Your premier LGBTQIA+ arts and culture festival 19 JAN – 9 FEB 194 events • 22 days midsumma.org.au 2020 1 2 3 #midsumma midsumma.org.au Welcome About Midsumma Judy Small Aaron Martin Foley MP Sally Capp Rachel Slade Midsumma Festival Co-Chair Minister for Creative Industries Lord Mayor of Melbourne Chief Customer Experience Officer & Midsumma Festival is Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural O’Shannessy Minister for Equality Executive Co-Sponsor, NAB Pride organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, Midsumma Festival Co-Chair performers, communities and audiences. In Victoria, we begin every year with a The colour and joy of the Midsumma Festival We’re back again this year and we’re looking celebration of pride. shines in January and the City of Melbourne forward to another successful Midsumma Every January, Midsumma Festival expands over 22 days of summer Welcome to Midsumma Festival 2020! We are thrilled to welcome you with an explosion of queer events that spring forth from the welcomes the brilliant atmosphere and Festival. It’s always a great time of year to on behalf of the Midsumma board as its first co-chairs. We recognise Each Midsumma, Victoria’s LGBTIQ underground, fringe, and mainstream, at the very forefront of local, community pride it brings. connect and celebrate with our community. the amazing contribution to the festival of our predecessor John communities come together to celebrate national and international queer culture. The Midsumma Festival Caldwell and assure you we will do our best to fill his rather large shoes. and share their lived experience through More than 284,000 people took part in the As we enter our eighth year of partnership program shares with you the lived experiences of those voices at the an eclectic program spanning exhibitions, 2019 festival, with 118,000 enjoying the we continue to witness growth in festival margins, the expression of queer history, and the celebration of new Midsumma is 33 years old and the program prepared by our fabulous theatre, cabaret and music, to film, dance, Midsumma Carnival at Alexandra Gardens. attendances and the deepening of the rich ideas that come to life through world-class art and performance. Midsumma team is as exciting, challenging and affirming as ever. spoken-word and social events for all ages. stories being shared. Congratulations to the Each year the curated Midsumma Presents component goes from This festival unites people through arts and Our festival program is made up of diverse art forms and genres, Midsumma team for putting together such a strength to strength, highlighting new creative voices and important The Midsumma Festival kicks off our culture and brings our city to life. Please including visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, diverse and exciting program of events. stories that might not otherwise be seen or heard. Following on state’s cultural calendar with a diverse come and enjoy fabulous music, film and parties, sport, social events and public forums. Featuring 194 events from the tremendous success of the signature project BODY last showcase of work by more than 5000 dance, the talks and sports and everything At NAB, we continue to be advocates of in 2020, with involvement by over 5000 culture-makers in over 94 year we are thrilled to again produce a mini festival within a festival, artists featuring nearly 200 events across that is Midsumma. inclusion for sexuality and gender diverse different venues across Melbourne and greater Victoria – ‘Queer Unsettled’. This project will shine the light on diverse Queer Melbourne and regional Victoria. communities. We strive to build an inclusive to anticipated audiences of over 284,000. The City of Melbourne cherishes our perspectives from across our region of the world. environment for our employees and This year is extra special with Pride March reputation as a welcoming and inclusive Although the primary three-week festival is held in summer each customers where everyone can be their We hope you will take the opportunity to take in as much of it as your celebrating its 25th anniversary, giving us a city. We encourage fairness and respect and year, we work year-round to provide artists, social-changers and whole self, regardless of how one identifies. bodies, minds and hearts can manage. Sleep? What sleep? Come and chance to reflect on how far we have come have proudly supported Midsumma for many culture-makers with support and tools to create, present and This year, we’re focussing on unlocking the celebrate our diverse and wonderful community with us from Carnival in the journey for equality and inspiring us to years. By making visible, and celebrating promote their work. power of intersectional stories. to Pride March and beyond – there is much to discover! build upon a history of achievement. countless stories, Midsumma encourages Over 33 years we have evolved with our communities and respect for people of all backgrounds. To all the volunteers and artists, thank you for Happy Midsumma Festival 2020! The Victorian Government is proud to partner repositioned ourselves as a relevant cultural influencer and thought injecting the festival with energy and passion. with events such as Midsumma Festival, as Almost half of the events are free and leader, while keeping learning and diversity at our heart. We have I look forward to joining the festivities. one of the many ways we are supporting attendance numbers continue to grow. experienced rapid growth in audiences, breadth and scope of artist our LGBTIQ communities. Celebrations For everyone attending, whether it’s your and community engagement, and depth of artistic partnerships. I congratulate the organisers and wish all like Midsumma send a loud message, that first time or if you’ve lost count, we hope taking part, a spectacular Midsumma 2020. While we stay committed to our roots, we have matured to become in Victoria – who you are is not only good that you continue to celebrate your true one of Australia’s most significant queer arts organisations, enough, it is worth celebrating. authentic self. supporting generations of LGBTQIA+ cultural voices, developing A huge thank you and congratulations to Happy Midsumma! artists and facilitating important artistic conversations that help everyone involved in this year’s program shape queer art and culture for the future. – from the staff and volunteers, to the Welcome to Midsumma Festival in the new decade. performers, the artists and the audiences who bring their sparkle and joy to Midsumma each year. 4 5 CEO About This Guide Welcome Acknowledgement Cover Image Navigating Event Listings of Country Thank you to the Midsumma 2020 cover artist, Elwyn Murray, and faces Midsumma acknowledges that (clockwise): Rainbow Chan, Stone Subgenre Cabaret Access Aboriginal Australians are the first Motherless Cold, Sally Goldner peoples of these lands. We pay our and Joel Creasey for representing respects to all Aboriginal Australians, Midsumma Festival 2020. The artwork Leather Lungs: Son past, present and emerging, and we was selected as part of a competitive recognise their continuing spiritual tender process. Elwyn Murray is a Title and cultural connection to the land. Melbourne-born Toronto-based visual of a Preacher Midsumma Festival takes place artist. His creative practice combines between High Summer and Late engraving, embroidery, works on paper, Summer according to the Wurundjeri video and interactive installations. calendar of seasons, on whose land elwynonline.com A master of falsetto and stiletto much of this festival is taking place. Karen Bryant with a phenomenal vocal range Chief Executive, Midsumma Festival spanning over four octaves, this Faces of Aboriginal Melbourne Recital Centre - Primrose daring deviant marries savage wit, Welcome to Midsumma 2020! Location Pride Midsumma Potter Salon, Southbank outrageous innuendo, and a voice Why are festivals so important? Well, at their very core, festivals share stories and our stories are Festival 2020 Date 31 Jan Duration 1hr to die for, to drag you screaming the keepers of our history, the celebrations of our At the 2019 Victorian NAIDOC Pride with laughter into an explosion of present and the change makers of our future. Time Fri 7pm Night, two people were crowned powerhouse party anthems by The Midsumma is about diverse communities, the Faces of Aboriginal Pride for Tickets $31 full | $25 conc Midsumma Festival 2020. The Weather Girls, Aretha Franklin, and creatively celebrating inclusion in the most Warnings meaningful of ways, letting new ‘voices’ move celebratory night showcased Aboriginal Stone Motherless Cold Latecomer lockout | Drug references Tina Turner. Description and Torres Strait Islander performers aka Tré Turner us, challenge us, and entertain us. Presented by Presented by Ben Anderson and and emerging community leaders as "The voice of our generation." Laid out before you is a smorgasbord of cultural they battled it out for the crown. Melbourne Recital Centre treats. So, leap beyond known fancies, indulge - WeekendNotes in new experiences, meet new talents and share We are proud to introduce to you Image credit Image: by Sanjeev Singh new perspectives. the winners for 2019/2020: Stone Motherless Cold aka Tré Turner and Please pass on, or recycle this guide responsibly Thanks to everyone who has helped bring this Astro aka Adam Francis. program to you, especially of course to all the thousands of artists and event producers whose stories, creativity and talent passionately fill the pages that follow. Symbol Key Disclaimer Midsumma makes every effort to ensure all We are thrilled to present this program to you. If Astro aka Adam Francis Wheelchair access English no barrier this is your first Midsumma, welcome and Happy details are correct at the time of printing, however, details are subject to change where Midsumma! For those of you who have long been Auslan interpreted Open captions members of our family, we hope you will deepen Stay in Touch necessary and without notice.