MPavilion extends summer program to February

MPavilion today announced an extension of its current program of free events until Sunday 17 February 2019, with more talks, workshops, performances, installations and kid-friendly experiences to be held in the Queen Victoria Gardens, Southbank Arts Precinct. The extended season supported by principal partner ANZ sees MPavilion, an initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, hosting its largest number of events since the inaugural program in 2014. Over 500 international and Australian guests from a range of disciplines, including design and architecture, art, science and technology, have been part of the MPavilion 2018/19 program, drawing over a record 120 000 visitors so far to the majestic MPavilion 2018 designed by Barcelona-based architect Carme Pinós of Estudio Carme Pinós.

To round out the program, in February MPavilion hosts international guests Ece Tankal from Barcelona, and Carmen Aguilar Wedge London, of Hyphen-Labs — representing an international team of women of colour working at the intersection of technology, art and science, for three very special events; global trend specialist Chris Sanderson of The Future Laboratory also from London to present a talk on Branded Cities supported by QICGRE; MPavilion’s MRELAY series gathering leading thinkers and doers for its final tag-team talk, The future is gender-neutral design; MPavilion’s Writer in Residence Maddee Clark hosts a workshop for First Nations writers; Esther Anatolitis, executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts, hosts a day-long critical workshop for artists; and Monash University’s SensiLab presents a performance using sounds recorded beneath MPavilion throughout the season.

Naomi Milgrom AO, Founder of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation said: “It was an incredibly easy decision to extend the 2018/19 program, making it our biggest season to-date. We couldn’t be happier that more and more people from a range of sectors and cultural backgrounds want to share and enjoy MPavilion. It further proves to us that MPavilion serves a community need as a place to come together and share ideas in the heart of the city.”

Shayne Elliott, ANZ Chief Executive Officer commented: “The work of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation and the team behind MPavilion has been instrumental in creating global connections for Melbourne and championing its international profile as a design capital. ANZ is pleased to continue its partnership with MPavilion for the fifth year running.”

February program highlights include:

MTALKS

Hyphen-Labs, the wave-making collective of women of colour based in London, New York City and Barcelona, combing art and science, come to Melbourne for three events at MPavilion. Hyphen-Labs co-founders Ece Tankal and Carmen Aguilar Wedge present ‘[Mind]map that precedes the territory’ on Wed 6 and Thu 7 Feb, 10am–4pm, is a hands-on workshop exploring memory and artificial intelligence through a mask-making activity and discussion.

In Hyphen-Labs presents ‘In emergency break glass’ on Thu 7 Feb, 6.15–7.15pm, members of the collective will discuss their global vision and their process of challenging convention.

MPavilion’s final MRELAY event for the season, The future is gender-neutral design, welcomes nine community leaders for a tag-team talk to explore how gender influences our built landscapes, hosted by JOY 94.9’s Miranda Sparks. Speakers include: Parlour founder Justine Clarke; architect Jill Garner; architect and musician Simona Castricum; artist and director of All The Queens Men, Tristan Meecham; Georgie McEncroe, founder of all-female rideshare organisation Shebah; gender studies academic Carolyn D’Cruz;Angela Bailey, president of the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives; and Nicole Kalms, director of Monash University’s XYX Lab. Supported by VicHealth and 3RRR.

MPavilion’s Writer in Residence Maddee Clarke hosts Blak writing skillshare #1: Critical non-fiction on Fri 8 Feb, 11am–1pm, an open workshop bringing together emerging and established First Nations writers for a discussion of non-fiction writing forms. This is the first of a series of writing workshops run by the Koorie Heritage Trust.

In these critical times on Fri 1 Feb, 10am–4pm, is an interactive daylong workshop for artists hosted by Esther Anatolitis, executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts, offering a space for active critique and deep reflection.

MUMA presents ‘Art organisations as sites for unlearning’ on Wed 6 Feb, 6.15–7.45pm, brings together a panel of international artists and researchers to explore the idea of unlearning as a response to socio-political pressures, as well as a book launch for Unlearning Exercises: Art Organisations as Sites for Unlearning (CASCO Art Institute, Netherlands).

Finale MTalk for the season, takes place on Sat 16 February at 11am. The Future Laboratory’s co-founder, Chris Sanderson, will be in Melbourne to present ‘Branded Cities: Can we avoid an Urban Dystopia?’ a talk bringing together trends intelligence and future-facing insights made possible with the support of long-standing partner QICGRE.

MMEETS

SensiLab presents ‘Big Earth jamming’ on Sat 2 Feb, 5.30–7.30pm, is the culmination of Monash University SensiLab’s season-long underground recording project at MPavilion. The live musical performance uses new electronic interfaces developed by SensiLab’s researchers.

Dog-walking adventures in the city with Tom + Captain on Sat 2 Feb, 10–11am, finds the popular human-canine duo leading their final city trek for the MPavilion 2018/19 season, for citizens and furry friends who want to discover Melbourne’s laneways and arcades.

MMUSIC

The cult Hope St Radio digital service broadcasts live from MPavilion on Sat 2 Feb, 1.30–3.30pm, with a DJ set by internationally acclaimed Melbourne duo HTRK.

Two events for musicians and sound artists exploring new sound technologies: Spatial audio: Applications for functional and artistic spaces on Fri 1 Feb, 4.30–6.30pm, looks at technologies beyond stereo and multichannel surround. Space and sometimes movement on Sun 3 Feb, 1–6pm, explores the new horizons that spatial audio affords musicians and composers, through a line-up of six musical acts including funk-soul group Cookin’ On 3 Burners and sound artist Lisa Greenaway. Both events are presented by Yamaha Music Australia.

On Fri 15 Feb, 6–8pm Littlefoot & Co., an organisation focusing on community engagement and creative expression, will showcase poets and artists through a spoken word and DJ performance allowing for visitors to connect, learn and have fun.

STEM events for students:

Dive into the centre of a cell with CBNS on Mon 4 Feb, 2–4pm, is an interactive workshop for high-school students exploring nanoparticles and their increasing importance to the advancement of cancer therapies. Class bookings can be made via mpavilion.org.

Middle-year math at MPavilion on Fri 8 Feb, 1–3pm, will see La Trobe University mathematicians leading interactive problem-solving activities suitable for Year 9 students. Class bookings can be made via mpavilion.org.

MPavilion is supported by principal partners City of Melbourne, the Victorian State Government through Creative Victoria, and ANZ.

Open every day from 9am to 4pm through MPavilion’s season is the onsite licensed Kiosk, which features locally sourced coffee and beverages.

All events are free and can be viewed here.

At the close of each annual program season, the MPavilion is gifted to the people of Victoria and relocated to a new permanent location within the state. Five MPavilions can now be visited in and around Melbourne.