Emerge Cultural Network

Multicultural Arts Victoria has been steadily developing the Emerge Cultural Network (Emerge) since 2006.

Emerge is an innovative mentor, youth and regional outreach community cultural development program for emerging CALD refugee artists and communities in Victoria.

EMERGE is the infrastructure that supports three unique community driven cultural projects Visible, Connect and Emerge Outreach.

Community Consultation

Emerge developed in response to ongoing community consultations with emerging refugee communities across Melbourne that have identified the need for increased participation and opportunities in the arts.

Emerge achieves this through linking emerging artists and communities with established professional artists, skilled facilitators and each other. Emerge is a important core of the work of Multicultural Arts Victoria.

Case Study

Case Study Emerge Festival (formerly the refugee and Asylum Seekers festival).

Download case study

In the press & Report

Read the Age article "Making the Audible Visible" on Multicultural Arts Victoria's Emerge program, 29 Jan 2007. You can also download an Emerge Report from 2007.

Emerge Successes

Emerge has had many successes and this year has received federal support from the Australia Council for the Arts and Playing Australia plus support from Arts Victoria, Victoria Multicultural Commission, VicHealth, Adult Migrant Education Services, City of Yarra, Freeza and other stake holders.

Emerge artists Nicky Bomba and Dereb Desalegn performed WOMADADELAIDE 2006 then invited to WOMAD in Reading in the UK then presented at WOMEX in Spain

Emerge artists performed main stage at Hamer Hall for the MIX IT UP program 2006

Emerge artists ( Lamine Sonko and Khaled Abdulwahab) received VCA scholarship

MAV was the proud recipient of the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) ambassador award which acknowledged the organisations outstanding contribution to communities and artists in Victoria in particular our work with emerging and refugee communities.

More Information

For more information contact the Projects Officer at Multicultural Arts Victoria on projects@muticulturalarts.com.au.

Selected Emerge Festival Events

Emerge Festival 2010 From Aftica to the Far East, from the traditional to the contemporary, from the emerging to the established, music, dance, visual arts, exotic foods, ancient crafts and ceremonies. Emerge Festival is a dynamic celebration of Victoria's many rich and undiscovered refugee and emerging cultures...more.

Professional Development Sessions for Artists - Know the Law (Music copyright and contracts) Attend this professional development session 'Know the Law' concerning music copyright and contracts...more.

Visible Concert @ the Arts Centre (Free) Be part of a musical revolution on Sunday July 26th as contemporary and traditional African cultures come together in a massive showcase at Hamer Hall to launch the annual Visible CD. ...more.

Refugee Week Forum at Love Burma Love Freedom With an inspiring backdrop of the Love Burma Love Freedom exhibition, the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria is hosint an important forum during Refugee Week to discuss the plight of the Burmese people on the Thai/Burmese border...more.

Emerge Festival - Main Event Attracting capacity audiences in past years, Emerge Festival commemorates the United Nations World Refugee Day and celebrates Refugee Week in Australia. From Africa to the Far East, from the traditional to the contemporary, from the emerging to the established, music, dance, visual arts, exotic foods, ancient crafts and ceremonies...more.

Love Burma Love Freedom (Emerge Festival: Visual Art Exhibition) Love Burma Love Freedom is...about the rich culture of the South East Asian country...the people and culture of Burma." Andrea Draper, digital artist...more.

Emerge Festival 2009 Presented and produced by Multicultural Arts Victoria, this dynamic arts festival celebrates Victoria's many diverse refugee and emerging cultures with a series of amazing performances and unique cultural experiences around Melbourne from 16 June to 26 July...more.

Emerge Festival Main Event @ Fitzroy Town Hall Be part of this massive cultural celebration as the magnificent Fitzroy Town Hall opens its doors and closes off the street for 2 non stop stages of world music, a vibrant cultural marketplace, the aromas of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, tasty authentic foods from all corners of the globe ...more.

Stories of an African Australia Short Film Screenings @ ACMI Cinemas, Federation Square This exciting film project has provided a voice and platform for emerging young artists from African refugee and culturally diverse backgrounds. Five short films created by and featuring the young African artists and performers ...more.

Visible Concert @ The Arts Centre (Hamer Hall) Be part of a musical revolution on Sunday July 20th as contemporary and traditional African, Pacific, West Papuan and Indigenous cultures come together in a massive showcase concert at Hamer Hall to launch the annual Visible CD ...more.

ABC Music Deli Concert @ Iwaki Auditoruim Hosted by ABC Music Deli’s Paul Petran, this beautiful concert will feature sweet vocal harmonies and acoustic sounds from the African continent featuring Valanga Khoza (South Africa), William Kadima (Congo) and St.Bakhita’s Sudanese Community Choir...more.

The Journey: From Ancient Ethiopia to Contemporary Melbourne An exhibition by Befekir Kebede, Sutueal Bekele & Tamirat Gebremariam @ 45 Downstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. A first time collaborative exhibition by three extraordinary Ethiopian born visual artists now resident in Melbourne, ...more.

Made in australia (photographic exhibition) An Exhibition about Power, Complacency and Consequence by Viv Mehes Launching Refugee Week in Victoria on June 16th, this much anticipated exhibition has at its heart, stories of Asylum Seekers staying strong with dignity. ...more.