Discover what’s on at Fed Square

Join MexVic to celebrate the traditional Día de Muertos in the Atrium!
This free, family-friendly event will be filled with tradition, colour and joy as attendees honour this beautiful Mexican festivity. Día de Muertos, or &#8216;Day of the Dead&#8217;, honours the lives of those passed. The day is one of celebration and joy, celebrating life through honouring the dead.
The day will start at the Atrium at 12pm, where you will find the Day of the Dead altars, a Mexican-inspired market, face painting and activities for children, food trucks and delicious Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead) on sale.
From 3pm, a crowd dressed in their best Catrina outfits will gather at the State Library of Victoria to parade through the city and arrive at the Atrium at around 5pm.
Afternoon activities include Day of the Dead ceremony and live music and dance.
All are welcome to come celebrate, and you&#8217;re encouraged to come dressed in your most colourful Catrina attire and bring memorabilia or photos of loved ones passed, to contribute to the Ofrenda (altar).
Bring your family, friends, and your most creative Catrina outfits, and keep the traditions alive together.
MexVic can’t wait to celebrate Día de Muertos with you!
Follow MexVic on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MexVicAssociation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/MexVicAssociation</a> 
Follow MexVic on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mexvic_aust/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/mexvic_aust/</a>

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Community

Music

Free

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)

A music-led community climate event.
For All Earthkind is a music-led mass-participation, multi-location community climate project, in partnership with The Australian Youth Orchestra.
Their aim is to harness the power of music to bring people together to give voice to an ambition for a sustainable future.
On Saturday, 2 November 2024, as world leaders prepare for the UN Climate Summit, For All Earthkind creates space for us to join together and sing Tomorrow’s Sun.
The song gives voice to Australia’s experience of the Black Summer Fires, acknowledging the animals’ lives and homes lost and gives thanks to the incredible community spirit and resolve that emerged from the ashes. It expresses our experience of a changing climate and demonstrates our shared humanity.
Learn <a href="https://4allek.org/phase2-participation-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tomorrow&#8217;s Sun here</a>. Come at 1pm to rehearse and sing or come along at 3pm to witness this heartwarming event.
Aaron Wyatt is their very talented conductor, and is recognised as the first Australian First Nations person to conduct one of the major orchestras in Australia, the MSO. Wyatt will link a cast of hundreds between Melbourne and Sydney via a livestream.
Who can attend?
Everyone is welcome, choirs, singers, families, schools, planet lovers…
For more information on how to join visit: <a href="https://4allek.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://4allek.org</a>

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Kids + Families

For All Earthkind

BandStand Sunday is on again at the iconic Fed Square
Come along to enjoy a day of free entertainment in the Square as the bands perform an assorted mix of great music – from traditional marches and classics for band, through to modern-day pop and rock!
Bands have played a vital part in the life of communities for centuries, and BandStand Sunday brings the classic days of the old style band rotunda into the modern-day setting of Melbourne’s iconic public space – Fed Square.
For more information visit: <a href="https://vbl.org.au/bandstand-sunday-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://vbl.org.au/bandstand-sunday-2024/</a> 
Follow Victorian Bands League on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/victorianbandsleague" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/victorianbandsleague</a>

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Bandstand Sunday 2024

The Polish Festival @ Fed Square is a vibrant celebration of Polish culture, heritage, and community. Now in its twentieth year, it promises a day full of rich traditions, lively performances and authentic Polish experiences for all ages.
At the heart of the festival is an explosion of colour, music and dance. Traditional folk dances, performed by talented groups in beautifully embroidered costumes, captivate the audience with their high-energy routines and rhythmic precision. Visitors can also enjoy live music ranging from classic to modern Polish genres, bringing the essence of Poland to Melbourne.
Food lovers are in for a treat, with a variety of stalls offering traditional Polish cuisine. From pierogi (dumplings) and kielbasa (sausage) to bigos (hunter&#8217;s stew) and delicious desserts like paczki (doughnuts), the festival is a feast for the senses, showcasing the hearty and delicious flavours of Polish cooking.
The Polish Festival is not only about entertainment but also about fostering cultural exchange and understanding. There are craft stalls displaying intricate Polish handicrafts, from ceramics to paper-cut art, and opportunities for visitors to learn more about Polish history and traditions through cultural exhibits and interactive workshops.
For families, the festival offers a range of activities for children, including face painting, games and hands-on craft-making sessions. The welcoming atmosphere makes it a perfect day out for people of all backgrounds to immerse themselves in Polish culture.
The 20th Polish Festival will be a joyous occasion that brings the Polish community together while inviting the wider public to experience and celebrate the rich cultural tapestry of Poland.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.polishfestival.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.polishfestival.com.au/</a> 
Follow Polish Festival on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/polishfestivalfedsquare/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/polishfestivalfedsquare/</a> 
Follow Polish Festival on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/polfestmelbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/polfestmelbourne/</a>

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Festival

Polish Festival @ Fed Square

Celebrate the rhythms, sounds and tastes of Africa, representing over 35 African countries. 
This three-day African Music and Cultural Festival (AMCF) attracts over 50,000 visitors each year to experience the very best of African culture. See over 35 African countries and community organisations represented through music, food, fashion, film, dance, art and culture – right in the heart of Melbourne.
Across all three days, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the authentic flavours of Africa. For kids and families, join in the free African drumming classes, face painting, jumping castles, Santa&#8217;s grotto, mascots, African board games and more!
With so much happening throughout the three-day festival, it can be hard to know where to start! AMCF recommends grabbing breakfast, lunch or dinner on River Terrace at one of the African street food stalls and then immersing yourself in the incredible Main Stage live performances and shopping at the many market stalls.
The essence of AMCF lies in embracing the theme of &#8220;Celebrating Diversity and Harmony&#8221; through cross-cultural awareness, mutual respect, education, understanding and unity – while providing locals and visitors with a unique opportunity to experience and celebrate Africa&#8217;s diversity.
Each day of the festival will commence with a Welcome to Country ceremony, followed by different activities each day.
The three-day showcase will include:
DAY ONE: Friday 15 November – 12pm–10pm 
A fantastic outdoor cinema vibe, broadcasting African Australian short films and spoken word performances. Pop by with friends or colleagues, enjoy a delicious African Street Food lunch, dinner and drinks in a great festival atmosphere. The perfect way to start the weekend!
DAY TWO: Saturday 16 November – 11am–11pm 
Saturday is the main festival day, with a multi-layered program delivering 12 hours of non-stop live entertainment. Expect cultural band performances, music, dance, fashion, arts, shopping and a swag of market stalls selling African wares. Bring the kids to participate in free drumming workshops (adults and children welcome!), and enjoy authentic mouth-watering African street food available at the market stalls on River Terrace.
DAY THREE: Sunday 17 November 2024 – 12pm–8pm 
A continuation of day two featuring 8 hours of non-stop entertainment.
For more information visit: <a href="http://africanmusicfestival.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://africanmusicfestival.com.au/</a> 
Follow African Music and Cultural Festival on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AMCFOZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/AMCFOZ</a> 
Follow African Music and Cultural Festival on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AMCFOZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/AMCFOZ</a> 
Follow African Music and Cultural Festival on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/AMCFOZ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/AMCFOZ/</a> 
Follow African Music and Cultural Festival on Snapchat: <a href="https://www.snapchat.com/add/AMCFOZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.snapchat.com/add/AMCFOZ</a> 
Follow African Music and Cultural Festival on TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@amcfoz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.tiktok.com/@amcfoz</a>

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African Music and Cultural Festival 2024

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What's On

Discover restaurants, bars and cafes serving up Melbourne&#8217;s best breakfast, coffee, lunch, drinks or dinner for any occasion and budget.

Discover All

Eat + Drink

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Pilgrim Bar

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Taxi Kitchen

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Time Out Dusk front view

Time Out Cafe, Bar + Restaurant

NGV Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea

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NGV Cafe

Bringing the world’s great beers together with exciting locals from Australian craft breweries.

Good Beer Week and Beer DeLuxe, Fed Square

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Beer Deluxe

An iconic Melbourne bar and cafe nestled in the historic Federation Wharf vaults

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Riverland Bar

Welcome to Wurrdha Marra – meaning ‘Many Mobs’ in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language. The name comes to the NGV from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and supports the purpose of this space in sharing the work of First Nations artists, from emerging to senior figures, and across time and place. For First Nations peoples around the world, art and design are part of a continuum where the past intersects with the present, different materials converge, and diverse perspectives come together. The central role of art in passing down important cultural knowledge is celebrated in this display through the diverse approaches that artists take to maintaining and regenerating customary cultural practices and iconography while also creating new forms of expression.
The works included in this inaugural hang are by emerging artists as well as senior figures across both time and place. Each of these artists has in their own way been at the forefront in creating new forms of expression, and in maintaining and regenerating customary cultural practices and iconography. Great individual artists, working in Aboriginal-owned art centres or independently after studying at art school, continue to shape and transform art in Australia, inspiring many others to follow their example.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/wurrdha-marra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/wurrdha-marra/</a>
Image credit: Wingu Tingima, Minyma Tjuta (Seven Sisters) 2006, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 138.0 × 205.0 cm, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased with funds donated by Supporters and Patrons of Indigenous Art, 2006 © Wingu Tingima/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia, Photo: Christian Markel/NGV

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Exhibitions

Wurrdha Marra at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Koorie Heritage Trust is proud to present Let’s Shake by internationally recognised artist and Palawa woman Karen Casey (1956–2021).
Presented for the first time at KHT, this installation of over 200 plaster casts is the tangible outcome of an ongoing series of public participatory events under the title Let’s Shake, led by Casey between 2006 – 2011. Casey described these gatherings as public art connection and communication events, during which participants of different cultural backgrounds and ages came together in a shared experience, holding wet plaster between their hands and making conversation until set and could be removed as a solid form, forever carrying the unique marks of the two individuals and the energy of their encounter.
Let’s Shake has been exhibited as a number of unique installations, including under the name Contact/Converse at the National Gallery of Victoria, Narrm (2008); Oaxaca, Mexico (2011); Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, Aotearoa (2011); in the group exhibition All of Us, Blindside, Narrm (2018); and in the Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Victoria (2022).
Koorie Heritage Trust also acknowledge the very generous gift of this artwork to the KHT’s important collection of South-East Australian art and cultural belongings by Casey’s son Daniel Young, in memory of his mother.
For more information visit: <a href="https://kht.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/karen-casey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://kht.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/karen-casey/</a>
Image credit: Karen Casey (Palawa), Let’s Shake (detail), 2006 – 2011. Plaster, 476 parts. Collection of Koorie Heritage Trust. Donated by Daniel Young in memory of Karen Casey. Photo: Christian Capurro.

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First Peoples

Karen Casey: Let's Shake at KHT

Spirit of the Animals draws on the Koorie Heritage Trust’s extensive collection of artworks and cultural belongings to highlight the significance of animals in the cultural life of Victorian First Peoples, establishing connection to Place and Country, and strengthening clan and cultural identity. Mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, vertebrates, invertebrates, insects, and more, are depicted in the exhibition through paintings, animation, drawings, sculpture, tools and adornment.
The exhibition features over fifty artworks and cultural belongings by: Albert &amp; Richard Mullett (Gunai/Gunai, Monero Ngarigo); Brook Andrew (Wiradjuri); Glenda Nicholls (Waddi Waddi, Yorta Yorta, Ngarrindjeri); Lin Onus (Yorta Yorta); Peter and Alex Mongta (Monero); Len Tregonning (Gunai/Kurnai); Peter Waples-Crowe (Ngarigo); Trevor Brown (Latji Latji), Tommy McRae (Kwatkwat); Vera Cooper (Yorta Yorta); Aunty Zeta Thomson (Yorta Yorta, Wurundjeri), and more.
For more information visit: <a href="https://kht.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/spirit-of-the-animals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://kht.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/spirit-of-the-animals/</a>
Image credit: Peter Waples-Crowe (Ngarigo), In My Tribe, 2018. Still from single channel animation. Collection Koorie Heritage Trust.

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Spirit of the Animals at KHT

Dive into the cheeky world of the iconic slapstick videogame with playable displays and behind-the-scenes insights.
In 2019, Melbourne game developers House House rose to international success and acclaim with their hilariously naughty videogame, which captured the hearts, minds and humour of children and adults alike.​
Now, ACMI’s interactive exhibition gives you new insight into the creative development of this viral sensation, through displays of previously unseen concept art, sketches and design material. These are presented alongside playable versions of the game from its early development, exhibited publicly for the first time.​
The exhibition connects the game’s hilarious design to the history of slapstick, tracing its enduring popularity and comedic stylings back through a century of film and television.​
Through colourful displays and comedy-focused curation, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition keeps nothing under glass – designed with families in mind, it includes sound effect buttons, flipbooks and other playful displays. Those with specialist knowledge of videogames are invited to explore critical design details and gain insight into the game’s technical development through ACMI-made video content.
Presented by ACMI and House House.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/honk-untitled-goose-exhibition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/honk-untitled-goose-exhibition/</a>

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Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition at ACMI

REKOSPECTIVE is an immersive exhibition that charts the bold and dynamic practice of renowned Kamilaroi artist, Reko Rennie. The exhibition resists a conventional chronological sequence, allowing audiences to freely navigate the intersection between culture, politics and identity from a contemporary First Nations perspective.
Rennie’s distinctive style, which blends iconography from his Kamilaroi heritage with contemporary media, explores the complexities of his Aboriginal identity and growing up in the urban environment of Melbourne, where he continues to live and work. REKOSPECTIVE unveils new works from Rennie, presented alongside pieces that have garnered the artist international acclaim over the last two decades.
REKOSPECTIVE showcases Rennie’s unique style and offers an important perspectives, from the personal to the political, on cultural and social visibility.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/rekospective-the-art-of-reko-rennie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/rekospective-the-art-of-reko-rennie/</a>
Image credit: 
Reko Rennie 
Initiation_OA_RR 2021 (detail) 
three-channel colour digital video, sound 
ed. 1/3 
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian 
Artists, 2023 
2023.757 
© Reko Rennie

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REKOSPECTIVE: The Art of Reko Rennie

From cattle dogs to lap dogs, divine felines to the black cats of superstition, Cats &amp; Dogs explores humanity’s deep connection to these animals through more than 250 works of art and design.
Drawn from the NGV Collection and spanning all periods and media, this exhibition of cats and dogs in art and design reveals how our domesticated companions have long been a rich source of visual imagery – from ancient history to the present day.
The exhibition features works by contemporary and historical artists including Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco de Goya, Albrecht Dürer, Pierre Bonnard, Eileen Mayo, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Hulda Guzmán and more alongside celebrated Australian artists, including Claudia Moodoonuthi, Trevor Turbo Brown, Atong Atem, Charles Blackman, Grace Cossington Smith and Nora Heysen.
Presented thematically, with dogs on one side and cats on the other, the exhibition unpacks particular behaviours, cultural symbolism and art-historical motifs. These include: working dogs and cats; mythology; religion and spirituality; and cats and dogs in popular culture.
Traversing painting, prints, drawings, textiles, photography, sculpture, decorative arts and fashion, Cats &amp; Dogs reveals the global appeal of these animals across borders and cultures, with works from Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
For more information visit: <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/cats-and-dogs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/cats-and-dogs/</a>
Image credit: 
Christine Godden 
Joan and her dog 1975, printed 1976 
gelatin silver photograph 
15.2 × 22.9 cm(image) 19.6 × 25.2 cm(sheet) 
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne 
Purchased from Admission Funds, 1991 © Christine Godden

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Cats & Dogs at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Imagine the futures that you want to see.
From cyberpunk megacities and first knowledges to rewilded landscapes and sci fi renegades, The Future &amp; Other Fictions showcases the people, artworks and ideas that shape tomorrow.
Through more than 180 works, this immersive exhibition invites you to step into the imaginations of 19 creative visionaries from around the globe. Experience how futures are imagined and made onscreen, with artworks, sets, props, scripts, clips, costumes and original design materials on display.
Explore a wealth of Afrofuturist creations, including costumes from Marvel Studios&#8217; Black Panther: Wakanda Forever by legendary designer Ruth E. Carter. See how the cityscapes of Cyberpunk 2077, Blade Runner 2049 and The Creator were dreamed up through stunning concept art and intricate models. Enter the kaleidoscopic world of Icelandic pop goddess Björk, with masks, dresses and artworks designed for her music video ‘The Gate’. Witness the reclamation of First Nations, South Asian and Pacific futures through fashion activism and remixed rituals and mythologies.
The Future &amp; Other Fictions also features two new moving image works by Hannah Brontë, and Natasha Wanganeen and Liam Young.
The futures we imagine are the futures we will live in.
This World Premiere exhibition is co-curated by ACMI&#8217;s Amanda Haskard (Gunai/Kurnai) and Chelsey O&#8217;Brien and film director and futurist Liam Young.
Image credit: Blade Runner 2049, RYAN GOSLING in BLADE RUNNER 2049, 2017, directed by DENIS VILLENEUVE. Image credit ALCON ENTERTAINMENT, COLUMBIA PICTURES

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The Future & Other Fictions at ACMI

Visit some of Australia's most significant cultural attractions, including ACMI, the Koorie Heritage Trust and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. 

Your museum of screen culture. Navigate the universe of film, TV, videogames and art.

What's On

Eat + Drink

Pilgrim Bar

Taxi Kitchen

Time Out Cafe, Bar + Restaurant

NGV Cafe

Beer Deluxe

Riverland Bar

Exhibitions

Museums + Galleries

ACMI

Koorie Heritage Trust

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia