Jack Hayes | March 23, 2022
Our city’s most famous cultural institutions will come to life with a weekend of late-night programming as part of a new push from the Victorian government to stimulate inner-city spending.
Art After Dark Melbourne will, among other things, see people like the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Fed Square, the Arts Center Melbourne and the Melbourne Museum extend their opening hours to 6 p.m. 01.00 from 13 to 15 May.
Inspired by Europe’s Night of Museums, the concept is expected to inject millions of dollars into the economy as tens of thousands of visitors gather in Melbourne’s CBD for a mix of free and paid experiences, including visual and performing arts, public programs, installations, live music , food and drinks.
Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said it would be crucial to recreate our city and its many cultural organizations outside their traditional prisms in order to maintain Melbourne’s demands as the country’s creative capital.
“Our investment in this great new event is to support jobs in the creative sector and tourism, while offering yet another exciting reason for Victorians to rediscover all that Melbourne’s nightlife has to offer,” Mr Pearson said.
“Art After Dark Melbourne will bring tens of thousands of people into the CBD and bring a significant boost to hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout the city.”
Held in partnership with Visit Victoria, Art After Dark Melbourne will also provide a vital platform for Melbourne’s hard-hit creative industries as they continue through their post-COVID recovery phase.
For more information: visitvictoria.com/artafterdark •