MAV Events
Explore the latest happenings, exhibitions and community gatherings. Stay connected to the heartbeat of creativity and cultural offerings.

6 February — 2 March 2025
ART EXHIBITION
Gallery at the City Library
Level 1
253 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Jenny Zhe Chang: East @ West
Our friend and collaborator Jenny Zhe Chang has transformed the City Library for Lunar New Year.
This project fosters a dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures, using paper as both a medium and a metaphor to transcend time, geography, and identity.
Drawing inspiration from traditional patterns and Matisse’s floral motifs, the artwork embodies the spirit of the Lunar New Year, a time of renewal, hope, and unity. This project was supported through MAV’s Auspicing Service.
Past MAV Events
2025:
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MAV's Block Partee!
22 February 2025
Melbourne Polytechnic PrestonWe’re throwing a vibrant, free celebration of multicultural creativity—honouring the artists, communities, and culture-shapers who make our city thrive. BLOCK PARTEE marks an exciting new chapter at our new headquarters, and you’re at the heart of it.
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Rhyme N Roots
22 February 2025
MAV LobbyStep up to the mic and speak your truth. Our Open Mic Sessions are a space for raw expression, where community voices come together to share stories, rhythms, and ideas.
Witness the power of words and rhythm when 3x Spoken Word Artists and 3x Rappers battle it out in the showdown of wordsmiths. Hosted by Queen V.
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Creative Speed Dating
22 February 2025
The Networking RoomNetworking with a twist! These high-energy sessions are designed to spark new collaborations and ideas, connecting culturally diverse creatives to start projects that push the envelope. If you’re a Blak, Black, Indigenous, or person of colour, this is your space to shine. Session 1 is closed to QTBIPOC-identifying folx only.
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Al Otro Lado De Mundo
13 February 2025
Wax Music Lounge"Al otro lado del mundo" is a vibrant celebration of love and Latin American culture this Valentine's Day Eve at Wax Music Lounge!
Join us for a night that transcends borders, celebrates cultural diversity, and creates unforgettable memories on this special occasion.
2024:
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ILARUN: The Cutting Comb by Amarantha Robinson
5 - 15 December 2024
fortyfive downstairsAn original story inspired by the life of Jamaica’s Nanny of the Maroons.
Down in the dark dank cellars, Black women are milked commodities. But when a mystical encounter unhinges a docile slave, divine danger rises.
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Unshakable Love
8 December
Mamma Chen’sJoin us for or an unforgettable evening of poetry, creativity, and heartfelt connection.
Enjoy inspiring guest speakers and iconic Bla(c)k women of Naarm’s writers community— Brownsugarbabe and Tariro; and a captivating soul-stirring performance showcase by Queen V.
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Art Souk
6 -7 December
Arts Centre MelbourneArt Souk is a multi-arts celebration, curated by MzRizk and presented by MAV. This vibrant two-day event in Naarm includes a free public exhibition and ticketed evening performances featuring incredible music artists, filmmakers, photographers and more!
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The Drop: Newprint 3 Program Launch
5 December
Arts Centre MelbourneGet ready for the power-packed kick off for NEWPRINT 3 (NP3), featuring exhilarating live performances by TEBIR and SRIRACHI, showcasing the vibrant talent lighting up Naarm’s music landscape.
This program launch promises a night of industry connections, creative energy, and unforgettable music.
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EDGING
27 November - 1 December
APHIDSExploring the intersections of popular culture, border control and queerness, EDGING is a new collaboration between APHIDS’ Lara Thoms and artists Sammaneh Pourshafighi and Eden Falk.
Are Virgos really bossy? What’s the best Bette Midler movie? How do you get into the Berghain?
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La Mama's Festival of Mother Tongues
12 - 24 November
La MamaLa Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongue is a multilingual theatre festival celebrating the diversity of languages spoken in Naarm.
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The One About Money
11.11.24
MAV HeadquartersArtists need money to make art. Where can you get it? Grants are one thing, but for many the grant process does not get any, or enough, money for the activities they want.
The Money Workshop will be an introduction to other ways to get the resources you need.
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Heart Whispers and Whirls II by the Resonant Heart
7.11.24
Melbourne Recital CentreA mesmerising kaleidoscope of multi-lingual poetry, folk songs, movement, and ritual.
The Resonant Heart is a multi-disciplinary ensemble of international women and female-identifying artists who have united to share and create from their collective cultural and artistic knowledge.
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The Artistic Intelligence Symposium
13.10.24
Bargoonga Nganjin Fitzroy North Library
Presented as part of the Ideas and Exchange stream of the Alter State 2024 program, The BIPoC Creative Access Collective bring to you this innovative initiative. -
Build Your Own EPK
12.8.24
MAV HeadquartersHosted by MAV is this artist development workshop, dedicated to the art of the EPK. An Electronic Press Kit is a digital package of marketing materials to promote artists, projects, events and so on.
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HEY Grant Information Session
8.6.24
MAV HeadquartersCome along for information on how to apply for a HEY Grant. There wil be information provided by the team at HEY and the opportunity for a Q&A.
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MAV Annual General Meeting 2024
28.5.24
MAV HeadquartersThe purpose of the AGM is to give members a report on the organisation's activities and finances for the previous year, to allow time for members to ask questions, and to elect new directors to a governing board.
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City of Melbourne Annual Arts Grans Info Session
20.5.24
MAV HeadquartersMAV is hosting an information session with staff from the grant program. Come along to hear from them what is required and what they are looking for in applications.
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Lessgetit: The Craft of Performance
2.03.24
The MalthouseFacilitated by Tariro Mavondo, co-director of The Hate Race, this free in-person creative workshop is designed for young BIPOC artists, creatives, poets, spoken word artists, actors, performers, content creators, comedians, storytellers, singers, entertainers, public speakers, MCs, and podcast hosts.
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Telling Your Story
24.2.24
The MalthouseLed by Maxine Beneba Clarke, acclaimed author of The Hate Race memoir and production, this free in-person writing workshop is designed for BIPOC individuals aged 18 to 30.
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a most beautiful experiment by wani toaishara - opening
02.03.24
West Space GalleryIn this work, wani responds to artist Jean Depara's documentation of Kinshasa's nightlife through film installation blending past and present in a form of temporal collapse.
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Verbena Carnaval
02.03.24
Preston Town Hall¡AQUÍ SUENA! In an explosion of colour, music, art, and Caribbean culture, VERBENA CARNAVAL returns to Melbourne on Saturday 2 March 2024 at Preston City Hall.
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Online Grant Writing Workshop FREE Development Workshop with Auspicious Arts
8.2.24
OnlineThis workshop is tailored for artists who are either new to grant applications or seeking to brush up on their skills, and it will be specifically centred around the Creative Australia projects grant round closing Tuesday 5 March.