Precinct, the festival-style celebration will run from 13 February – 6 March 2017.

It will be a showcase of Asian-focused performance, visual and digital art, literature, architecture, contemporary dance, ballet and music.

More than 350 artists and producers from 15 Asia-Pacific nations will be represented with events ranging from Papua New Guinean hip hop performances, to Bollywood concerts, installations, talks, forums and exclusive performances by the National Ballet of China, in collaboration with Orchestra Victoria and The Australian Ballet.

The action-packed program is as diverse as the region it draws from. It includes more than 60 productions, exhibitions and events, 25 of which are world premieres specially commissioned for Asia TOPA.

In an Australian first, a consortium of Victorian cultural organisations and institutions, independent artists and companies was drawn together to create the program and co-commission new works and events.

Asia TOPA was made possible through the generosity of the Sidney Myer Fund, led by its chairman Carrillo Gantner, one of Victoria’s strongest advocates for the performing arts.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Asia TOPA as part of the $115m creative industries strategy Creative State.

For full Asia TOPA program details visit www.asiatopa.com.auExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley

“Asia TOPA backs our creative talent and further builds our international engagement – it will be a great addition to our creative state.”

“The program will bring people together, showcase and celebrate different cultures from across our region and act as a significant drawcard for visitors.”

Quotes attributable to Arts Centre Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Claire Spencer

“Cultural engagement is fundamentally a key to deepening and enriching our relationship with Asia.”

“Artists celebrate and embrace what is unique and what is different about us and ultimately hold a mirror up to our society.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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