Diary Notes
August 2008
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces Art Deco 1910 – 1939, 28 June – 5 October
The exquisite Art Deco 1910 – 1939 exhibition comes to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) direct from London’s famous Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition will feature more than 300 major works of Art Deco in art, jewellery, fashion, film, architecture, cars, photography and furniture. Highlights include precious Deco gems from Cartier, exquisite fashion by Chanel, pristine vintage vehicles and original architectural elements from the foyer of the Strand Palace Hotel, London.
For further information: www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Media contact: Kitty Walker, NGV on 0417 575 088 or 03 8620 2411
Melbourne Art Fair, 30 July - 3 August
Melbourne Art Fair 2008 is presented by the Melbourne Art Fair Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, promoting contemporary art and the ethical representation of living artists. Alongside more than 80 national and international gallery exhibitions, Melbourne Art Fair 2008 presents programs which directly benefit the work of living artists. These include: Artist Commissions (artists selected to create feature installations), Project Rooms (up to 10 art spaces for artists not represented by a gallery) and free public forums and lectures featuring artists, curators and international guests.
For further information: www.melbourneartfair.com
Media contact: Prue Bassett Publicity (03) 9652 8641
Melbourne International Film Festival, 25 July – 10 August
Movie buffs are in for a treat when the Melbourne International Film Festival screens cinematic sensations from more than 50 countries over 19 days. The festival also showcases new Australian films by established and emerging film-makers and is regarded as one of the largest and longest running film festivals in the Asia Pacific region. Spot the celebrities in the audience, experience all the colour and excitement and see films before they hit the cinemas.
For more information: www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au
Media contact: Limelight PR on (03) 8660 4816
State of Design Festival, South Melbourne, 16 – 24 July
The State of Design Festival is Victoria’s peak design event held at the Melbourne Museum and various regional locations. The festival has four key elements: The Premier’s Design Awards, recognising design excellence in Victoria; Design Capital, Australia’s first multi-disciplinary design and business conference; Design For Everyone, a state-wide cultural program of exhibitions, open studios, walks and talks; and Design:Made:Trade, the wholesale showcase for innovative and emerging design brands.
For more information: call (03) 9650 3963 or visit www.stateofdesign.com.au
Media contact: David Renouf on (03) 9682 0222 or email david@hhme.com.au
Melbourne International Design Festival, 25 July – 10 August
The fourth annual Melbourne International Design Festival will run from 25 July at Federation Square and will feature an exciting range of Australian and international public exhibitions and forums over ten days. The festival will include more than 40 mainly free events including exhibitions, forums, design shows, workshops, a design market, competitions and installations.
For more information visit: www.nationaldesigncentre.com
Wicked, Regent Theatre, from 9 July
The Broadway hit Wicked is delighting audiences at Melbourne’s magnificent Regent Theatre. Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and is based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. According to the storyline, long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls met in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes the most spellbinding new musical in years.
For more information: www.wickedthemusical.com.au
Media contact: Howie and Taylor Publicity on (03) 9654 3431
Guys and Dolls, Princess Theatre, from 5 April
Guys and Dolls hails from London’s West End and features a sensational Australian cast including Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Ian Stenlake, Garry McDonald, Shane Jacobson and Magda Szubanski. Guys and Dolls dazzles audiences with breath-taking dance routines, fabulous costumes and classic hits such as ‘Luck Be a Lady’, ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, ‘If I Were a Bell’, ‘Sue Me’ and ‘Guy and Dolls’. Set in New York in the 1940s, the story follows a small-time gambler who bets his big-time pal that he can’t make the next woman he sees fall in love with him. When the next ‘doll’ is a neighbourhood missionary, the stage is set for some high-spirited entertainment.
For more information: www.guysanddollsthemusical.com.au
Media contact: Howie and Taylor Publicity on (03) 9654 3431
Mix It Up, Throughout Winter 2008
Mix it Up captures the best international and local artists in a series of events that reflect the cultural diversity in music. From French electropop to local African and Indigenous performers as well as hip hop, Mix it Up is a colourful kaleidoscope of colour and sound. The program, being held over several months at the Arts Centre, reflects the broad diversity of world music.
For more information: www.ticketmaster.com.au or www.theartscentre.net.au
The Melbourne Writers’ Festival, 22 - 31 August
The Melbourne Writers’ Festival, now in its 23rd year, is acclaimed an Australian leading literary event. Staged over 10 days and nights in August and September each year, the festival promotes the art and talent of more than 200 writers from Australia and around the world. The festival features literary discussions, debates, readings, film screenings, interviews, performances, workshops and master classes.
This year the festival will celebrate its move to Fed Square and other CBD locations.
For more information: call Magda Petkoff on 03 9328 4522 or www.mwf.com.au
Lands End by Compagnie Philippe Genty, 12 – 16 August
Acclaimed French master of theatrical fantasy and illusion, Philippe Genty, launches the Australian premiere season of his latest work Lands End at the Arts Centre, State Theatre.
Conceived and directed with Genty’s long-time collaborator and wife Mary Underwood, Lands End features a brilliant cast of seven multi-skilled performers who offer a breathtaking visual feast of theatrical illusion, dance and puppetry. This is Genty’s largest production to tour to Australia.
For more information: www.theartscentre.com.au or www.philippegenty.com
Media contact: Clea Woods, Mollison Communications on (03) 9694 5226 or 0417 392 622
Regional
Tour of Gippsland, 30 July - 3 August
The Tour of Gippsland, a prestigious cycling race, is the opening event in the hugely successful National Cup Series. The course showcases East Gippsland in all its visual splendour and provides an incredibly tough challenge for the riders. The tour will start in the picturesque town of Mallacoota, travel through Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Metung, Omeo, Bairnsdale and Dargo and will finish by the lakeside township of Paynesville.
For more information: www.caribou.net.au
Tour of the Murray River, 31 August – 7 September
The 2008 Tour of the Murray River (formerly known as the Tour of Sunraysia) will start in the paddlesteamer capital of Australia – Echuca. The eight-day journey is now Australia’ longest road cycling classic and this year pedals from Echuca through the popular Murray River towns of Moama, Barham, Kerang, Cohuna, Swan Hill, Manangatang, Balranald, Robinvale, Euston, Ouyen, Patchewollock, Merbein, Wentworth, and ends in Mildura.
For more information: www.caribou.net.au
Kangaroo Hoppet, 25 August 2007
Held at Falls Creek, the Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance (42km) cross-country ski race and is the only southern hemisphere event in the prestigious Worldloppet series of international long distance cross-country ski events. Other races on the day are the Australian Birkebeiner (21 kilometres) and Joey Hoppet (seven kilometres) events which start shortly after the main event.
For more information: www.hoppet.com.au
Media contact: Allan Marsland on (03) 5754 1045.
Daylesford Words in Winter 2008 Celebration, 1 - 3 August
If there’s a word for it, it will be celebrated with poetry readings, plays, films, cryptic crosswords, novellas, workshops, music and song - even a book ball at the festival. Now in its seventh year, the annual celebration is a joyous gathering of poets, authors, artists, musicians and wordsmiths in Victoria’s Central Highlands. There are day and night events with admission to most costing between $2 and $10.
For more information: www.visitdaylesford.com or www.wordsinwinter.com.au
Advance Sled Dog Challenge, 8 – 9 August
Held at Dinner Plain in the Alpine High Country, the Advance Sled Dog Challenge is an annual event that showcases the top dogs of sled dog racing in Australia. With teams of two-, three-, four- and six-dog teams competing and more than 350 sled dogs are expected to compete in this year's event, the Advance Sled Dog Challenge is unique because it is the only Australian snow-based race of its kind.
For more information: www.dinnerplain.com