Rising (festival)
rising stylised rising citywide art festival held melbourne australia festival announced melbourne premier art culture festival replacing melbourne international art festival white night festival supported victoria state government following two attempt launch festival disrupted coronavirus pandemic rising held annually june melbourne festival received praise depth variety event first nation programming whilst also receiving critique ability capture purpose identity predecessor rising conceived coartistic director gideon obarzanek hannah fox artist previous directorial experience creative industry art festival including dark mofo melbourne festival melbourne fringe festival festival first proposed replacement melbourne international art festival white night festival received support state government agency provide million funding seeking expression interest grant local artist contribute ambitious unusual radical concept specific melbourne would contribute nighttime culture concept festival rising inaugural festival scheduled take place august delayed covid pandemic postponed march rescheduled program announced rising expected occur may june program engaged artist event intended focus sitespecific performance largescale public art new collaboration theatre dance novel lineup live music program included several installation event sitespecific area birrarung chinatown art district midtown satellite precinct stated intent developing multiple connected experience across city headline event festival installation miracle constantly repeated artist patricia piccinini exhibition utilised flinders street station ballroom first time space accessible public year may victorian government announced public health directive sevenday statewide lockdown manage effect abrupt outbreak coronavirus pandemic organiser immediately cancelled event issued refund lockdown although several site installation remained place duration festival plan relaunch festival second week june abandoned lockdown period extended leading cancellation remainder program first complete rising festival held june announcement march year program involved project event involving australian artist around per cent event announced festival incorporated program remainder previous year event deferred due venue artist availability festival rising festival include mixture music performing art dance art programming festival noted including focus sitespecific installation performance transform precinct innercity melbourne experimental work immersive ephemeral nature rising received praise breadth programming involvement first nation artist also critique towards festival overall identity stated purpose kristen hé nme commended festival extensive diverse roster describing festival appeal elevated counterpart due abundance way make city come life karen gwee similarly highlighted festival thoughtful varied approach programming sprawling freefloating typical festival although noting broad roster timeframe made festival occasionally feel atomised incohesive jane howard abc noted festival smaller gentler festival compared predecessor noting unexpected discovery small intervention positively changed shape city described fesetival misstep teething issue due underwhelming nature installation writing conversation sarah austin highlighted festival significant thrilling work first nation artist believed festival yet establish kind intervention making cultural conversation critic less positive assessment festival impact describing festival facing identity crisis cameron woodhead age praised festival extensive live music programwhich curated rising’s music director hayley percy leading role first nation artist critiqued festival stating lack articulated purpose clash established interstate festival dark mofo vivid sydney yet reconcile conflicting mission predecessor white night melbourne festival first expecting festival may refreshing change bare art calendar caused pandemic end previous festival karen van ulzen dance australia later considered festival disappointment need rethink due contrast event tone white night melbourne festival unclear name branding art festival poor weather part due winter timing music victoria award annual award night celebrating victorian music commenced