Winter in Fed Square 2016

Winter in Fed Square 2016

Fed Square, the heart of Melbourne and home to innovative arts, culture and community programming, is set to become the centre for a celebration of winter.   Winter in Fed Square will commence on Wednesday 1 June and feature a range of events, installations, exhibitions and performances that will connect locals, visitors and families alike, taking place all throughout the square until Sunday 17 July.

The Light in Winter

1 June – 17 July

The Light in Winter program, starts with the third Kirra Illuminating Glass Award (KIGA), established by Kirra Galleries in 2014.  Two awards, the most significant glass awards in Australia, will be announced at a glittering event on Wednesday 1 June to officially launch Winter in Fed Square. The award criteria notes that pieces entered must re-invigorate the use of art glass when combined with a light source as an art form. Kirra Galleries is located in the Atrium at Fed Square, and this year the award has attracted ­­­­­70 entries. Entries, including the winners, will be exhibited at Kirra Galleries for the month of June. 

At the heart of the six week celebration of art, music and performance is The Light in Winter program, now in its 10^th year and curated by Arts Luminary Robyn Archer.  Archer brings together the Footscray Community Arts Centre, the Koorie Heritage Trust and a raft of incredible artists, creating an innovative, inclusive and exciting program of events.  With something happening every day, whether musical performances, storytelling, Friday night concerts, DJs or morning meditations around the campfire, there is something to appeal to all tastes and sensibilities.

Indigenous artist Reko Rennie's amazing light projection, last seen during White Night 2016, will return after popular acclaim from Thursday 2 June until Sunday 5 June. 

An inflatable Sonic Light Bubble, created by Melbourne-based, award winning art and design practice ENESS, will be debuting at Fed Square as part of the Winter program.  A giant, inflatable see-through dome with motion responsive LED lights on the outside, the bubble will transform its space into a fun and interactive experience. 

The Square really will come to life with both modern and traditional light sources bringing warmth and colour to Melbourne's heart.

Campfire

Thursday 2 June – Sunday 17 July

Fitting with the traditions of many cultures, the Campfire is central to the winter celebrations.  Located in the Square, the Campfire will be officially lit on Thursday 2 June with an Indigenous Welcome to Country and will burn continuously for the duration of the winter program.  At the 2 June launch, Mission Songs Project, curated by Jessie Lloyd, will be joined on stage by Indigenous artists Archie Roach, Lou Bennett and Emma Donovan and accompanied on guitar and vocals by Monica Weightman and Robert Champion for a very special event.

The Campfire will be the centre of live performances, storytelling, learning and sharing around the campfire every Thursday and Friday night over the course of the celebrations (2 June – 17July).   

Winter in Fed Square – return of the annual Indigenous Campfire

Winter Solstice Celebrations

Saturday 18 June

In keeping with the pagan ritual that signifies the rebirthing of the sun, the Winter Solstice celebration is taking place on Saturday 18 June, the Saturday closest to the shortest day of the year.  Traditionally the winter solstice sparks new hope and the celebration of increasing light.  With Fed Square at the centre of light and fire in the heart of Melbourne, the significance of this ancient celebration will not be lost on those who attend this popular annual event.

The evening of the Winter Solstice celebration will feature some specific installations, performance and roving artists, sharing their vision of the world through the lens of the modern world.  In the Upper Square, Tanja Beer's installation, Refugium, will feature Japanese bonsai Kokedamas suspended from recycled wooden archways. 

RAWCUS, a critically acclaimed ensemble of performers, will be encouraging participants aged 13 – 25 years old into an artistically rich space to explore identity and self-expression through performing, visual art disciplines and collaborative art making approaches whilst surrounded by suspended high poles displaying provocative imagery.

The Australian Performing Arts Network (APAN), a global dance teaching and performance community, will be roving the square performing their new work about climate change.  This piece will feature an inflatable iceberg, illuminated from within and featuring large scale, interacting puppets.  This piece will be impressive, memorable and highly topical.

The Luminous Lunas will be roving and performing a themed work on fire and ice.  Pop up shops, performances, exhibitions, workshops and even a giant musical instrument – the Giant Theremin – created by Melbourne's own Robin Fox, will create even more sound, colour and movement in the heart of the city.

River Rink in Fed Square

Saturday 18 June – Sunday 17 July

Following on from its great success in 2015, River Rink in Fed Square is destined to become a popular destination as the Yarra River's terrace is transformed to a sensational site of skating fun.  The open air rink will bring a touch of the northern hemisphere to our cool, southern climes as happy skaters of all ages can experience the joy of skating outdoors.

River Rink in Fed Square will be open from 18 June to 17 July, 10am – 10pm every day, and skaters of all levels are welcome.   

There is something happening daily at Fed Square over the course of the Winter in Fed Square celebration that runs from 1 June to 17 July, 2016.  Head to www.fedsquare.com/winter for details of the winter events or more specifically:

www.fedsquare.com/thelightinwinter for The Light in Winter program

www.fedsquare.com/riverrink for information on River Rink

Get social and stay in touch via Facebook: @federationsquare; Twitter: @Fed_Square and Instagram: @federationsquare, using the hashtag #winterinfedsquare.