Celebrating diverse LGBTQIA+ journeys and communities, Midsumma will spotlight an array of performances, exhibitions, talks, and social events. It will showcase preeminent queer arts and cultural festivities with artists from far and wide.
There are 194 events in the Midsumma programme with over 5,000 culture-makers involved across 98 venues around Melbourne and its outer suburbs.
“Festivals are so important, because at their very core they share stories and our stories are the keepers of our history,” Midsumma CEO Karen Bryant says. “Midsumma Festival is about celebrating diverse communities, in their own voice, and letting new voices move us, challenge us and most importantly entertain us.”
This year, Midsumma will present the 2020 major project 'Queer Unsettled', a provocative programme clawing at the themes of colonisation through live music, multidisciplinary installations, and new work exhibitions. The line-up includes 'Drag Race' Thailand darlings in 'Nocturnal x Midsumma: Lunar New Year Disco'.
Also, stories from Pacific womxn of colour and Indigenous femmes through movement and music in 'Blow' and 'Famili', the unpacking of 'Daddy' issues through a queer lens, stories through carving, tattooing and printmaking in 'Dark Sepia', and 'The Sky After Rain' featuring true stories of queer Iranian diasporas.
Audience favourites such as the Midsumma and Australia Post Art Award exhibition and the Midsumma Extravaganza (starring Bob Downe, Kirsty Webeck, Tom Ballard, Nath Valvo and more) will return. 'Power', an homage to queer women and non-binary Melbourne musicians, features imbi the girl and Handsome, and four Australian finalists take to the stage in the Queer Playwriting Award Showcase at Gasworks Arts Park.
With seven selected festival hubs and a curated family programme, audiences will be treated to arts and culture across every night of the event.
Of course, the Midsumma Carnival will kick things off (with an expected attendance of around 110,000) and the Pride March will show that marching for pride is more important now than ever before.
Check out the full programme here.
