Emerge Cultural Network (Emerge)

Khaled Abdulwahab (front) and Mohamed Komba (rear) of African band Diafrix, The Age article (pic by Simon Schluter)
Khaled Abdulwahab (front) and Mohamed Komba (rear) of African band Diafrix, The Age article (pic by Simon Schluter)

Read The Age article - "Making the Audible Visible" on Multicultural Arts Victoria's Emerge program

Read The Age Article "Making The Audible Visible", an article by Mary O’Brien profiling the innovative Emerge program at MAV...article, The Age, 29 Jan 2007

Multicultural Arts Victoria over the past three years has been steadily developing the Emerge Cultural Network (Emerge). 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. 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. 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 is coordinated by Anita Larkin (MAVs Project Officer) and Connect the youth component of Emerge is coordinated by Khaled Abdulwahab (MAVs Youth Officer).

Emerge successes

  • 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 Anita Larkin, Projects Officer at MAV on projects@muticulturalarts.com.au or
  • Khaled Abdulwahab at MAV on youth@multiculturalarts.com.au