As summer comes to a close, the Summer at the Square series is going out with a bang.
The days may be getting a little longer but the heat sure isn’t letting up – and neither is Fed Square. Determined to make the most of the dwindling summer, the Square has organised a grand finale of free events and activations.
Melbourne Fashion Festival is officially in full swing and Fed Square is paying tribute with DIY workshops, a 17th-century style salon and a big clothing swap.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
What’s more, the Australian International Documentary Conference will be touching down at its ACMI epicentre this week, bringing non-fiction gems and speakers taking us behind the scenes.
Plus, if you haven’t yet made it out to one of the many amazing free concerts that Fed Square has been hosting, you’ve got one more chance.
While we’re always sad to see summer go, this feels like the send-off it deserves. Read on for everything happening at Fed Square from February 27 to March 4.
Our Hospitality with live score by Blue Grassy Knoll
- Tuesday, February 27
- Main Square
- Free
- From 8pm
See the classic Buster Keaton and John G. Blystone film on the big screen. Released in 1923, the movie follows a young man named Willie McKay as he falls in love with Virginia Canfield on a train journey through the Appalachian Mountains. Drama enters when unbeknownst to the lovebirds, their families have been engaged in a violent longstanding feud.
The soundtrack for the evening will be delivered by the gypsy-bluegrass ensemble Blue Grassy Knoll. Beloved for their semi-improvisational style, the rag-tag team will be playing instruments including banjo, flute, harmonica, mandolin and accordion.
The Sapphires with pre-feature short films
- Wednesday, February 28
- Main Square
- Free
- From 8pm
Grab your blankets and cozy sweaters, because Fed Square is screening the ultimate family movie night film. Released in 2012, The Sapphires is a feel-good comedy musical inspired by the ’60s girl group of the same name, where four Yorta Yorta women are discovered by a talent agent and flown to Vietnam to sing for the troops.
It’ll be preceded by two short films: Katele (Mudskipper), following a Torres Strait Islander woman named Marta who works in a laundromat, and Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped In Black), which charts Yankunytjatjara artist Derik Lynch’s escape from Adelaide to his remote Anangu community.
JACOTÉNE by Candlelight
- Thursday, February 29
- Main Square
- Free
- From 8:30pm
Triple J Unearthed High 2022 winner JACOTÉNE brings her impressive vocal chops to the candlelit stage for an illuminating night of music. Taking inspiration from pop masters like Amy Winehouse and Adele, JACOTÉNE, at only 18 years old, is poised to be one of Australia’s most exciting singers.
She’s already performed at Laneway Festival, supported G FLIP on her headline tour and sung at the Sydney Opera House for VIVID LIVE. Next up, the Fed Square main stage.
PHOTO 2024
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- March 1 to 24
- The Atrium, Main Square, Swanston St Forecourt and The Edge
- Various prices
- Various times
For just over three weeks each year, the city of Melbourne turns its focus onto eye-opening and inspiring works of photography. For PHOTO 2024, Fed Square will showcase the works of local and international photographers, working under the theme of ‘The Future Is Shaped by Those Who Can See It’.
On the facade of the Atrium, find artwork by American photographer and activist, Nan Goldin. On the Fed Square screen, see an ever-changing slideshow featuring works by artists Moorina Bonini, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Caroline Garcia, Noémie Goudal and Adam Ferguson. Wander across the bridge to the Melbourne Arts Precinct to explore much more of PHOTO 2024.
Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It
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- Saturday, March 2
- The Atrium
- Free
- 11am to 2pm
In celebration of Melbourne Fashion Festival, this event allows visitors to bring in an item of clothing that needs to be repaired. A team of menders led by Tamara Russell of Karhina Textiles will show you just how easy it is to mend your clothing at home, encouraging sustainable DIY fixes over fast fashion throw-away culture.
Join the Mending Circle for a hands-on mending or just a quick chat and walk away with a freshly repaired piece of clothing. Just make sure to book your half-hour slot as this event is a popular one.
Surface Paradise Pop-Up Salon
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- March 1 to March 10
- The Atrium
- Various prices
- 11am to 4pm
Channelling the lively culture of a 17th-century salon, this pop-up hosted by textile designer Lisa Carroll and design maker Georgia Chapman will be full of goodies during its time in the Square.
There will be workshops on digital fabric printing, embroidery and textile transformation as well as a gallery and retail space which will feature limited-edition collections, archival gems and one-of-a-kind pieces, all designed and crafted in Australia.
Swap and Style
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- Saturday, March 2
- The Edge
- Free
- 1pm to 4pm
Got a few clothing items sitting in your closet that don’t get much wear any more? Bring them down to Swap and Style to trade them for something better. Hosted by Dr Kate Luckins and featuring zero waste author Erin Rhoads and designer and stylist Ana Fernanda Covarrubias, this event will reinvigorate your wardrobe.
First, drop off your pre-loved clothes (up to six pieces per person). Then, browse through all of the other available items and pick out your top choices to take home for free! Sustainable, social and fun, it’s the ideal afternoon for any op-shop fashionista.
Australian International Documentary Conference 2024
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- March 3 to 6
- ACMI and The Edge
- Various prices
- 9am to 6pm
AIDC 2024 brings some of the world’s most enrapturing documentaries to Melbourne, as well as the creative teams behind them. The conference will feature speakers including Oscar nominees Mstyslav Chernov and Kaouther Ben Hania as well as industry leaders Rachel Perkins, R.J. Cutler and Trevor Smith, among others.
There will also be plenty of film screenings, panel discussions, funding and financing opportunities for filmmakers and networking events spread across the four-day conference.
To browse the full Summer at the Square program and plan your trip, head here.
