C&G’s Guide to Melbourne International Arts Festival

Tips & Advice

 

This year the Melbourne International Arts Festival will be running from 2 October until 20 October, spanning a variety of venues and offering a diverse selection of art forms including dance, theatre, music, multimedia and visual arts. It was first staged in 1986 and known as Spoleto Melbourne. Since then, it has evolved in mutifaceted ways to establish itself as the Melbourne International Arts Festival. We round up our most anticipated events in this C&G blog – they only scratch the surface, there is simply so much to check out but you can view the full program here. The ones we’ve suggested are free for everyone, but some may require you booking a ticket. Don’t stress, this page has all the information!

Melbourne Art Trams

Trams have become one of Melbourne’s most visual staples, and conveniently are a perfect canvas to showcase designs! Since 2003, artists have been inspired by the 1978-1993 Transporting Art project and base their designs off one of these vintage trams. This year’s inspiration is Lesley Dumbrell’s 1986 W-class tram art, and you can expect the first of the newly designed trams to roll out on Tuesday 8 October!

Mirror on Melbourne

There will be live acts Monday through to Saturday, covering many genres from jazz to DJs. Sundays will be dedicated to celebrating Indigenous and multicultural artists. This will mainly occur at the Famous Spiegeltent at the Arts Centre on St Kilda Road. A more detailed line-up will become available closer to 2 October.

teamLab

This will be the one on everyone’s social media! From 5 October until 2 November, wander over to the Tolarno Galleries on Exhibition Street to immerse yourself in a projected display of luminescence and rivers of floating digital particles. This is the one of the most innovative and futuristic art forms from Tokyo, and there will be at least four screen works to marvel at. There is also a special opening event on Saturday 5 October at 1pm which is also free!

Don’t forget to check out the full program here. Fancy a hardcopy? You can actually find them in local cafes, bars and cultural institutions. We hope to see you there!