Liveworks, Sydney’s premier experimental arts and performance festival is bringing queer art celebration Day for Night to Carriageworks this month. Day for Night 2017 promises an eclectic mix of art and music in the day, turning to an extravagant dance party in the night.
Day for Night curator Jeff Khan said he wanted to create an event celebrating queer creativity in such a divisive time in Australian history.
“At a time in Australian history when we are still fighting misogyny and homophobia, and where equality seems surprisingly further away than it should be, their work is so important. With Day for Night, we wanted to create a platform for queer work that merges the conventions of the theatre space with those of the queer dance party—an important place of safety, experimentation and affirmation for queer communities” he said.
Starting at 12pm on October 28th, the 12 hour festival will focus on presenting a diverse range of queer voices, including legendary Sydney performer Paul Mac and Melbourne artists Jo Lloyd and Shian Law, whose dance work “won’t be repeated”.
“We are also constantly looking for new voices and new perspectives, so we’re out there running development programs, attending gigs and shows, and visiting artists’ studios through the year. We look for a diversity of perspectives – after all, ‘queer’ is not about the familiar binary definitions of gender and sexuality, but about celebrating fluidity and difference” said Mr Khan.
Festival-goers are encouraged to catch early acts, such as artist Nicole Barakat who will be serving traditional Arabic coffee with intimate one-on-one coffee cup readings. Jeff Khan said that people should come with an open mind.
“I hope that people are surprised and challenged, but that they also experience the joy and euphoria that comes when your horizons are broadened and new possibilitiesemerge for how we relate to ourselves, our bodies and each other. I also hope – come party time – they have a damn good dance” he said.
Day for Night is presented by Performance Space on October 28th as a part of the Liveworks contemporary arts festival, running at Sydney’s Carriageworks from the 19th to 29th of October. More information about the Liveworks lineup, and Day For Night, can be found here.
This is a sponsored post.
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