Arts House acknowledges and respects the customs and traditions of Indigenous Australians and their special relationship with the land. The artists and organisers respectfully acknowledge that this program takes place on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people.

Arts House is a City of Melbourne initiative committed to nurturing the development, presentation and engagement of new arts practices, works and audiences. Each project presented or developed here would not be possible without the enlightened and generous financial support of the City of Melbourne and many other partners and supporters. art in a dry climate navigates a rich cultural landscape to realise the work of artists who are more often than not the barometers of our times.

We are particularly pleased to partner Melbourne International Arts Festival under the artistic direction of Kristy Edmunds in a rich suite of projects across Arts House at Meat Market and North Melbourne Town Hall and beyond. (p30 to 44).

At a vital time in Australian history murundak draws together The Black Arm Band – a musical ensemble performing and celebrating Indigenous contemporary music at Hamer Hall over two nights to close this years Festival. Part social memoir, part musical documentary murundak etches an important yet somehow secret artistic legacy into our collective cultural memory.

Britain’s Stan’s Cafe uses 33 tonnes of rice to ‘gather’ the population of the Pacific Rim under one roof for their latest performance installation.

William Yang returns to Melbourne with Objects for Meditation. In this beautiful and atmospheric work, Yang brings stories to life in a uniquely intimate monologue accompanied by his own photography.

Beyond Melbourne International Arts Festival the relationship between the urban environment and arts practice is examined in URBANology – with works by Arena Theatre Company (Skid 180), Robert Hylton Urban Classicism from the UK (Verse) and local artists (Morganics, Wickid Force) whose work is inspired by street culture.

Le Parkour, Free Running or Yamakase is also present in URBANology with an explosive demonstration from local group Trace Elements. Equal part sport and urban dance this discipline is directly inspired by a relationship to the built environment.

The title of acrobat’s world premiere smaller, poorer, cheaper belies the rich talents of this astonishing ensemble. Those who witnessedacrobat on their last visit to Melbourne will not want to miss the return of this unique group of artists after a three year break.

We continue our commitment to supporting local companies presenting provocative works from Chamber Made, Not Yet Its Difficult, Circa, Peepshow, version 1.0, Wells and Thomas, Panther, Callum Morton and David Pledger, TekniKunst and Melbourne Workers Theatre.

Culture LAB – Arts House tactical initiative in partnership with Arts Victoria to provide artists and companies with the necessary resources to boldly conceptualise and develop new artistic work hits its stride providing time, space and money to more than 20 artists.

Please join us on the journey through art in a dry climate.

Arts House