Melbourne’s landmark RISING festival will transform the CBD this winter, with events ranging from laser displays on the Yarra to an exhibition of living sculpture featuring Australian rules footballers to draw big crowds to the city.
Iconic venues, streets, rooftops, green spaces and rivers will roar to life with art, dance, theatre, music and processions as a part of a RISING 2022 program featuring 225 events and 800 local and international creatives.
Public art installations, large-scale dance and theatre performances and the most significant line-up of international music in more than two years will provide a multitude of experiences – with many of them free.
Robin Fox’s massive laser-lit spectacular MONOCHORD will set the Yarra River ablaze – running for the duration of the festival, the free installation is RISING’s epic centrepiece for everyone to enjoy.
New York based Victorian artists Tin & Ed will transform the Sidney Myer Music Bowl into The Wilds, a booming hub packed with inflatable sculptures, soundscapes, projections and culinary offerings from Australia’s top chefs.
Footballers will be transformed into living sculptures at the NGV, Golden Square in Chinatown returns with three levels of art, performance and rooftop bars while dance lovers will be treated to the first-ever collaboration between Melbourne’s Chunky Move and Adelaide’s Restless Dance Theatre.
RISING’s music line-up is star-studded with local artists and performers from Japan, Switzerland the UK, including Sampa the Great, Baxter Dury, Moses Sumney and many more.
Created by the Labor Government, RISING is a major new event that celebrates Melbourne’s creative strengths across art, music, food and more.
The festival will run from 1-12 June. For full program details visit rising.melbourne.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson
“RISING will be a massive celebration of many of the things we love about Melbourne – from edgy art to great food, awe-inspiring installations and hidden creative surprises.”
“Showcasing the work of hundreds of local, national and international creatives, the festival is an invitation to rediscover the very best of Victoria’s culture and creativity.”
Quote attributable to RISING co-artistic director Hannah Fox
“The privilege and necessity to gather, dance, sing and celebrate artistic expression at a time like this is not lost on us. Melbourne is back and we’re over the moon.”
Quote attributable to RISING co-artistic director Gideon Obarzanek
“This year’s RISING is going to be wild; a festival created by Melbourne that will be welcoming back artists from around the country and the world — a festival which has been, quite literally, three years in the making.”
Reviewed 17 March 2022