The Melbourne International Arts Festival officially opened last night with a traditional welcome ceremony, Tanderrum – which saw thousands of people flock to Federation Square in a celebration of the five clans of the Kulin nation. This morning the first of eight Art Trams hit the tracks wrapped in a beautiful design by Gunditjmara artist Hayley Millar-Baker.
Featuring a feast of the arts with sensational circus displays, thrilling theatre, the coolest in contemporary music, divine dance and special events filled with fire, theatrics and thousands of doors, the Melbourne International Arts Festival is now on.
From tonight, Festival-goers can experience 1000 Doors, post-punk royalty The The, the Go-Betweens in 16 Lovers Lane, Barry McGovern in Samuel Beckett’s Watt, Jimi Bani in My Name is Jimi, Flight based on Caroline Brothers’ novel Hinterland, Belarus Free Theatre’s Trustees, NoFit State Circus’ Lexicon all in the first week.
“Last night was an incredible opening that celebrated Melbourne as an arts capital,” said Melbourne Festival Artistic Director, Jonathan Holloway. “I cannot wait to see Melbourne come alive with people enjoying the many Festival events taking place in some of the city’s favourite spaces and places.”
The 2018 Melbourne International Arts Festival continues to Sunday 21 October. For more information, visit: festival.melbourne for details.
Image: Jonathan Holloway (supplied)