MAV Projects

MAV projects are dynamic spaces of artistic development, community capacity building, and platforms for commentary and expression. Here you can find our current and past projects.

Now on!

Shepparton Culture Kitchen 2023

Wed 31 May 2023 - Sat 10 Jun 2023

Shepparton Culture Kitchen is a significant arts initiative centering the diverse voices of local diaspora communities, to build a future in which our communities are connected through empowering, healthy, and sustainable food culture.

Ongoing

Diasporas 2021

From 30 Jun 2021

Diasporas is created for, by and with diverse creatives as an artistic intervention to increase visibility, participation and equity in the arts towards a new arts ecology. More than a festival, Diasporas holds space for the interrogation and development of arts and cultural practice with diverse artists and communities. Diasporas is a springboard for building culture, connection and knowledge and a training ground for the next generation of producers, designers, technicians, and creatives.

Ongoing

Diasporas 2023

From 27 Oct 2022

Dreamed into being during 2020, DIASPORAS is a MAV program set to disrupt the dominant systems of working which often suffocate creatives of colour and our arts and culture sector.  We aim to platform and advocate for diverse & marginalised artists to create new work, new networks, sustainability in the arts and establish a new arts ecology.

Ongoing

NEWPRINT 2

From 12 Mar 2023

NEWPRINT is back with another season of live music gigs featuring the most exciting new acts and gigs in the Melbourne right now. Building on the success of the first iteration, NEWPRINT 2 will support 7 new and emerging POC/CALD producers to develop and deliver unique contemporary live music events throughout Metro Melbourne.

Past Projects

2022

Past project

UpClose Yarra Sessions

Wed 14 Dec 2022 - Sat 31 Dec 2022

UpClose is back with Yarra Sessions taking place in the City of Yarra showcasing fresh acts with amazing performances captured at the Palace of Magnificent Experiences, a versatile live music venue. With appearances by Afro house outfit Brotha Asantï and Soulectric, bringing an electrifying performance of Afro house and Jazz influences; and Dani Padrón and JDro, performing an exclusive pre release of their new Dancehall track connecting Colombian Reggaeton with the vibes of Melbourne Hip-Hop. UpClose is an digital live music video program presenting intimate performances and interviews with culturally diverse Victorian singer-songwriters, creating high-quality video content supporting the artist’s career.

Past project

Ahead of the Curve: Workshop Series

Tue 25 Oct 2022 - Tue 22 Nov 2022

Ahead of the Curve: Workshop Series will provide young creatives of colour with professional development while focusing on wellbeing and sustainability in the arts.

Past project

UpClose 2022

Mon 14 Mar 2022 - Fri 6 May 2022

The newest season of UpClose takes place in Darebin and features amazing local artists: Karina Lehman (Chile), Camille El Feghali (Lebanon), Sarita McHarg (India), and The New Monos (Argentina). Their music performances were filmed at Preston Market where aromas, languages, and cultures from all around the world meet. Harmonic Whale’s production team did a fantastic job capturing 2 songs per artist with a total of 8 music videos which will be released weekly from 16 March 2022 to celebrate Harmony Week. The Upclose program is an online live music video channel presenting intimate performances and interviews with culturally diverse Victorian singer-songwriters with the purpose of creating high-quality video content that supports the artist’s career.

Past project

In Situ

Sun 6 Mar 2022 - Sun 5 Jun 2022

In Situ is a series of art installations, performances, gatherings, and events co-designed and programmed by local artists into public spaces across Dandenong, Noble Park, and Springvale from March – June 2022. Every activation is produced with the purpose to elevate and spotlight the strengths and creativity of diverse communities across the City of Greater Dandenong. Through the exchange of story, values, and creative practices across multiple artforms. Community method making and cultural design are at the core of its program delivery.

2021

Past project

NEWPRINT

Sun 5 Dec 2021 - Sat 13 Aug 2022

MAV’s latest program NEWPRINT is all about supporting young artists of colour living in outer urban and regional areas.

Past project

Duniya Behter

Wed 11 Aug 2021 - Sat 30 Jul 2022

Duniya Behter shifts the mainstream narrative about people with migrant and refugee backgrounds, from vulnerable to capable. Women and young people in Bendigo and Shepparton drew from their cultural roots, to build creative businesses and produce new digital creative works. The name, Duniya Behter, emerged from conversations with young Cultural Facilitators employed to work on this project and it speaks to the spirit and intention of MAV’s regional Victoria program. It is a reflection of some of the cultures in Bendigo and Shepparton where the project is based. Duniya means the world in Arabic, Hindi and it’s also found in the languages of Swahili, Hazaragi, Urdu and Persian, where it holds a similar meaning.  Behter means better but working together to make better. 

Past project

Ahead of the Curve

Mon 19 Jul 2021 - Wed 31 Aug 2022

The Ahead of the Curve Commissions was a call out for young and emerging artists of colour living around Melbourne, to create new digital artworks that responded to social challenges, including COVID-19.

Past project

Shelter 2021

Sun 16 May 2021 - Thu 16 Sep 2021

Over the past seven months many artists and residents within the nine towers have been busy creating new digital works for Shelter 2 – a second edition of MAV’s innovative commissions program responding to the unique challenges presented by COVID-19 for culturally diverse artists and communities.

Past project

UpClose 2021

Mon 29 Mar 2021 - Mon 17 May 2021

UpClose is a new online music video showcase presenting intimate performances and interviews with culturally diverse Victorian singer-songwriters.

Past project

Submerged

Wed 24 Feb 2021 - Sun 25 Apr 2021

Submerged is a new collaborative exhibition commissioned by MAV, featuring digital artworks by two women of colour living in the regional Victorian town of Shepparton, Mimi Leung and Ree.

2020

2019

Past project

Sangam 2019

Thu 21 Nov 2019 - Sat 23 Nov 2019

An eclectic showcase of South Asian performing arts.

Past project

Mapping Melbourne 2019

Wed 30 Oct 2019 - Sun 8 Dec 2019

Mapping Melbourne creates new perspectives, new possibilities and new expressions through a series of intercultural, multi-artform events in the heart of Melbourne.

Past project

Emerge in Yarra 2019

Fri 18 Oct 2019 - Sat 19 Oct 2019

Arts | Music | Conversations. Inspired and curated by artists who challenge the mainstream daily.

Past project

Project ReWIRE

Mon 24 Jun 2019 - Fri 29 Nov 2019

Project ReWIRE is a new artist development initiative for mid career culturally diverse musicians, singers and songwriters produced by MAV in partnership with key Australian music influencer Joel Ma. Through a process of self assessment, music business up-skilling and one to one mentoring, 15 culturally diverse mid career artists will explore the positioning of their music in Australia and will tailor their own artist development plans. The artists will be empowered to challenge, re-define and contemporise their direction. Project collaborator, Joel Ma, says, “Being a mid career artist myself, I am keenly aware that the music industry is fluid, ever changing and difficult to navigate, and it can be intimidating trying to keep up. Project ReWIRE is born from the idea that mid career artists can adapt, remain relevant and continue to make a living doing what they love, by knowledge sharing, up-skilling and recognising new opportunities. It will also help industry tap into talented but marginalised artists who work outside of the mainstream.’’ Project ReWIRE builds on over 15 years of successful work, that Multicultural Arts Victoria, has been doing to produce bespoke, responsive artists development programs for culturally diverse musicians. The program will facilitate new pathways and opportunities for mid career artists while also contesting the marginality of diverse music practice in Australia.

2016