Here's to a glorious, art-filled Melbourne summer for all

Summer has arrived in our glorious city, which means that the Melbourne Fringe Festival is done and dusted for another year. As the cast of High School Musical 2 famously said, “School’s out, scream and shout”. The Melbourne Fringe team is exhausted after this mammoth year (I’m sure you can relate) and ready for a big, long, mostly horizontal holiday. We’re shutting up shop from the 23 December till 27 January, so send your questions and queries by pigeon and hopefully they’ll reach the office when we reopen.

We’ll be back with an exciting new program at Fringe Common Rooms in the new year (we can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you all back with open arms and lots of hand sanitiser). In the meantime, we’ve thrown together a list of some great events and opportunities from our mates around town.

WHAT’S ON FOR AUDIENCES?

Shows and gigs in Melbourne this summer

• Freedance, Abbotsford Convent x Dancehouse – Totally free, totally COVID safe dance classes for all ages. More info here.
• Fringe Replanted, Theatre Works – Our dear southside mates at Theatre Works are opening their doors with a series of works that were scheduled for their program at the 2020 Melbourne Fringe Festival. 5-31 Jan. Get tickets here.
• Dance (Lens), Dancehouse – You can still get your digital art fix post Fringe with this excellent series of dance films. ‘Til 31 Dec.  More info here.
• Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Arts Centre Melbourne – Yesss, live music is back in a big way! Catch acts from Soju Gang who DJed at Club Fringe this year, to Missy Higgins, to Hannah Gadsby. From 8 Jan. Get tickets here.
• Comedy Republic – It’s the hottest new comedy venue in town, with comedy icons and Fringe artists galore (Michelle Brasier, Rueben Kaye, Granny Bingo and more). Get tickets here.
• Malthouse Outdoor Stage – We can’t wait to bask in the warm summer air with a cool beverage at our dear neighbours’ brand-new stage. Music and comedy galore, including Judith Lucy & Denise Scott whose show was part of the 2020 Melbourne Fringe Festival. From 21 Jan. Get tickets here.
• The Butterfly Club – This beloved venue is opening its doors with an excellent program of familiar Fringe faces (Gillian Cosgriff, Murder Village, Jude Perl and more). Get tickets here.

WHAT’S ON FOR ARTISTS?

Grants and opportunities

• Australia-Singapore Digital Residencies– A collab between the Australia Council and National Arts Council Singapore, funding reciprocal digital artistic residencies between Australia and Singapore. Apply before 15 Jan. More info here. 
• Apply to be an Australia Council Peer Assessor. Sick of applying for grants? Try assessing them instead! Applications close 2 Feb. More info here.
• 1000 x 1000: Crisis Cash – A one-off emergency payment to support independent artists in the performing arts who have been significantly affected by COVID-19. Extended ’til March 2021. More info here.
• Midsumma Open Access Event 2021 Registrations – Our open access festival friends at Midsumma are accepting stage 2 registrations until 7 March. More info here. 
• Out of Bounds: Lucy Guerin Inc & Phillip Adams BalletLab Showcase Program – An exciting new artist sharing platform presented by two of Australia’s leading dance companies. Successful applicants will receive financial and technical support, and access to rehearsal space. EOIs will open in Jan 2021.  More info here.
• Moonee Valley City Council COVID-19 Recovery Grants – Funding for local business, community groups and artists to undertake projects to help adapt to the challenges faced by the pandemic and to reconnect as a community. Apply before 21 Jan.
  More info here.
• Creative Workers in Schools – Provides the opportunity for 150 creative industry workers to undertake a six-month residency in Victorian government schools. More info here.
• The People of Cabaret Mentorship – A brilliant opportunity from The People of Cabaret (winners of Spirit of the Fringe, 2020 Melbourne Fringe Festival) for artists who are Indigenous, Bla(c)k and/or of colour, to partake in a 6-month mentorship program. EOIs are open for both mentor and mentee positions. Apply by 4 Jan. More info here.

Image credit: Midnight Mess, Melbourne Fringe Festival 2020. Photo by Duncan Jacob.