Hi there. Can you please give us a history lesson in Emerge in the Yarra Festival?
This is the festival’s 12th year. It was founded to celebrate the incredibly talented artists from our Indigenous and emerging communities, including newly arrived refugee and asylum seeker communities.
This year, Emerge in the Yarra Festival will be running for a week. What will you have on offer over the seven days?
The festival’s hub is the Fitzroy Town Hall and begins Sunday with an all day smorgasbord of the languages of Yarra. From 3pm to 5pm enjoy The Lalibelas and Nhatty Man live on PBSFM. Monday brings a playback theatre opportunity and Afghani cooking experience. Tuesday offers a comedy night featuring four distinct comedians that will get you thinking differently about the world. Wednesday night, Nyala African Restaurant will reveal some of the secrets to pan-African cuisine. Thursday night spans the opening of Etch This, featuring new prints by emerging artists-in-residence at The Ownership Project, a Q&A including panel member Julian Burnside QC, and a Vietnamese cook up. Friday offers an open jam with virtuoso pianist Danny Atlaw followed by a night of Eritrean and Ethiopian culture. The festival’s final day brings together an all-age Crafternoon, with performance workshops at Cubbies, followed by a huge closing party.
What’s your suggested itinerary for an Emerge in the Yarra newbie? Any recommendations?
Come to everything. The events are so diverse and most are free so why not come by and have a taste of what interests you.
EMERGE IN THE YARRA runs from Sunday June 14 till Saturday June 20 with events spread out across the City of Yarra region. Bookings’ required; see multiculturalarts.com.au.
