In August 2018, Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) was announced as the Producer of the biennial Due West Arts Festival (DW)—a 10-day cross-artform festival inspired by Melbourne’s west. The Festival is set to take place from 15-24 November 2019 with an overarching thematic focus of voice, sound and music.
Two executive producers will be coming on board to oversee the Festival delivery: Dan Mitchell and Lana Nguyen. Dan is an experienced arts professional that has worked in artistic director roles across the sector and Lana is an emerging curator with experience across theatre, literature and performance.
FCAC has also announced seven artistic associates with unique creative practices to shape the artistic direction of the festival: Emma Donovan, Kath Duncan, Phuong Ngo, Sista Zai Zanda, Alec Reade, Steven Trosti and Bryce Ives. This merging of artistic minds will spark imaginative approaches to festival programming, audience experiences and community representation—including the intersection between creativity, culture, age, sexuality, disability and gender.
“Due West is an opportunity to mentor and platform the next generation of artistic and festival directors, in Australia and internationally. We have selected a team of emerging and established associates to steer the Festival’s creative direction and shape the artistic possibilities for the Festival,” said FCAC Director and CEO Martin Paten.
FCAC has been collaborating with representatives of the Arts West alliance in developing the new incarnation of the biennial festival, which initially debuted in 2017. FCAC and its immediate surrounds will be the hub for the Festival in addition to other exciting industrial indoor and outdoor locations within Melbourne’s west.
Due West is inviting proposals from artists and organisations in Melbourne’s west through an expression of interest. Preference will be given to local works, artists and organisations, followed by projects with national and international reach.
For details, visit the Due West Arts Festival website at www.duewestfestival.com.au. Expressions of interest close Friday 14 December.
Due West Arts Festival is supported by Maribyrnong City Council and Creative Victoria.
Dan Mitchell is an experienced arts professional with 25 years of experience across Artistic Director and Public Art Officer roles, curating location driven public art events and projects including outdoor, site-specific and venue based activations. Throughout his career, Dan has created vibrant and immersive visual, digital, sound, participatory and performative art experiences.
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