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Arts spice up summer

Arts spice up summer

The Arts Precinct will burst into life this summer with the new five-week ‘SummerSalt’ festival kicking off on January 16.

Members of Melbourne’s arts consortium have combined for the very first time in a bid to establish an entirely outdoor event, which will offer a mixture of free and low-cost arts activities and shows.

The initiative has been made possible by a significant funding contribution from the Victorian Coalition Government, with the remainder of required funding being made up by corporate and philanthropic support.

The Melbourne Recital Centre hosted a corporate partners program in July, with organisers calling on members of the arts and business community to sponsor the event.

Speaking at the presentation, the festival’s director Kirsten Siddle said the vision was to transform the concept of the renowned Sturt St Garden Party into a precinct-wide experience.

“The garden party completely changed the feeling and atmosphere of that part of the precinct,” she said.

“We want to broaden that same vision and enliven Southbank’s streets and completely amplify the precinct during summer.”

Visitors to SummerSalt festival will weave their way through Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, taking in music, art installations, massed dance, circus and puppetry classes, as well as theatre, aerial dance and circus performances.

The annual event is expected to attract more than 150,000 local, national and international visitors to Southbank and provide a $5 million boost to the Victorian economy.

The festival will also coincide with major sporting events including the Australian Tennis Open, the Cricket World Cup and the Asian Cup Soccer Tournament.

SummerSalt is scheduled to conclude on the same date as the popular all-night cultural event White Night.

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