Diasporas 2024: Art Souk
Curated by MzRizk as part of MAV’s DIASPORAS program, Art Souk celebrated IBPOC artists, showcasing their experiences and contributions to a thriving arts ecology while fostering connections and empowering creatives to disrupt old systems.
2024
Art Souk
A multi-arts celebration, curated by MzRizk and presented by MAV and Arts Centre Melbourne. This vibrant two-day event in Naarm was presented from 6 - 7 December 2024 and featured a free public exhibition and ticketed evening performances.
Presented at the Show Room in Arts Centre Melbourne, Art Souk was an uplifting assembly of performance, installation, conversation, and expression that traverses artforms and lines. A joyful experience celebrating impulse creativity and radical acts of unity on one of the world’s oldest meeting places.
Photography credit: Panashe Mugayapi
The Program:
The programmed events included a; free exhibition, interactive installations, live podcast, and two ticketed evenings of performance. The space was set for attendees to engage through knowledge-sharing and a witnessing of space, sparking meaningful dialogue on art, culture, and identity.
The free exhibition was open from 6:30 PM on Day One and 4:00 PM on Day Two. Visitors enjoyed complimentary tea and snacks as they wandered through the Art Souk, served with the warm hospitality of Onur Kurt of O’Khave.
Ticket holders entered The Show Room for an electrifying evening of performances starting at 7:00 PM
The Line Up:
About the Curator:
MzRizk is a boundary-pushing Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter, live performer, and event curator, known for her powerful connection to music and diverse sonic influences.
Raised on a mix of Arabic, Jazz, Boogie, Hip Hop, and Heavy Metal, MzRizk's genre-fluid style reflects her deep passion for sharing music with communities locally and globally.
From her early days recording imaginary radio shows to now hosting the beloved Boogie Beat Suite on PBS 106.7FM, MzRizk has built a career spanning over a decade.
A key figure in Melbourne's music scene, she’s opened for iconic artists such as MF Doom, Fatboy Slim, and Sampa The Great, continuously expanding her impact on stages worldwide.
About Diasporas:
Art Souk is initiated through MAV’s DIASPORAS program, supported by the City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Creative Australia. MAV aims to empower IBPOC artists, foster mutual understanding, and create meaningful connections that extend beyond the event. Art Souk will be a platform for creatives to showcase their experiences and be recognised as essential to a thriving arts ecology.
DIASPORAS is a program created by MAV for, by, and with creatives of colour. This initiative has always been about disrupting old systems and igniting diverse artists to create new works, new networks, and a new arts ecology.
