Participate

RISING is a beautiful, messy, illuminating expression of Melbourne now. It's a festival that you do, not just see—so we want you to join in.

To create a festival that reflects Melbourne, we need to engage more than the current arts-going community. We need to pull in the audiences and artists so often excluded because of cost, access or lack of direct invitation. Melbourne should see all of its multifaceted talent, creativity, diversity and intelligence reflected in us.

Audiences of all backgrounds are courageous, sophisticated and interested. No individual event or experience will speak to everyone, but our aim for the RISING program as a whole is that, like a mirror ball, many people can see themselves reflected in it in some way.

With over 130 projects in the program from a naked disco for one to an installation floating on the river for many thousands, we invite all of the many communities of Melbourne to come together again after too long apart.

In the lead up to and during RISING, there will be many opportunities for you to join in, whether it’s taking part in a lantern workshop or heading down to Wandering Stars on the Birrarung’s banks (Yarra).

RISING’s aim is to bring people from different cultural, political and social backgrounds together, and help them share their stories. We encourage participation and invite individuals, community and arts organisations, unis, TAFEs, schools, and local businesses to come together to be part of the making of a new tradition for Melbourne with us.

If you’re interested in participating in RISING in a more formal way, sign up our Moon Mail.