Maribyrnong City Council has announced that Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) has been awarded the tender to produce the Due West Arts Festival.
The west is known as a unique and thriving cultural hub, with a dynamic and progressive culture, and this biennial event made its mark on the festival calendar when it debuted in 2017.
The next Due West Arts Festival will run in November 2019, with a program of events taking place across the City of Maribyrnong over a 10-day period, showcasing works from local artists, organisations and venues across multi-disciplinary art forms.
“This event further cements Maribyrnong’s reputation as a destination for world-class festivals that create great memories, inspire a sense of place and belonging, and stimulate economic activity through cultural activity,” said Cr Cuc Lam, the Mayor of the City of Maribyrnong.
The biggest presenter of contemporary and community engaged arts practice in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) will bring a wealth of knowledge as the creative director of Due West Arts Festival.
“Footscray Community Arts Centre is overjoyed to be bringing this festival to life in November 2019,” said Martin Paten, CEO and Director of Footscray Community Arts Centre. “Our vision is to create a festival program that is inspired by the artists, community, character and spirit of the west. We look forward to sharing our plans with the local community and residents over the coming months.”
With FCAC at the helm, the festival will engage with local audiences from the west as well as new audiences from across Melbourne. After a successful inaugural year, the festival received $110,000 in funding from the Victorian Government, adding to Council’s investment of $85,000.
“Melbourne’s west is one of the most dynamic creative hotspots of our creative state. Footscray Community Arts Centre has an impressive track record of creating and presenting high quality contemporary art experiences with, and for, diverse communities – they are set to take Due West in an exciting direction,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley.
Maribyrnong City Council looks forward to supporting FCAC in working with the local arts community to bring together a world-class festival for our residents to enjoy. For more information, visit: www.duewestfestival.com.au for details.
Image: A performer at the 2017 Due West Arts Festival (supplied)