Download May 2010 Get lost in the arts with a Melbourne cultural escape

CULTURAL
CAPITAL
MEDIA RELEASE
May 2010
Get lost in the arts with a Melbourne cultural escape
Melbourne will flex its cultural muscles again this winter with a show-stopping line up of inspiring
international exhibitions, theatre productions and musical spectaculars, festivals, events and cultural
delights.
Reinforcing its reputation as Australia’s leading cultural destination, Melbourne will host two of the nation’s
largest exhibitions as part of this year’s eagerly anticipated Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, one of
the biggest events on the Australian arts calendar.
In a Melbourne exclusive, European Masters: Städel Museum, 19th-20th Century brings to the National
Gallery of Victoria (NGV International) more than 100 works from 70 of the world’s most influential artistic
luminaries, including Monet, Cézanne, Renoir, Degas and Picasso, as well as some – such as Munch,
Beckmann and Klinger – whose work is rarely seen in Australia. Opening on June 19, this is the first time
this extraordinary collection from Frankfurt’s Städel Museum is to be displayed outside Europe giving
visitors a rare opportunity to engage with modern art from seven of Europe’s major art movements.
In a second artistic coup, Tim Burton: The Exhibition will open at the Australian Centre for the Moving
Image (ACMI) on June 24, coming direct from New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Step inside
Burton’s magical world and find out what makes the director of Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice and Alice
in Wonderland tick, with more than 700 examples of rare and never-before-seen photographs, paintings,
drawings, puppets, storyboards and costumes on show.
Further magic is to be enjoyed on Melbourne’s stages this winter. Theatregoers will be spoilt for choice with
a whole troupe of mesmerising musicals at Melbourne’s historic theatres.
The young and young at heart will be treated to a ‘spoon full of sugar’ with the latest blockbuster show from
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh: Mary Poppins, which takes centre stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre from
July 29. The Australian debut of this Broadway and West End stage spectacular has won the hearts of
audiences worldwide with its joyous mix of singalong songs from the much-loved 1964 Disney film.
Elsewhere 1950s street gangs, ‘80s leg-warmers and 60s-style beehive hair-dos will take to the stage for
popular musical classics West Side Story (Regent Theatre), Fame – The Musical (Regent Theatre) and
Hairspray (Princess Theatre).
Film buffs will be able to indulge in a feast of more than 300 fabulous films from more than 50 countries
over 18 days, plus an array of forums and panel discussions with filmmakers, at the Melbourne
International Film Festival (22 July – 8 August).
Meanwhile, design aficionados can take delight in more than 75 design events throughout Melbourne and
regional Victoria as part of the State of Design Festival’s program of awards, exhibitions, forums,
workshops and markets (14-25 July).
Culture buffs can find further inspiration in a broad selection of other exhibitions and events including
Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition at Melbourne Museum (until 17 October) and Australian Made: 100 Years of
Fashion, a stunning collection of fashion and accessories from the 1850s to the 1950s at NGV Australia
(until 23 January).
Winter is also the ideal time to explore Melbourne’s myriad lanes and arcades for all manner of hidden
treasures: edgy clothes labels, eclectic jewellery, one-off homewares, tucked away cafes and underground
bars.
The packed winter program cements Melbourne’s position as the cultural capital of Australia, with annual
events including the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the
Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Melbourne Jazz Festival, the Melbourne Chinese New Year
Festival and the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.
With so much to see and do, tours are a great, time-efficient way to explore Melbourne’s attractions and
landmarks, accompanied by a passionate local expert. Explore the city’s lanes and arcades, its many small
art galleries, its favourite music stores, its best shops or even learn photography as you go with the city’s
best small tour operators.
Media contacts: Emma Miller and Kylie Miller, Senior International Media Officers, Tel: +61 3 9653 9814;
Email: [email protected]
Corporate website: www.tourismvictoria.com.au
Consumer website: www.visitmelbourne.com