22 February 2025
Melbourne Polytechnic Preston

We’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.

22 February 2025
MAV Lobby

Step 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.

22 February 2025
The Networking Room

Networking 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.

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.

5 - 15 December 2024
fortyfive downstairs

An 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.

8 December
Mamma Chen’s

Join 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.

6 -7 December
Arts Centre Melbourne

Art 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!

5 December
Arts Centre Melbourne

Get 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.

27 November - 1 December
APHIDS

Exploring 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? 

12 - 24 November
La Mama

La Mama’s Festival of Mother Tongue is a multilingual theatre festival celebrating the diversity of languages spoken in Naarm.

11.11.24
MAV Headquarters

Artists 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.

7.11.24
Melbourne Recital Centre

A 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. 

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.

12.8.24
MAV Headquarters

Hosted 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.

8.6.24
MAV Headquarters

Come 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.

28.5.24
MAV Headquarters

The 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.

20.5.24
MAV Headquarters

MAV 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.

2.03.24
The Malthouse

Facilitated 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.

24.2.24
The Malthouse

Led 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.

02.03.24
West Space Gallery

In 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.

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.

8.2.24
Online

This 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.