New Arts Festival Aims to Revive Melbourne

New Arts Festival Aims to Revive Melbourne
A general view of pedestrians crossing the bridge with the Yarra River and CBD in the background on Nov. 6, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
3/29/2021
Updated:
3/29/2021

Months after it was put on hold because of Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown, the Rising festival aims to boost the city as it struggles back to life.

The 12-day festival from May 26 will feature more than 750 Victorian artists and a range of art, music, performance and food events around the CBD area.

It was originally supposed to debut last August, when Melbourne was mired in its 112-day lockdown.

One of the highlights will be A Miracle Constantly Repeated, billed as a multi-sensory experience, to be held on the top floor of the Flinders St train station.

“Our very first Rising festival celebrates the strength and resilience of Victoria’s creative community,” said Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson.

“Local artists (will take) over our streets to bring us a cultural and creative immersion like no other as our city reawakens.”

The festival will have 133 events and projects, including 36 world premieres.

It replaces White Night and the Melbourne international arts festival.