Melbourne’s winter cultural wonderland of art, music, performance and food, RISING, is officially underway, with a packed program of 185 events featuring hundreds of local and international artists.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos today welcomed the opening of the festival, which runs for 12 days and nights and features a range of free and ticketed events for the whole family, including ice skating, live music, theatre, art installations and more.
Flinders Street Station’s historic top floor has been transformed by Shadow Spirit, the largest-ever exhibition of First Peoples art commissions in Victoria, while Melbourne Town Hall is hosting the immersive cinema experience, Euphoria.
Night Trade, at St Paul’s Cathedral car park, is this year’s RISING festival hub, with a food market and free performances including DJs and large-scale puppets, an official press release said.
A super-sized ice-skating rink at Birrarung Marr, The Rink at RISING, offers a fun ice-skating experience for all ages, with dining options and firepits to stay warm on wintry Melbourne nights. Professional lessons are available, along with a special school holiday program of activities.
The festival is set to attract thousands of people into the city, providing a major boost to Melbourne’s restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels, and is another major cultural highlight on the city’s already-enviable cultural calendar.
The Andrews Labor Government established RISING to create a new drawcard major event for Melbourne in the winter season, with close to 315,000 people attending the festival’s first full year in 2022.
On top of supporting the artists and performers on RISING stages, the festival will provide jobs for more than 1,000 event workers behind the scenes across event management, security, hospitality and more.
For tickets and more information visit rising.melbourne.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
