Melbourne’s winter cultural wonderland, RISING, is officially underway, with a packed program of 185 events for Victorians, including those in Sunbury and Macedon Ranges.
Creative Industries Minister Steve Dimopoulos welcomed the opening of the festival on Wednesday, June 7, which will run for 12 days and nights.
The festival features hundreds of local and international artists, with a range of free and ticketed events for the whole family, including ice skating, live music, theatre, art installations and more.
Mr Dimopoulos said the festival is delivering a new visitor drawcard and giving residents a reason to get out and about.
“RISING is back and it’s bringing the heat to winter, creating jobs, delivering a new visitor drawcard [and] boosting local businesses,” he said.
“[It is] giving everyone another reason to get out and experience everything Melbourne has to offer.”
Flinders Street Station’s historic top floor has been transformed by Shadow Spirit, the largest-ever exhibition of First Peoples art commissions in Victoria.
Melbourne Town Hall is hosting the immersive cinema experience called Euphoria.
Night Trade, at St Paul’s Cathedral car park, is the RISING festival hub for 2023, with a food market and free performances including DJs and large-scale puppets.
Birrarung Marr will host a super-sized ice-skating rink at Birrarung Marr, which offers a fun ice-skating experience for all ages, with dining options and firepits to stay warm on wintry Melbourne nights.
Professional lessons are also available, along with a special school holiday program of activities.
The festival is set to attract thousands of people into the city, and will provide jobs for more than 1000 event workers behind the scenes across event management, security, hospitality and more.
Details: rising.melbourne
