Salsa and live music at Queensbridge Square among wave of new activations to hit the city

Melbourne is set to continue in its rapid reawakening as the weather warms up, with 18 activations soon to be popping up in and around the city.

Among the City of Melbourne’s latest City Activation grant round, which will see more than $800,000 go towards supporting the upcoming events and pop-ups, is Salsa in the City at Southbank’s very own Queensbridge Square.

As well as filling the atmosphere of Southbank with live music jam sessions and dancing from September through to December, the event will also take place at Dukes Walk and Collins Landing.

“The City Activation Grants program will give people yet another reason to explore every corner of the city, with pop-up salsa dancing, music jam sessions and video and augmented reality experiences among the line-up designed to entice people in,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

The $1.75 million grant program is part of the joint City of Melbourne and Victorian Government’s $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund, and successful grant recipients will receive up to $50,000 to support the delivery of their idea.

Winter Sessions at the Queen Victoria Market precinct, Lygon St and Alexandra Gardens will farewell the wintry season this month with live music from emerging and established Melbourne musicians.

Spring will then be celebrated with Floral by the Docklands and Bike Valet which will turn the waterfront precinct into a floral wonderland with street art installations and encourage people to ride their bikes.

An augmented reality experience of the past and future of Melbourne will also be seen through Remember the Wild, and Creek Chat will acknowledge the underground Williams Creek under Elizabeth St through a sound-based public art intervention.

The council’s city activation portfolio lead Cr Roshena Campbell said the council was “doing everything [it] can to breathe new life into Melbourne.”

“We know events are driving Melbourne’s recovery, which is why we’re supporting a diverse range of new activations, performances and activities to keep visitors coming back to the city, putting dollars into local traders’ pockets,” she said.

The unique offerings set for the second half of the year are also another chance for locals and visitors to be a part of celebrating Melbourne for being the world-renowned art, music and cultural city it is. •