January 2006
Festival Melbourne2006
Tribal Expressions – Showcasing Indigenous Victoria
Tribal Expressions is a celebration of Victoria’s Indigenous culture, showcasing the best of Victoria’s Indigenous businesses, artists and performers during the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. It is presented by the Koori Business Network.
Located at The Atrium, Federation Square and venues throughout Melbourne, the showcase will feature exhibitions and performances by Koori people as well as a showcase of Indigenous businesses. Visitors can sample bush foods, buy a range of authentic Indigenous products and artworks, enjoy traditional and contemporary Indigenous performances, and learn about Victoria’s unique Indigenous culture and history.
Bringing together over 250 people from across the state, Tribal Expressions will highlight the tremendous talents and achievements of Victoria’s Indigenous communities.
Highlights of Tribal Expressions include:
Performance Showcase
Three free concerts at BMW Edge featuring a range of traditional and contemporary Indigenous music and dance. Program includes the a capella Emara Singers, Richard Frankland and his band, jazz and blues from the Liz Cavanagh Quintet, the hip hop group Movement Crew, Australian reggae from Tjduin, traditional dance from One Fire and multi-media rock from the Propaganda Klan.
BMW Edge, Federation Square
Friday 24 March, 8pm - 11pm; Saturday 25 March 2pm- 5pm and 8pm-11pm
Two nights of theatre, comedy, and music in an intimate cabaret setting with a blend of cutting edge and more traditional works from performers including comedians Lou Bennett and Miles Walsh, singer songwriters Dan Sultan, Dave Arden and Fay June Ball, rap from Mariki Hood, ballads and favourites from the Maza Sisters and Martin Pascoe, the personal and political from the Stiff Gins.
Black Box, the Arts Centre. Sunday 19 March 9pm - 10.15pm and 10.45pm – midnight, Thursday 23 March, 9pm -10.15pm and 10.45pm-midnight.
Business Showcase
Indigenous businesses are flourishing in the arts, cultural tourism, bush foods and service sectors – don’t miss this opportunity to see and buy a wide range of high quality, authentic products from across the state, sample bush foods or explore potential business opportunities.
The Atrium, Federation Square, 16 – 18 March, 11am - 10pm daily.
Showcase Market
A one-day market featuring a smorgasbord of Indigenous bush foods, arts, crafts and entertainment. 25 stalls offering quality hand-crafted Victorian Indigenous products.
City Square, Swanston Street, Saturday 25 March, 10am - 9pm
Arts Showcase
Spanning six venues across Melbourne and more than 80 established and emerging artists, the arts showcase highlights the breadth and depth of Victoria’s Indigenous arts sector and provides visitors with a unique introduction to contemporary south - eastern Australian Indigenous art.
Major Exhibition
Black Box at the Arts Centre, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
16 - 26 March, Open 11am -10pm daily
This major exhibition features the works of renowned and established Koori artists including Kevin Williams, Vicki Couzens, Ray Thomas, Clive Atkinson and Leanne Edwards, alongside the next generation of emerging artists. Enjoy a dynamic selection of 2D and 3D works, spanning traditional and contemporary Indigenous arts practice in Victoria.
Aunty Joyce Johnson Gallery
Koori Heritage Trust, 295 King Street, Melbourne
February – April, Open 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Sunday
View an exciting selection of works from some of Victoria’s finest emerging Indigenous artists. This exhibition draws on works from flourishing regional and metropolitan art centres including East Gippsland, the South-West and the Murray River regions.
The Craft Victoria Common Goods Exhibition
Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens, Nicholson Street, Melbourne
February – May, Open 10am - 5pm daily
Tribal Expressions has joined forces with Craft Victoria to participate in this exhibition. See stunning traditional basket work from the Koorie Heritage Trust’s collection - Aunty Dot Peters, Aunty Connie Hart, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Aunty Zelda Couzens and Sandra Aitken, plus new works from Treahna Hamm.
Sofi's Lounge and the Lobby Gallery, The Sofitel Hotel, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne; Foyer, The Langham Hotel, 1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank; Virgin Blue Room, Melbourne Airport
15 -26 March
In a selection of paintings, prints, ceramics, glassware and wood carvings from established Indigenous artists will be available to purchase. Venues are open to guests and members of the public, with the opportunity to meet the artists.
The Welcome Place
The Atrium, Federation Square, 15 – 26 March.
The Welcome Place will provide an opportunity for all Victorians to engage in Games activities that promote the State’s unique cultural heritage, traditional Indigenous Victoria, their part in Victoria’s history, contemporary culture and today’s communities. As a Welcome Place, it will also allow for a Games activity where Indigenous protocols may be observed by providing an opportunity for local Traditional Owners to welcome Games visitors to country.
Festival Melbourne2006 – Wednesday 15 to Sunday 26 March, 2006
Festival Melbourne2006 celebrates the breadth of culture and art from across the nations of the Commonwealth. The Festival is an integral part of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and it is proudly funded and supported by the Victorian and Australian Governments.
MEDIA INFORMATION:
Katrina Hall 0421 153 046, kathall@ozemail.com.au
Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473, magda@purplemedia.com.au
