FUSE Autumn 2022

FUSE Darebin is Back and Stronger Than Ever March 11 - 27 2022 FUSE is a contemporary, multi-arts festival that turns the City of Darebin into a platform for local artists and performers to highlight their rich, artistic talent. FUSE takes place every Autumn and Spring, and this Autumn, from 11–27 March, Darebin’s streets, parks, venues, theatres, galleries and public spaces will be transformed by FUSE into zones of art, culture and creativity.

FUSE Autumn 2022 shines a light on how the festival supports artists and in turn is influenced by Darebin locals. All the events and projects within the festival are artist driven, enabling a broader and more diverse artform approach. FUSE encourages the community to discover the surprising and unexpected in their local neighbourhood.

According to the City of Darebin’s Mayor, Cr Lina Messina : “I am incredibly inspired by the FUSE program this year. It showcases not only the work of our amazing artistic community, but also how the festival continues to support those artists during a turbulent couple of years. As an artist-led festival, FUSE captures the essence of Darebin’s vibrancy, creativity and inclusivity. I’m excited to see our public spaces transform into places where the community can come together to celebrate the exciting talent that exists across our multicultural city.”

Festival-goers’ first taste of the festival will be the Molly Hadfield Social Justice Oration and FUSE Opening Party on 11 March at Darebin Arts Centre. Featuring an oration by Yumi Stynes, an Australian television and radio presenter, podcaster and author, the oration will celebrate International Women’s Day, and is sure to be a beautiful tribute to Molly Hadfield OAM, an inspiring local who worked tirelessly for social justice.

On the same, also at the Darebin Arts Centre, there’s the FUSE Autumn 2022 Opening Party , curated by MC Queen Acknowledgements AKA Nartarsha Bamblett, a proud Yorta Yorta, Gunai Kurnai, Walpiri and Wiradjuri woman. Expect a line-up of surprise guests and DJs from the local multicultural and multidisciplinary arts community, coming together to celebrate shared resilience, healing and connections.

Made in Rezza is an exhibition reflecting the artistic community that flourishes in Darebin, and the suburb of Reservoir in particular. During the festival, from 11–27 March the exhibition will display 15 artworks in 15 Reservoir shopfronts by 15 local artists. The artworks pay tribute to everything Rezza, including the suburb’s unique domestic gardens, public green spaces and quirky architecture.

Hi REZ is a series of music pop ups in Reservoir led by young programmers, tech crew and performers. Between 20-40 young and emerging musicians, rappers, spoken word artists and singers will perform over ten days from 18-27 March, in locations surrounding Reservoir Station on Edwardes Street and Broadway.

Works commissioned by FUSE for the festival include: I Liked It, But...I Didn't Know What The F#!K It Was About , on 15 & 16 March, by acclaimed dancer and performer Joel Bray . At Northcote Social Club, audiences can enjoy some tunes amid a pub trivia format about the craziest stuff Joel’s experienced on and off the stage.

Anything You Can Do , on 11 & 13 March at Northcote Chalice, is a show by experimental theatre company Pony Cam. They’ve teamed up with a radical group of Darebin baby boomers to make a show about time, grief, sex and regret. An Uncertain Time , by Dr Sarah Austin and Co, is a sensory theatre performance for babies and their carers, taking place from 23-27 March at Northcote Town Hall.

On 20 March at Northcote Social Club, Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung artist Neil Morris presents We Are Song, We Are Dreaming, We Are Country , a compelling blend of music performance, story and conversation featuring a powerful line up of First Nations song people.

On 27 March, the FUSE closing party, Out of the Park Picnic , takes place at Edwardes Lake Park. Co-presented with MAV and curated by local artist and storyteller Neda Rahmani , this free outdoor concert features top local musicians and talent including soul singer Kylie Auldist and a wide variety of dancing and drumming ensembles. This promises to be a huge event celebrating 100 years of recreation at Edwardes Lake Park, as well as the rich variety of Darebin’s multicultural identities.