Following its debut last year, more than 250 local and international creatives, musicians, artists and more will take over a number of iconic Melbourne venues. The festival will feature immersive digital art experiences, and cutting-edge performances, music and talks.
This year’s theme is ‘Look through the image’, which will invite audiences to explore deeper meanings within art.
Highlights of the Now or Never programme include a return to the Royal Exhibition Building with large-scale live music and audio-visual projection works across four nights. The line-up includes multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist Eartheater, techno artist Sandwell District and Portuguese-born Danish singer-songwriter Erika De Casier.
French artist Joanie Lemercier from Studio Lemercier will present Constellations, which is a large-scale celestial formation that will hover above its own reflection on the Yarra River’s surface along Southbank after dark.
Additionally, after premiering at the Venice Biennale in 2022, DESASTRES from artist Marco Fusinato will make its Australian debut. The live noise-guitar performance project synchronises sound with image in the form of a durational solo performance installation. Fusinato will perform this work at NantStudios in Docklands cinema studios, which is home to the largest LED volume screen for virtual production in the world.
“Melbourne, it’s Now or Never! The return of this extraordinary festival will enrich our events calendar, boosting visitation for our traders and stoking our economy during the traditionally quieter winter period,” said the city’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
“From thought-provoking performances to late-night cultural experiences, the festival supports artistic talent and encourages knowledge, curiosity and creativity. Now or Never is set to draw over 200,000 visitors to the city – welcoming audiences with a variety of events across some of Melbourne’s most iconic venues, including the renowned Royal Exhibition Building.”
Now or Never is presented by the City of Melbourne in partnership with foundation partners, Mood Dog Craft Brewery and Museums Victoria, event partners NantStudios and Rydges Melbourne, and media partners Beat, Broadsheet, Concrete Playground and RRR.
The event will take place from August 22-31 across Melbourne.