The Emerald Hill precinct will come alive with exhibitions, activities and performances from local Deaf and Disabled artists on Saturday 24 July for Thrive Festival alongside of Open House Melbourne. This new, free festival is held at several creative venues, including Arts Access Victoria, Nebula, Temperance Hall, Gasworks Art Park and the Emerald Hill Library and Heritage Centre, and more! The festival is from 10:30am – 4:30pm, beginning with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. The heart of the festival is Arts Access Victoria’s accessible, state of the art portable venue, Nebula, which will be located outside the front of the South Melbourne Town Hall.

Thrive is an exciting program presenting performances, visual art and film inspired by the geography of Emerald Hill. Local Deaf and Disabled artists received grants from the City of Port Phillip for professional development to produce their work.

The program includes artists Joe Monteleone, Heidi Everett, Samsara Dunston, Adam Knapper, Hugh McNab, Ryan New, Daniel Coulson, Dave Houston with students from Port Phillip Specialist School, and Sabina Knox.

Australian Tapestry Workshop will also run Auslan and audio described tours to give a rare up-close glimpse of the most detailed artform, and the Emerald Hill Library are offering activities for children with disability. All of the venues will also offer building tours as part of Open House Melbourne.

Thrive Festival is produced by Arts Access Victoria, in partnership with City of Port Phillip.