Sangam 2021
Sangam 2021, a showcase of South Asian performing arts, is supported by the Victorian Government in line with Victoria’s India Strategy: Our Shared Future.
This event builds on the inaugural three-day festival held in 2019, which brought together 80 award-winning South Asian and Australian artists of diverse backgrounds. This created new models of artistic development and the presentation of groundbreaking new work that celebrates the dynamic diasporic relationships of local and international South Asian artists.
The festival remains committed to self-determined practices, and the strength of collaborative leadership. The funding from the state government is not only an indicator of their support for diverse practitioners, but a reflection of the importance of festivals and events that are led by artists from the communities they represent. The 2021 festival will reunite the highly successful artistic team of Dr. Priya Srinivasan, Hari Sivanesan and Uthra Vijay who led Sangam in 2019.
As in 2019, MAV will co-produce Sangam, as part of its commitment to leading sector transformation by empowering artist led frameworks that model international best practice.
In light of the COVID-19 crisis and the lack of mobility of international and local artists, the new program navigates the world we are in currently, whilst delivering outstanding methodologies, processes and results of collaboration between Victorian artists and international artists with development in 2020 and an expected live outcome in May 2021. The venue and festival partners are: Bunjil Place, Dancehouse, Abbotsford Convent, and Drum Theatre in Dandenong.
“We’re proud to support Multicultural Arts Victoria to present Sangam in 2021 and provide vital professional opportunities for Victoria’s diverse artists. The festival is a vibrant example of how creativity can bring us together, build cultural understanding and forge new connections which is more important now than ever.” said Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley.
MAV CEO, Veronica Pardo says: “As the leading diversity arts company in Victoria, MAV is a critical support for creative practitioners wishing to challenge systems of cultural production and consumption. We believe Sangam is an exemplar of how things can be done to ensure a more equitable and representative arts sector.”
Note from Directors: “We are excited that we have renewed support for an artist led innovation and a festival of excellence that celebrates diverse practices and voices that we have been advocating for in the sector. It is gratifying to see the Victorian government supporting opportunities for existing and emerging South Asian artists and offer possibilities to dream again. Undoubtedly this will inspire us all to create meaningful futures with plural visions.”
Supported by Creative Victoria*.*