Platforming the voices, perspectives and narratives from Melbourne's West, Neighbourhood is the latest festival of contemporary art.
Providing a unique insight into the different traditions, practices and demands experienced by communities historically marginalised by mainstream art and culture, Neighbourhood takes place over 18 days, from November 11 until November 27.
Following the themes of place, community and humanity, the festival is co-presented by Footscray Community Arts and The Substation and will take place across Footscray Community Arts, The Substation, Incinerator Gallery, The Bowery and West Space Inc.
Neighbourhood Contemporary Art Festival
- A festival of contemporary arts and culture, Neighbourhood
- It takes place over 18 days, kicking off this week on November 11 until November 27
- It will take place in Footscray Community Arts
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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There are heaps of events happening every day across this huge festival, but we’ve collected a couple of the best the extensive program to spotlight:
Street Party (Opening Night)
Kicking off on November 11, the Opening Night is not a party to be missed – featuring Djirri Djirri Dance Group, Colette, Soul & Storm, Ausecuma Beats on the main stage and Claddy, DJ Naycab and Komang taking over the DJ stage, it takes place from 5pm until 10pm at Footscray’s Nicholson Street Mall.
House of Mother Tongue, House of Other Tongue: Hát Xe Buýt (Singing Bus)
Co-curated by Hoang Tran Nguyen and Lana Nguyen, the Singing Bus will ferry audiences across two exhibitions on November 12, 19 and 26. Hosts include legendary poet πO, Timmah Ball, Beth Sometimes and Tania Cañas.
አባይ (Spirit of the Nile)
Returning to Australia with a series of two concerts at Footscray Community Arts, the internationally acclaimed musician/pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa is heading to Melbourne on November 12 and 13. With each performance including accompaniment from the nine-piece Ethio-Jazz ensemble, JAzmaris Jazz Band, as well as a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, this is not the performance to be missed.
身體災變 (Body Crysis)
Taking place over four performances from November 16 until November 19 at 9pm each night, Body Crysis is a choreographic work that combines dance, motion capture and CG animation for a performance shared between Newport and Taipei, in the flesh and online.
Kids Club
With an exciting lineup of amazing musical performances for the whole family, Kids Club is a fun, inclusive and safe space for families, toddlers and kids of all ages to come and relax with friends and family. Featuring MzRizk, L2R dance, Lit Queens and Dagogo, it all goes down on November 20 from 2 pm until 5 pm.
The Dreaming Project
Led by First Nations creatives, The Dreaming Project blends circus performance, projection art, lighting, dance and traditional practices. Incorporating elements of Aboriginal dreamtime with themes of time, place and space, it takes place at Footscray Community Arts from November 17 until November 20.
Whose Gonna Love ‘Em? I am that i AM
Written and directed by Kamarra Bell-Wykes, Whose Gonna ‘Love Em? I am that I AM was the winner of the 2021 Patrick White Playwriting Award. A post-traumatic masterpiece in the form of a group therapy session, the absurdist performance is accompanied by a live improvisational score.
There’s plenty more to discover. Check out the full program by heading here.
