Black Harmony Gathering 2010, Sun 21st March, Fairfield Amphitheatre #Melbourne #mysuburb

Multicultural Arts Victoria Presents…
Black Harmony Gathering 2010
1pm – 5pm Sunday 21 March
The Fairfield Amphitheatre
Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield (Melway 30 J12), Melbourne

Held in the heart of Aboriginal land under the gum trees, on the banks of the tranquil Yarra River, at the Fairfield Amphitheatre Multicultural Arts Victoria presents the Black Harmony Gathering; a unique event with the message say no to racism! With Indigenous and multicultural communities coming together in a spirit of reconciliation for Cultural Diversity week. This year the Black Harmony Gathering will launch the first Black Harmonies CD.

Black Harmony Gathering is a showcase for premium professional and talented emerging Indigenous, African and refugee
artists It is strongly supported by Indigenous and non-indigenous artists and communities alike. The Black Harmonies CD will cross the cultural boundaries to create a cultural revolution in the Australian music scene and features artists Kutcha Edwards, Peter Rotumah, Casey Atkinson, Tjimba Possum-Burns, Selwyn Burns, Ajak Kwai, Aminata Doumbia, Michelle Belesy, Joe Geia and Diafrix.

The Black Harmony Gathering will also feature a Cultural Stage led by Indigenous artists Koori Youth Will Shake Spears, Skye Taikato and Friends, Meriki Hood, Johnny Mac and more. With friends from our multicultural music and dance scene, the African Royal Drummers, Narasirato Pan Pipers from the Solomon Islands, Shiamak Bollywood dance group and the soul pumping vibes of African band Blak Roots. MC’s Shiralee Hood and Neda.

The day will be opened with youth forum Skillz at 12pm, a traditional Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and a smoking ceremony by Robbie Thorpe, followed by the Black Harmonies CD launch and Cultural Stage. There is a Koori BBQ of Kangaroo and Emu sausages, cultural food stalls, children’s activities, workshops and a market place of Indigenous and African wares plus more performers. People from all cultures come together for the Black Harmony Gathering a positive community celebration that is very special and important for the community well being.

Black Harmony Gathering is proudly supported by City of Yarra, Victoria Rocks, Koori Justice Unit, APRA, Victorian Multicultural
Commission, Besen Family and Triple R.

www.multiculturalarts.com.au

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Deadly Funny – An #Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Comedy Competition

Get ready to laugh your MOOM off with Deadly Funny – An Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Comedy Competition that celebrates distinctive humour of the First Nations Traditional Owners.

From now until March, 2010 the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is sending some of its finest comedians to ATSI communities to hold free workshops and community showcase gigs with emerging performers in search of the best up-and-coming stand-up talent.

Deadly Funny provides a unique opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to
come together, celebrate and share humour and have their deadly yarns workshopped by a professional stand-up comedian. The workshops provide deadly tips and advice on writing, performance and help boost performers’ confidence to get up on stage.

To register, contact Deadly Funny Producer Jason Tamiru (Yorta Yorta) info below. For the workshops bring along five minutes of your best comic material. Pretty much anything is ok – stand-up, a music piece, joke or a funny yarn – as long as it’s Deadly Funny. You must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to enter.

The deadliest jokesters from all six states will play off at the Deadly Funny National Grand
Final in Melbourne April 10 for their chance to win $2000 in cash and a deadly trophy.

Note: You must attend comedy workshops

Details of National workshops and to register at www.deadlyfunny.com.au

Or contact Jason Tamiru on 03 9245 3700.

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From Sometimes Love Beth, an adventure in postcards.

The humble postcard celebrates its 140th birthday in October 2009*, the month we publish From Sometimes Love Beth, a compendium of all things postcarderly by author and artist Beth Sometimes.

On the eve of 2008, Beth set herself a challenge to send a postcard to somebody or something every day for the next year. From her new home in Central Australia, her mostly handmade cardboard communiqués radiated throughout the country and beyond – to friends, exes, strangers, mountains, stars and just about anything she wanted to reach out and touch.

Some postcards she raced, others she designed to make posties blush, while other focus on Beth’s experiences working with indigenous Australians in the Central Desert. Each contains a piece of writing of some significance; moments in time and personal reflections that create their own poetic narrative as public and exposed as a postcard itself.

Collected are the best of the postcards and 20 challenges to inspire readers to set off on their own postal adventures (tear-out postcards are included so there’s no excuse). This is a uniquely celebratory book that explores the themes of isolation and connection, brings people together and influences by delight.

Beth Sometimes

Author and artist Beth Sometimes – pictured above – will be on a publicity tour and available for interview in Adelaide (1-5 October), Newcastle (6 October), Melbourne (7-8 October) and Sydney (9 October). She is also available to write articles on anything to do with postcards.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Shirley Hardy-Rix, at shirley@hardyrix.com.au or 0412 057 288.

GG: It’s really an awesome book and you should get a copy, oh and one for a friend too !

(GREAT GIFT IDEA for 09)

ISBN 978-0-9806378-0-9, RRP is $29.95.
To purchase a copy online, visit the Affirm Press website: www.affirmpress.com.au

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How To Make Trouble And Influence People. Book Launch at TINA

Pranks, hoaxes and political mischief making from across Australia!

Breakdown Press announces the publication of How To Make Trouble and Influence People! You may still have a copy from the original series of infamous zines in your toilet library, but this expanded version will set your troublemaking heart on fire.

Featuring over 300 colour photographs, interviews with some of our most loved troublemakers and of course tales of Indigenous resistance, convict revolts and escapes, picket line hi-jinks, student occupations, creative direct action, media pranks, urban interventions, squatting, blockades, banner drops, street theatre and billboard liberation, the collection reveals the vital history of creative resistance in Australia.

Written and researched by Iain McIntyre the new edition features interviews with The Chaser, Buga-Up, Kevin Buzzacott, John Safran, Pauline Pantsdown, Dave Burgess, Meredith Burgmann, Deborah Kelly, Order of Perpetual Indulgence, Stuart Highway, John Howard Ladies’ Auxiliary Fan Club, No To Pope Coalition and The Graffiti Games Organising Committee.

As McIntyre says in his introduction, “These tales and images also serve to remind us that political activity need not be a predictable and grim slog. As well-resourced as our opponents may be, they are vulnerable to the use of creativity, solidarity and humour. Indeed, these are often the only tools we have.”

For a sneak preview, check out http://howtomaketroubleandinfluencepeople.org

To purchase a copy, visit www.breakdownpress.org

Or come along to one of the launches featuring special troublemaking guests:

NEWCASTLE LAUNCH: Saturday the 3rd October at This Is Not Art Festival, The Festival Club (Mason’s) cnr King and Thorn Streets, Newcastle 4.30pm-6pm with Iain McIntyre and Dave Burgess (who painted No War on the Opera House, 2003).

MELBOURNE LAUNCH: Thursday 5th November at the Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall, Victoria and Lygon Streets 6pm-8pm with Iain McIntyre and a special guest appearance by the John Howard Ladies’ Auxiliary Fan Club.

SYDNEY LAUNCH: Saturday 5th December at The Red Rattler Theatre, 6 Faversham St Marrickville 8pm-midnight with Iain McIntyre and Dave Burgess plus music by Lee Memorial, The Kleber Claux Memorial Singers and NinetyNine.

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Renew Newcastle THIRTY SIX PROJECTS and counting

Renew Newcastle will be celebrating the launch of their THIRTY SIXTH separate project in the 22nd formerly empty spaces that they’ve taken over in the Newcastle (Australia) CBD.

Set to launch another series of art and creative projects which have opened in Newcastle; a collection of events over two days will celebrate the talent and hard work of the artists involved in cleaning up vacant shops to use for a range of creative projects.

The events, all held in the Newcastle CBD, include art exhibition openings, shop opening parties, a walking tour of the new projects, and a rare open studio show by visual artists, all designed to show-off the diversity of Newcastle’s creative talent.

The guided tour of the new projects on Saturday 15 August, 2009 introduces 15 new projects in 12 new properties in the Hunter St Mall area and will begin at 3pm at the Biami Mara Indigenous Art Gallery, Shop 3, 200 Hunter St Mall.

The group of new creative projects which you can visit on the day includes: an indigenous art gallery; a landscape photography gallery; a zine shop; the headquarters and display space for Newcastle Fashion Week; a tea house art gallery; a dance costuming workshop; a retail gallery selling locally made, hand made art, clothing, jewellery and household objects; the newly reinvented gallery space of the ARThive collective; and the individual working studios of 7 visual artists.

The walking tour has become a “don’t miss” event, with large numbers of local visitors joining in on the guided tour of new and existing sites around the Hunter St Mall area. The tour is presented by Renew Newcastle founder, some time ABC TV presenter, and This Is Not Art festival founder Marcus Westbury.

Please come along, say hi and help the RN crew celebrate!

Renew Newcastle News.

Renew Newcastle on ABC TV’s Sunday Arts

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There Goes The Neighbourhood: Melbourne Book Launch

Guest Speaker: Gary Foley

Worried about the gentrification? Rising rents? Apartment blocks popping up on every corner and yuppies taking over your local neighbourhood? Well you’re not alone… There Goes The Neighbourhood: Redfern and the Politics of Urban Space is a book produced in conjunction with an exhibition in Sydney which explores these issues. From Collingwood to Redfern to New York to Copenhagen people the world over are negotiating life in the city – squatting, living space, evictions, rents and so on. Come along to a launch of the book and a discussion about spatial politics in the city.

There Goes the Neighbourhood begins with a close study of Redfern before expanding into international examples to provide a detailed exploration of how the phenomenon of gentrification is altering the relationship between democracy and demography around the world. This book has been published in tandem with an exhibition of the same name and many of the contributions come from participating artists in the exhibition: Brenda L. Croft (Australia), 16beaver (USA), Daniel Boyd (Australia), Temporary Services (USA), Jakob Jakobsen (Denmark), Lisa Kelly (Australia), SquatSpace (Australia), Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro (Germany/Australia), Evil Brothers (Australia), You Are Here (Australia), Michael Rakowitz (USA), Miklos Erhardt and Little Warsaw (Hungary), Bijari (Brazil) and Democracia (Spain). The book also includes contributions from key thinkers about the complex life of cities such as the Situationists, Mike Davis, Brian Holmes, Gary Foley and Elizabeth Farrelly.

There Goes The Neighbourhood
Melbourne Book Launch & Tea Party!
Brunswick Bound
361 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne (AUS)
Saturday July 4th, 2009
2- 4pm

There Goes The Neighbourhood is edited by Keg de Souza and Zanny Begg from You Are Here, a Sydney based art collective which focuses on social and spatial mapping.

Designed by Tom Sevil (Breakdown Press)
Printed by Break Out
RRP: $15
For more information: http://www.theregoestheneighbourhood.org/book.htm

Email: youarehere@gmail.com

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10th Anniversary of the Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival

Enjoy 7 world premieres of 7 Short Films by 7 new Australian directors including directorial debuts by Deborah Mailman and Leah Purcell.

FREE public screenings, FREE live music,and a FREE photographic art exhibition. You will also have an opportunity to meet and talk with filmmakers after each session.

Sydney Opera House presents the 10th Message Sticks Festival, a program of film and performance celebrating the creativity of indigenous artists from Australia and overseas.

Runs May 7 – May 10th, 2009
Location:
The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney, Australia

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Big Eye, Aboriginal Animations

Brisbane: An exhibition of the moving image, including stop-motion, 3D and other animation techniques, Big Eye showcases Aboriginal animations from Australia and Canada in a unique cross-tribal exchange of ideas and world views. Aboriginal Australian artists Aroha Groves, Frank McLeod & Aboriginal Nations, the Gunbalanya Community & Gozer Media, Christine Peacock, Rebekah Pitt & John Graham and artist/curator Jenny Fraser, are joined by Aboriginal Canadian artists Dark Thunder Productions, Raven Tales, Skawennati Tricia Fragnito & Abtech, Rabbit and Bear Paws, and The Healthy Aboriginal Network.

29 April to 15 May
The Block QUT Creative Industries Precinct
Cnr Kelvin Grove Road and Musk Avenue
Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Australia

Check out: www.ciprecinct.qut.edu.au/shows/details.jsp?news-event-id=23115

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Lester Bostock Indigenous Mentorship

Supported by the NSW Film and Television Office and run by Metro Screen this mentorship is open to all Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander screenmakers. Metro Screen is looking for filmmakers with drive, ambition and the commitment to produce a 5-8 min film in any genre from experimental, documentary or drama. Patron and founder of the LBS, Lester Bostock, the highly esteemed indigenous radio, television and film pioneer, will help select, and take personal interest in the progress of all of the LBS participants at every stage of their project. Each filmmaker is mentored by an industry professional and supplied with equipment, stock, post production facilities, and a $2,500 budget. In addition each filmmaker is also provided with dedicated producer support, skills training in Directing and development assistance through professional script editor consultations. Films are screened at our special cinema event and at the Museum of Sydney during NAIDOC week plus
other venues around Australia.

Closing date Thur Apr 9.

Click here for more information – http://www.metroscreen.org.au/indigenous.htm

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Big Eye – Aboriginal Animations

An exhibition of the moving image, including stop-motion, 3D and other animation techniques, Big Eye showcases Aboriginal animations from Australia and Canada in a unique cross-tribal exchange of ideas and world views. Aboriginal Australian screen artists use digital storytelling techniques to bring cultural knowledge and contemporary exploration of country to the fore, with an original and distinctive voice.

First World countries Australia and Canada are two of very few countries in the world who recognise their first people as Aboriginal. Philosophically, this exhibition explores a shared heritage by Aboriginal Canadians and Aboriginal Australians through the intersection of Aboriginal Aesthetics and Culture, with the endurance of a similar colonisation as a background.

Featuring Dark Thunder Productions, Raven Tales, Skawennati Tricia Fragnito, Rabbit and Bear Foot, The Healthy Aboriginal Project and Anthony Wong, Frank Mcleod & Aboriginal Nations, Aroha Groves, Christine Peacock & Rebekah Pitt & John Graham, the Gunbalanya Community & Gozer Media, and artist/curator Jenny Fraser.
 
The exhibition opens at QUT Creative Industries Precint ‘the Block’ at Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Australia – Tuesday April 28th, 2009 – 6 for 6.30pm
 
Opening hours Tuesday & Wednesday 2pm – 6.30pm, Thursday & Friday 2pm – 8pm,
Saturday 4pm – 8pm
Until May 30th 2009.
also with a drop-in Animation Lab
How to get there:
http://www.ciprecinct.qut.com/whatshappening/howtogethere.jsp

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