RISING

RISING exists to articulate, amplify and inspire Melbourne’s creative culture. It is an expression of Naarm/ Melbourne’s identity—a diverse city of artists, musicians, progressive thinkers and discerning audiences. As Victoria's flagship a cultural event, RISING shatters the mould of a conventional arts festival and positions Melbourne as a global creative city.

RISING champions ‘live’, ‘new’ and ‘of place’ cultural experiences by using Melbourne as its stage revealing hidden stories, empowering First Peoples’ voices and fostering collective moments of joy, ceremony and discovery.

RISING aims to be a festival that people want to work for, artists want to create within, audiences want to attend, and partners want to invest in. It fills a critical cultural infrastructure gap by supporting artists with meaningful paid opportunities, enabling authentic encounters between artists and audiences, and engaging young and underserved communities—addressing social isolation and strengthening cultural identity.

Led by Artistic Director and CEO Hannah Fox and an internationally recognised curatorial team, RISING positions Melbourne as a global creative city. RISING believes in the power of art to challenge, provoke, comfort and connect; to reflect our many differences, imagine new worlds and expand understanding.

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