Emerge in the West

Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) and the City of Maribyrnong presents the seventh edition of Emerge in the West, an exciting day festival of FREE multi-artform programming and community engagement on Saturday 20 May, 2017.

Held on Footscray's iconic Nicholson Street the festival encompasses a range of live music, contemporary and traditional dance, community programs, global fashion, pool competitions, children's workshops/activities and artistic collaborations.

The MAV EMERGE program is MAV's ongoing response to consultations with emerging & refugee communities wanting to increase participation in the arts.  Through the process of community cultural development, the arts build discourse and understanding of issues surrounding refugee migration and resettlement alongside increasing the social and economic contributions from our diverse communities to wider society.

Emerge in the West in the City of Maribyrnong reveals emerging African and Vietnamese arts, culture and small businesses that have been growing rapidly in Melbourne's West. Founded in 2011, this annual Emerge event triggered the foundation of the African-Australian Small Business Association (AASBA) in 2014 to represent the growing number of African restaurants and cafes in Melbourne's West.

Program highlights include Nhatty Man & Gara, One Spirit Africa Drum & Dance Company and Sonik Waves.