ANNUAL REPORT2020 MULTICULTURAL ARTS MULTICULTURAL ARTS VICTORIA STAFF 2020 VICTORIA BOARD 2020

Chief Executive Officer Chair Veronica Pardo Michael van Vliet PEO General Manager Deputy Chair Andy Miller Huss Mustafa OAM (until August 2020) Finance & Office Manager Symon Kohut Hung Nguyen Secretary Programming Manager Linda Petrone (until August 2020) Candy Bowers Marie Allaman

Lead Strategic Projects Treasurer Priya Srinivasan Sabrina Kahric

Administration & Design Board Members Deshani Berhardt Carolina Aguilera De Snow (until August 2020) Marketing & Chidambaram Srinivasan Communications Fiona Ford Sneha Varma Jamie Lewis Marcus Wong Creative Producers Dr Teresa De Fazio Meg Larkin Anita Larkin Board Observer OURPLE Dieu Ndenzako Event Coordinator Freyja Macfarlane MULTICULTURAL ARTS VICTORIA PATRONS Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Yeap OAM Miriam Abud Hon. Ted Baillieu AO Emerge Cultural Hubs Bendigo THANK YOU Forest Keegel Multicultural Arts Victoria would like to thank all persons who have supported or worked in Artist Services partnership with MAV and those who have very Arik Blum kindly made donations in cash and in-kind to the organisation. Project Officer All support and creativity makes the organisation Oscar Jimenez vital, ever changing and dynamic. Dorcas Maphakela MAV also acknowledges and thanks its volunteers Common Ground and interns for their tireless and passionate Coordinator contribution. Ajit Singh Chauhan We deeply value all support.

Cover image: Déjà vu by Mahla Karimian, created for Shelter 2020 Right: Qôca by Ammar Yonis, created for Shelter 2020 Next page: Layers of Change by Stefan Berhardt, created for Shelter 2020 CHAIR & CEO REPORT

On behalf of the Board and Staff of MAV, The enforced pause in our program we are proud of our achievements in 2020, delivery opened space for new dialogue which have shown how vital and necessary and opportunities for engagement with a ADVOCACY MAV is to the arts ecology in Victoria. We range of individuals and collectives who started the year with an ambitious program we supported financially and through our of transformation for ourselves and the advocacy. These relationships will pave sector, towards greater equity and justice. No the way for dynamic collaborations in the sooner had we begun to roll out our program years to come. We were also able to take the when the news of a global pandemic hit. The time to reflect on our knowledge systems impacts were immediate, with events and and how we use evidence to support our programs cancelled in the face of growing changemaking work. Through this process, uncertainty and concern about the health risks we have evolved new sector development to our communities. The underlying inequities initiatives such as Equity Planning in Culture experienced by diverse communities became (EPiC) enabling an enriched conversation with fault lines for further disadvantage. the broader creative sector about the process of transformation. The MAV team spurred into action, advocating forcefully for the payment of all artist We ended the year with an incredible online contracts and the need for dedicated funding celebration of Mapping Melbourne, in its to support artists and cultural workers whose eighth and final year, a true reflection of income sources had dried up. Communication, the resilience, strength and capabilities of information, grant support and advocacy diverse creatives in the face of tremendous became the focus of the first half of the year, professional challenges and personal as it became evident that the personal and sacrifice. We owe a debt of gratitude to all the structural issues affecting diverse creatives artists and creatives who were a part of this would lead to some of the harshest impacts extraordinary year. of the COVID-19 pandemic, including: under- unemployment and job losses, increased We acknowledge and thank the amazing MAV racism, social isolation, financial stress, team members, who rose to the challenge disproportionate accumulation of unpaid of 2020 with creativity, determination, and labour and more. Many diverse creatives did commitment. The achievements of the year, not have the option of accessing Jobkeeper, despite its many setbacks and challenges, or working from home and self-isolating and is a testament to their professionalism the financial imperative to continue working and connection to community. We also whenever possible, put them at an even thank the funders and supporters who greater health risk. backed MAV’s work in unprecedented circumstances, particularly those allies across Within this climate, MAV worked hard to the government sector who recognised the monetise its support for creatives, providing further inequities posed by the pandemic and innovative commissions programs such went above and beyond to get resources to as Shelter and Submerged that reduced communities. barriers to participation and allowed for immediate payment of artists. We worked Though challenging, 2020 has set MAV up for closely with artists to develop digital platforms the future. As we embark on a new strategic for the creation and presentation of new plan, with equity and justice at is core, we are work, building unexpected connections to emboldened to do things differently; to be collaborators and audiences across the globe. courageous and reflective;and to ensure that Programs such as Up Close and Distance whatever comes next, MAV is a critical voice Between Us enabled digital upskilling with for the empowerment of diverse creatives and long term positive impacts and engagement their communities. with the private sector. Local projects such as the Shepparton Culture Kitchen and the Bendigo Cultural Exchange (Beehive) sparked new modes of working that have launched creative microbusinesses with the potential to address many of the systemic barriers facing communities as a consequence of COVID-19 MICHAEL VAN VLIET VERONICA PARDO and the long term impacts of inequality. CHAIRPERSON & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER at a glance2020

49,702 Digital 73 Audiences New Works 41% increase in digital media reach 335 89% Artists Free Engaged Programs

67,664 Website Views

Images: Part of ‘Yellow in the Blue’ by Rachel Ang, created for Shelter 2020 MAPPING MELBOURNE worked tirelessly to support each project and to ensure Our eighth and final Mapping every artist felt comfortable Melbourne took place in presenting their work in such the digital realm with two different and unexpected months of rolling premieres ways. and releases. While its presentation changed, A positive aspect to this the ethos of Mapping method of presentation was Melbourne remained strong: inviting audiences to the placing agency in the watch party premieres that hands of culturally diverse we hosted for each project, artists; supporting - not featuring interviews with the curating- self-determined artists and curators. This was practice; and providing an a way to engage audiences uncensored platform for with the process behind the new, independent art. The works and to demonstrate 2020 program celebrated that art does not just our unique Asian/Australian effortlessly appear for public identity and highlighted consumption. We presented positive global relationships. 14 new projects including six It explored the nature of international collaborative diaspora, connectivity, and elements. the power of the creative voice during this challenging pandemic.

Many of the works responded to the personal and political ramifications of lock down and the measures introduced to restrict the spread of COVID-19. The festival enabled many artists to deep dive into creating art digitally, a steep and fulfilling learning curve for many that resulted in works of incredible quality, humanity and with a confidence amongst participating artists in working in this new way. The challenge was also MAV’s in presenting an UNCENSORED entire festival, digitally. We engaged a Digital Producer to help us navigate this terrain and MAV’s Marketing Co-ordinator became the festival’s co-producer, blurring the boundaries between content and marketing in ways that are increasingly defining the digital arts space. The team PLATFORMS

Image: Mask video still cut, courtesy of Soyoun Kim, Mapping Melbourne 2020-21 CULTURAL AGENCY who would ‘zoom’ in to scheduled meetings as a Cultural Agency (previously creative way to inspire teams “Go For Broke) is the and communities to maintain commercial arm of MAV; cohesion. a place where potential clients who are looking to MAV’s response to the book artists for events can deluge of online platforms interact with the MAV team that emerged through the to foster connections with lockdowns, has been to our community of artists. position artists’ income at Cultural Agency ensures that the centre of our model. DBU our clients understand and ensured that artists continued implement procedures to having the opportunities to make their events culturally earn as well as interact with safe. audiences in real time.

Cultural Agency comprises the Word quickly spread through following service elements: the media and by April, • Artist booking MAV artists were regularly • Programming, production & performing at zoom events curation with clients that included AMP, Department of Premier • Equity Planning in Culture and Cabinet, Theatre Network (EPiC) program. Australia as well as many • Advice and Consultation councils and small to medium enterprises. In the first week of March 2020, as the news of a In a year where artists’ growing pandemic started to income was decimated, filter in and with multiple gigs DBU was able to provide getting cancelled daily, the a stream of income, an Cultural Agency team had the opportunity to connect with foresight to predict a number new audiences as well as of things: kickstarting conversations • artist income was about to with sectors who traditionally disappear; don’t intersect with the arts • there would be a surge in - encouraging them to think online content, which would about integrating arts within be free, with no income their workplaces. flowing to the artists; and • workforces would start working from home.

On March 19, 2020, the Cultural Agency launched ‘Distance Between Us’ (DBU), a platform to deliver online performances to a range of agencies and companies working from home. DBU comprises a 15-minute performance from an artist

Home(s) Still Image by Mimo Mukii, created for Shelter 2020 EPiC strategy, organisational planning, human resources, The Equity Planning in finance, marketing, audience Culture (EPiC) program was a development, programming, sector development initiative and creative development. developed by MAV in 2020 to Our goal was to design meet the demands for cultural a comprehensive self- equity and racial justice, and assessment of arts and cultural address legacies of institutional organisations that would and structural discrimination of inform a tailored delivery of individuals and communities of the EPiC modules. The self- colour in the arts. EPiC focuses assessment also provides on challenging the practices critical insights into future that marginalize people of change management planning, colour as artists, arts workers creating pathways towards and as audiences within the structural, systemic, and Australian cultural landscape. long-lasting change. We are now piloting these programs with key arts organiations in Australia’s diversity is Melbourne. The transformation incontestable. Yet diverse and the buy-in from all levels Australians are not equitably in the organisation has been represented in our creative extremely encouraging. industries. A cultural equity approach to planning and change-making recognises the In addition, we have also abundant assets of our diverse piloted MAV’s Cultural communities. It underscores Safety Toolkit for artists and the critical importance of stakeholders which has already diversity to transform the been implemented across core infrastructure of cultural key programs and delivered organisations, enabling online. The Cultural Safety them to achieve relevance, Toolkit has wide-reaching sustainability and plurality. This implications and includes a training program was designed deep interrogation of power, from a comprehensive and how to negotiate systems international review of the of dominance with clarity, literature on cultural equity, deftness and improvisation, inclusion, evidence for with the understanding that strategies and best practice power is never absolute or examples. monolithic. Based on key ideas by leading thinkers, critical theorists and scholars To strengthen this process, from a global perspective, we also developed a Cultural the toolkit enables individuals Equity Organisational Self- to understand their own Assessment, an online, guided shifting positions within self-audit tool enabling arts power based on their subject and cultural organisations location in any given social to assess their systems and interaction. The nuance that structures through a cultural this toolkit offers for artists equity lens. Taking an of colour and organisations evidence-based approach, will have broad and far- organisations are invited to reaching consequences. identify policies, procedures We have already begun to and practices that uphold see some of these results in cultural equity or to note the empowerment of artists areas for improvement. who have used the toolkit in Some of the areas covered everyday practice. include, governance and Image: Piriye (Piri) Altraide, On Power | With Great Power, Emerge in Yarra 2019, photo by Wild Hardt TRUST protocols, ceremonies, and As well as supporting artists, rituals during these times most of whom had suffered “In a short span of for me has been extremely unprecedented losses of time we have had to difficult. You would not income and confidence in learn to adapt to a normally see a Kākahu the creative sector, Shelter very different world presented upside down. created a unique new space Unless it is still a work in for reflection and dialogue. – culturally speaking progress, as is this process of Building on this, MAV curated it is something that change.” a series of 3 live streamed would normally be -Tane Te Manu Shelter Watch Parties in very controversial.” October and November: The Home Body Connection, The Shelter Commissions What is Home Really? and Program was one of several We, Myself and I. The Watch SHELTER #1 innovations MAV initiated Parties were hosted by and during the first wave of featured Shelter artists in the COVID-19 pandemic in conversation, providing “I began weaving this Kakahu Victoria. Shelter provided audience and community (cloak) when the COVID-19 artists with support and with an opportunity to hear isolation period started, in resources to create new from and connect with the loving memory of a highly work and experiment with artists and to engage more respected elder in our Maori new modes of collaboration deeply with the works and community, who sadly passed and delivery in a digital ideas. away during this time. context. Reflecting MAV’s new strategy, Shelter responded The success of the Shelter It is an expression of my grief to the challenges of COVID program enabled MAV to and my love. I embedded time in amplifying the voices leverage further support these emotions through of artists of colour, as well from government for Shelter traditional Maori symbols and as providing opportunity to 2 during the second wave patterns which are featured expand our understanding of COVID19. Shelter 2 more throughout the piece….Te Pae of diverse lived experiences deeply explores the ways o Maumahara is presented and illuminate contemporary that the pandemic has upside down and incomplete, perspectives on Victorian compounded disadvantage expressing the emotions of multiculturalism. and the structural inequity having our worlds turned experienced by communities upside down. While stuck The program commissioned of colour. Shelter 2 has in isolation, not being able 44 talented creatives supported artists and to physically be present to to develop new works communities affected by the mourn and grieve with our spanning story, poetry, song, July hard lockdown of the families and community. sound, imagery, and film. nine public housing estates With the loss of our elders The works were released in Melbourne, to lead a self- both here in Victoria and fortnightly on the MAV determined creative recovery New Zealand (Aotearoa). website and social media process. Shelter 2 works are We as a community have from July to September. due to be released in 2021. been forced to mourn from They critically reflected home. To engage in and on a range of themes, watch the funerals of our including the reframing of loved ones through live our relationships to home streams and digital platforms and each other, navigating like Zoom. In a short span change, challenges, and of time we have had to uncertainties, and seeking learn to adapt to a very new meaning and ways of different world – culturally being. Collectively, the works speaking it is something highlighted the paradoxes that would normally be very of strength and vulnerability, controversial. Unpacking, struggle, resilience, isolation, negotiating and reimagining and community, which are how we navigate and often framed as opposing practice our cultural forces.

Image: Te Pae O Maumahara by Tāne Te Manu Mcroberts, created for Shelter 2020 Next page: Family Budget Plan by Youbi Lee (UB), created for Shelter 2020

BENDIGO REPORT to develop a vision and The result of the collaboration governance structure for was a series of 3 outdoor In 2020, MAV’s Bendigo the space, exploring the concerts held on Friday Creative producer worked possibility of a cooperative evenings in the Riverlinks with three Cultural Facilitators structure and to test what it courtyard in February and from the Hazara, South means to have a multicultural March 2020. The concerts Sudanese and Karen hub and First Nations gallery- drew on the artists’ diverse communities to steer the two actions in the Greater perspectives and connections program through the Creative Bendigo Strategy. to Yorta Yorta country to pandemic. The premise of the space is create rich and challenging that it is artist-led and that it narratives and an inspiring will provide opportunities for program of music, dance, Just as COVID-19 broke, professional development, visuals and spoken word. we opened the EmergeD capacity building and All Pasts Lead to Now exhibition at Dudley House connection between artists connected audiences to a featuring thirty artists -rapidly and with the broader wealth of cultural practices, transitioning to an online community -claiming space perspectives and experiences gallery. Other online activity and increasing visibility. and a vast amount of talent in included Artsfront Little Lunch the community. presentation and weekly zoom sessions of Emerge Craft Group to keep artists ALL PASTS LEAD TO NOW The curators were: connected. intergenerational mix of local emerging and established MAV partnered with Riverlinks artists and cultural leaders, In September, we brokered an in Shepparton to deliver All including: Neil Morris, Mellisa agreement with the owner of Pasts Lead to Now, an exciting Silaga, Aaron Stephanus, Ree the grand Bendigo Beehive and experimental regional Peric, Madi Colville Walker (the former Bendigo Mining programming and audience and Vincent Kitungano. They Exchange) and opened the engagement initiative worked collectively with two-story Bendigo Cultural supported by Creative Riverlinks and MAV through Exchange with gallery, Victoria’s Engaging Audiences all project stages to program, artists’ studios, classroom component of the Regional produce and promote the workshop space, event and Partnerships Program. shows. Relationship building gathering space. MAV is was driven by a holistic paying the outgoings on the Six local artists from First and strategic process of space with support from our Nations, Pasifika and African community engagement, partners Loddon Campaspe backgrounds living on Yorta deep listening and Multicultural Services and Yorta country, were engaged meaningful collaboration. Bendigo Venues and Events - over 6 months to lead a This process interrogated City of Greater Bendigo. challenging curatorial process and challenged decision- - a unique collaboration of making. It opened new ways We have also received some art, knowledge and culture, of working for Riverlinks to COVID recovery funds from to produce All Pasts Lead engage new audiences and Regional Arts Victoria. The to Now. In explaining how deepen engagement with Exchange has ample space they arrived at the title of members of the community. and airflow, so we have been the project, the curators It built capacity, self- able to host COVID safe described this collaboration determination and improved community events such as as “a melange of music, creative equity for local Zinda Pop-Up, Karen New song, spoken word, dance artists. Year, a South Sudanese Feast and visuals, drawing on and artist led workshops, eclectic palates and varied as well as weekly Creative backgrounds, to give Connections sessions. Shepparton something to remember for years to come. Because everyone has a Currently, the artists are history and all pasts lead to working together through now.” a series of gatherings

Image: Together 2- Acrylic on canvas, Robyn Davis for EmergeD exhibition 2020 Overall, the project was “All Pasts Lead to Now has share stories and ideas, successful and has laid been such an important develop skills in songwriting, the groundwork for stepping-stone towards more arranging, recording and to future development and cultural inclusion beyond the raise the visibility and voices collaboration between MAV, tokenistic approach that has of young people of colour Riverlinks and local diverse been prevalent over the past in the region through public and First Nation creatives. few decades. The fact that performances. the whole series was curated While two of the concerts by First Nation/POC and The group had big plans were delivered successfully, supporting those who usually for 2020 to write, record the third and final concert just watch from the sidelines, and release their debut EP. unfortunately had to be shows that we have come a However, they had to put cancelled due to the onset of long way. But there is still a this on hold due to COVID19. the COVID-19 pandemic and way to go before social and Despite the restrictions, they the ensuing restrictions. cultural equality is reflected kept busy and used some in all facets of humanity. It is downtime to develop their grassroots events like these skills in two series workshops “All Pasts Lead to Now for that give platform to artists held over Zoom with hip hop me was the beginning who just need opportunity to veteran 1/6 and lyrical poet of a very much required work with higher production and musician, Lay the Mystic. culture in terms of music. It quality than their bedrooms The workshops coincided showcased the importance or garages. The chance to with the resurgence of the of our First Nations people sharpen their skills and work Black Lives Matter movement and highlighted other out the different aspects and gave the young artists cultures found in this vastly of the business itself is a timely, supportive, and diverse town of Shepparton. why projects like this are collaborative environment to Being a musician and a kid paramount to the quality of explore the impacts of racism growing up in Shepparton, the industry.” on them both personally and I personally love seeing - CURATOR PERSPECTIVE societally, and what it means these types of things as I feel Aaron Stephanus aka 1/6, to be a person of colour living compared to other towns Namibian rapper, producer, regionally. With support of and cities, Shepparton is songwriter their mentors 1/6 and Lay the music deprived. With the Mystic, they were able to write support of organisations like authentic powerful narratives MAV and Riverlinks we’re HEARD INSTINCT and explore how they can more and more able to COLLECTIVE SHEPPARTON create their own worlds experience diverse live music in which to share stories. and learn more about our Heard Instinct Collective is a Following the workshops, First Nations people and our creative collective for young the group was inspired to other ethnicities. To me, it’s artists of colour living on Yorta program and deliver their important for everyone to Yorta country in north east own live stream performance exercise their right to enjoy Victoria. Established in 2019, series - featuring a different music and culture - and to Heard Instinct evolved from a young artist each week on the give a platform to people who series of open mic nights held Heard Instinct Instagram and don’t have the means or even in Shepparton with support Facebook. The performances confidence to pursue music and mentoring from MAV and were delivered over 4 weeks on their own and express their music industry mentors such from May 22- June 12 2020. opinions and be heard!” as 1/6, Syrene Favero and - CURATOR PERSPECTIVE Spell. The nights developed Vincent Kitungano, Congolese into a platform for young born rapper and songwriter artists of colour to learn with peers and with professional artists and producers, to

Image: Part of ‘Yellow in the Blue’ by Rachel Ang, created for Shelter 2020 “Working with 1/6 and Lay own lived experiences -to and elevate the wisdom the Mystic we learnt a lot begin a process of designing and abundance inherent in about how mindset affects creative interventions into Shepparton’s diverse food the way we write. We learnt challenging local issues of cultures. We will see new not to throw away ideas health inequity. The focus voices emerge, hear untold that make us cringe but to was on food insecurity, which stories about our histories and flip them in ways that you despite the Goulburn Valley’s reimagine a future in which can see them from another identity as a primary food culturally diverse communities perspective. These workshops producer and the ‘food bowl’ are connected through were really mind opening, of Victoria, is ironically a food. This is the legacy of very interactive, and personal. significant issue in the region. multiculturalism and an asset While the focus was on for the entire community. creativity and songwriting, we Over several months, the also had valuable lessons and women collaborated with “The departure point for discussions around situations artist, Jamie Lewis to devise this work was based on the that directly affect us, such as a creative development women’s cultural identity as the Black Lives Matter events process. The process explored understood by their place of that happened around that models for social and origin, ethnicity and heritage, time. We were lucky to have participatory arts experiences which inherently ties to this workshop safe space to that centre community self- their identity as migrants, have conversations about determination, storytelling refugees and other. They how it has affected us as and diverse food cultures have all lived and established people of colour, what we and knowledge. The women themselves in Shepparton can do to support ourselves considered how they might over a varying number of and each other, to speak share their own personal years, so moving forward, freely and openly and build stories in the contexts of I’m interested in moving empowerment of ourselves Shepparton; the project beyond the one-dimensional and others around us.” themes; their cultural roots conversations and - Ree Peric and places of origin their categorisations of cultural sense of belonging to multiple identity, to acknowledge homes their evolving cultures, and anchor the identity that they are not the other, that SHEPPARTON CULTURE traditions and roles as women their multiplicity of identities KITCHEN their rituals around cooking and sharing food with families is a fullness and not a lack. and others. Empowered As the project develops, I One of five initiatives as storytellers, the women envision a creative process supported through VicHealth’s exchanged recipes, in which the participants Art of Good Health program, cooking and ideas. For the have agency in creating the Shepparton Culture participants, the Culture artistic experiences for their Kitchen pilot was produced by Kitchen project has enabled communities and people MAV in partnership with the insight and connection, outside their communities, City of Greater Shepparton’s bonding over similarities, that are regarded by peers Active Living Department in savouring differences, the in the cultural sector as rich, 2020. Shepparton Culture discovery of new experiences, sophisticated, high-quality Kitchen established itself and new ways of looking at work.” as an exemplar project, themselves and the world. - Jamie Lewis recognising community self- determination coupled with arts and cultural practice, The project was funded as a powerful vehicle to by VicHealth to continue in tackle health inequity and to 2021- 2022. This will see the reimagine good health. women collaborating again with Jamie Lewis to bring their ideas and stories to life. 2021- The project engaged 2022 will see a new series an intergenerational, of unique participatory food intercultural team of 8 local sourcing, cooking, and eating women from diverse cultural experiences that centre backgrounds -experts in their

Image: Shepparton Culture Kitchen, photos by Mellisa Silaga RADIO REIMAGINED MAV was an integral part in UP CLOSE the production of the festival From August through to by providing organisational Within the music industry October 2020, MAV presented and technical support there are many challenges a special edition of online (together with Harmonic for CALD artists and artist radio programs for Radio Whale) for the delivery of colour. Representation Reimagined in partnership of the online concerts. and diversity are still really with the Victorian Seniors Other organisations that pressing issues nationally and Festival. These programs participated included: artists from culturally diverse provide an opportunity for Australian National University backgrounds and especially older Victorians to enjoy (Canberra), BEMAC women of colour, are severely especially curated content (Queensland), Denmark lacking from every aspect and featured live music, Festival of Voice (WA), Create of Australian music culture spoken word performances NSW, Hume Conservatorium including those behind and interviews by Zii, Soreti, of Music (Regional NSW), the scenes. Poor cultural Mindy Meng Wang, Vinod Inner West Council (Sydney), awareness within the industry, Prassana, Allara Briggs Nexus Arts (SA), Southern social-economic barriers and Pattison, Nela Trifkovic, Tablelands Arts (Regional an overall lack of networks Amadou Suso and Ajak NSW), Sydney Olympic Park and media are key concerns, Mabia, with Interviews by Authority and Western Sydney along with the fundamental Jessica Ankomah and Oscar University. issue of institutional inequity. Jimenez. Furthermore, the music industry is profoundly RAGA SERIES exposed to the coronavirus crisis. CALD artists and artists SYDNEY SACRED MUSIC of colour are in an extremely FESTIVAL 2020 REPORT The 2020 Dawn Raga Series precarious position. Up Close provided the chance for began in 2020 to nurture the MAV partnered with the people to hear the meditative talent of diverse creatives Sydney Sacred Music Festival and spiritual sounds of the by equipping them with the (Sacred Currents Inc) and 6 sitar, flute, veena, tabla and collateral needed to promote other cultural organisations voice. Presentations at dawn their work and to create new across Australia for the of Indian classical music opportunities through our delivery of an inaugural were designed by MAV in Cultural Agency. national online music festival, conjunction with Arts Centre with 3 online concerts Melbourne and our new happening across States and partner, Bunjil Place, Narre the ACT. The event featured 3 Warren (City of Casey). MAV artists based in Victoria The Series featured including: Allara Briggs Melbourne-based musicians, Pattison, Amadou Suso and Jay Dabgar (tabla), Vinod Mindy Meng Wang; and Prassana (bansuri – Indian 20 culturally diverse artists flute), Hari Sivanesan (sitar), based in other cities around Subramanya Sastry (flute), Australia. We delivered 3 Jayshree Ramachandran, online concerts with a total Indian internationals, Abhijit reach of more than 10000 Banerjee (tabla), Sugato viewers nationally and Nag (sitar) and guest artists, internationally. Parts of the Sughosh and Kitha on violin. program have been replayed Unfortunately, two events with on ABC radio National Jay and Pramantha Tagore (Sydney) such as Amadou (sitar) and Josh Bennett (sitar) and Mindy’s performances - had to be cancelled I growing the artists profile in other cities and states.

Allara Briggs Pattison, video still of Sydney Sacred Music Festival online concert 2020 V Y D ERSIT AUSPICED PROJECTS 2020 the body responding and DadaDesi (Sangam): adapting to sites; therefore Artist: Hari Sivanesan Under challenging the site, too was a crucial Artform: Multiform circumstances during the influence for the piece. The Funder: City of Melbourne onset and spread of the cast of women, most from a minority group, was pivotal COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, On the back of the acclaimed MAV worked hard to support in reclaiming the decolonised space. multi artform performing all auspiced artists to continue showcase “Dada Desi” at their creative work. We are Sangam 2019, this creative pleased that these projects Lullabies Under War: development engaged multi- could continue: Artist: Aseel Tayah disciplinary emerging and Artform: Theatre/music establishing artists for 6 A project about empathy: Funder: Creative Victoria weeks to develop projects in 2020 for an outcome in Artist: Jonathan Homsey Lullabies Under War was 2021 as part of Sangam Artform: Dance originally planned to feature Performing Arts Festival Funder: Creative Victoria performances, videos of South Asia & Diaspora A cross-art form endeavour recordings from camps and prisons, live sung lullabies, (spoken word, comedy, to see how visual and popular music, experimental choreographic practice can and the poignant voices of mothers whose experience performance, classical music shape and create a puzzle and dance). that can be pieced together of motherhood is unlike that connecting displaced and experienced here in Victoria. underrepresented people. City of Melbourne grant This work was devised by Due to the COVID-19 writing support Jonathan Homsey, whose restrictions, this work pivoted During the lockdowns, MAV heritage traces back to Homs, to community outreach with a worked in partnership with Syria and Miream Salameh focus on young children in the the City of Melbourne on who is a refugee from flats who were suffering from strategies to increase the Homs. It demonstrated how the hard lockdown. Like the number of applications documentation can shapeshift women in extreme situations for their Arts Grants from into an anthropological essay who were the original focus creatives of colour. In of two people bonded by their of Lullabies Under War, these 2020, this was a two-tiered Syrian heritage and learning children and their families approach: MAV organised about each other culturally. needed a way to express their and hosted two online grant This was an online showing on stories of struggle, fear and writing workshops focused 14 December 2020. hope and to feel connected to on this grant program, and the community. Aseel Tayah managed one-on-one What Happened in Shanghai: delivered more than 30 free follow-up sessions with the events including story time workshop facilitator, Debby Artist: Victoria Chiu with lullabies for children Maziarz. A more deliberate Artform: Dance live on Zoom. Aseel created process enabled feedback Funder: Creative Victoria online videos with Lullabies on artists’ applications as A contemporary dance, video, for children which reached they progressed. Additionaly, and live music performance 20,000 people and worked MAV created a mentoring in collaboration with Chinese with the local community program for artists of colour and Australian artists. The to organise 1500 gifts of art who are ready to deepen, work was remounted for the packs for children in the flats, organise and share their Magdalen North Laundry fundraising and arranging grant writing knowledge at the Abbotsford Convent packs of sweets and art craft by becoming workshop as part of AsiaTOPA in materials with the support of facilitators themselves. This February. This work is about family and friends. pilot program supported two new life built on the backs artists to become professional of resilient women - so the workshop facilitators: one history of female hard labour from regional Victoria and in the North Laundry was one from metropolitan particularly pertinent. Victoria Melbourne. With extensive Chiu’s practice involves focused mentoring, each

Image: A project about empathy, photo by Wild Hardt COURAGE was Miream’s first solo first Miream’s was and Australia in exhibition prints collage, video, included and and glass, on aluminium durational a collaborative talk An artist’s performance. led by discussion and a panel Safdar and Dr Shkembi Nur themes Ahmed, discussed the and identity loss, memory, of trauma to responses creative perspectives. of a variety from and the Public Self Portrait, In Exile 2015, video stills images, part of The Colour of Absence by Miream Salameh Miream by of Absence video stills images, part In Exile 2015, of The Colour Portrait, Self 2. Colour of Absence Absence of 2. Colour new of An online exhibition Miream visual artist by work co-presented Salameh, was by and Hume City Council Absence of Colour MAV. on what it means reflected the place from be absent to and the specific belong to you loss and distance qualities of This exile. that accompany 1. All the Difference with NETS with NETS All the Difference 1. Vic and PGAV collaboratively worked MAV Exhibition with the National Support Victoria Touring Vic) (NETS Galleries Association of throughout (PGAV) Victoria design an extensive 2020 to diversify to program and practice curatorial with engagement increase in artists diverse culturally and outer regional Victorian suburban public galleries. All The program, This pilot in successful , was Difference the Federal to application its RISE funding Government’s out in 2021-2022 and will roll galleries. different at four designed their own approach approach own their designed their on based the process to - a key experiences, lived to in the potential change colour of creatives engage grants. successful in writing of plenty has been There artists other from interest mentoring this pursue to keen will work and MAV program to resources more source to this capacity-building allow with and expand develop to broadening the goals of for options of the range improving colour; of creatives funding valuable to access and to and recognition; rateof the success increase in all grant creatives diverse programs. EQUALITY FINANCIAL REPORT

STATEMENT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE TREASURER’S REPORT Cash Flow The Board will continue to For The Year Ended 31 December 2020 For The Year Ended 31 The cash performance and work in 2021 and beyond to December 2020 position of MAV remain sound. ensure the financial future In the opinion of the Committee the financial report: Net cash and cash equivalents of the organisation remains healthy. It is also important to Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc at the end of the 2020 year is $1,086,801. This indicates the acknowledge the appointment (1) Presents a true and fair view of the financial (MAV) rose to the challenges of accounting firm Collins & of the 2020 pandemic to viability of the organisation’s position of Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc. as at 31 core operations and reflects Co Audit Pty Ltd. in conducting December 2020 and its performance for the year achieve an excellent result the annual audit for MAV. We end of year result. Grants and not only the attractiveness of ended on that date in accordance with Australian the core programmes offered, see our association with our Accounting Standards. subsidies of $1.15 million as auditors as crucial in enabling MAV managed to successfully but the role that MAV played in supporting its stakeholders us to continue enhancing our pivot to online activity and (2) At the date of this statement, there are reasonable - responding to the Covid governance and reporting commissions ensuring that grounds to believe that Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc. crisis with compassion and structures reflecting the artists maintain some form will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. fiscal adroitness. serious commitment of MAV to of income for their work as good corporate governance. opportunity dropped suddenly I want to thank the members, This statement is made in accordance with a away. Balance Sheet volunteers and staff for the resolution of the Committee and is signed for and on The MAV’s balance sheet work they have done over the behalf of the Committee by: With early year predictions is dominated by the cash, past year to steer us through a of significant loss, Covid short term deposit and challenging financial storm. related strategic initiatives listed equity securities. Net from a range of public sector assets at the year-end have supporters were secured remained strong at $1,192,370, to allow MAV to continue to an indication of the entity’s maintain a revenue stream of ongoing financial stability. Michael van Vliet Sabrina Kahric $1.7 million. Sabrina Kahric Chairperson Treasurer Corporate Governance Treasurer These successes reflect the During 2020, MAV continued Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc. amount of work that the senior its commitment to strong 30 April 2021 management team is putting management and good Melbourne into ensuring continued corporate governance. A key levels of funding for MAV. aspect of this is the ongoing Sound practices continue to attention by the Board and be reinforced in managing staff at MAV to all aspects available funding and these of planning and careful efforts are self-evident in the management of the financial strong financial performance position and performance of the organisation this year. of the organisation. The MAV Board played their part Net Result in a year of extraordinary resilience. The Board worked The net result for the year is a closely with the Executive in significant surplus of $238,684 anticipation of any sudden (in 2019, MAV posted a deficit changes that the pandemic, of $36,530). The bulk of this or government restrictions surplus will be for strategic would precipitate. MAV has activity into 2021 that will shown, yet again that it is support the organisation able to adapt quickly and in managing the continued creatively to the changing impacts of Covid-19 on artists world around us. and communities.

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Abbotsford Convent Old Treasury Building AMP Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia APRA PBS 106.7 FM Arts Access Victoria Peninsula Hot Springs Arts Centre Melbourne Pall Mall Nominees Arts Industry Council Victoria (AICV) Project11 Australia Council for the Arts Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) Bendigo Bank Regional Arts Victoria Bunjil Place (City of Casey) RMIT University Cinespace Sacred Currents Inc. City of Greater Bendigo SalamFest City of Greater Dandenong Sangam Performing Arts Festival of South City of Hume Asia & Diaspora City of Maribyrnong State Library Victoria City of Melbourne St.Paul’s African House City of Monash Te Karangatahi Mana Inc City of Wyndham Testing Grounds City of Brimbank The Connection – Home of Yurri Catering City of Darebin The Push City of Yarra Commonground Creative Partnerships Australia Creamy Spies Creative Victoria Kaiela Arts CultureLink Singapore Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) Dancehouse The University of Melbourne Democracy in Colour The Village Festival Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Theatre Network Australia Department of Premier & Cabinet (Victoria) Time of Art Diversity Arts Australia Vichealth Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Victorian Multicultural Commission Corporation Victorian Seniors Festival) (DHHS) Drum Theatre (Dandenong) Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils MAV would like to thank all persons who of Australia (FECCA) have supported or worked in partnership Footscray Community Arts Centre with MAV and those who have very kindly Gandel Philanthropy made donations in cash and in-kind to the Greater Shepparton City Council - Riverlinks organisation. All support and creativity Harmonic Whale makes the organisation vital, ever changing Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and dynamic. MAV also acknowledges and Kabo Lawyers thanks its volunteers and interns for their Know Your Roots tireless and passionate contribution. We LIMINAL deeply value all support. Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) Melbourne Festival Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre MPavilion Level 1, 189 High Street Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Northcote VIC 3073 AUSTRALIA (DPC) Nelson Mandela Day Commemorative PO Box 277 Northcote VIC 3070 AUSTRALIA Committee (NMDCC) T: +61 3 9188 3681 National Exhibition Touring Support Victoria (NETS Vic) E: [email protected] www.mav.org.au

Image: My COVID-19 Diary by Valentina Serebrennikova created for Shelter 2020 Back cover image: Déjà vu by Mahla Karimian created for Shelter 2020 mav.org.au