FUSE is Darebin’s contemporary, multi-arts festival. Every Autumn and Spring, FUSE provides a platform for local artists and performers to transform our amazing city into a dynamic hub of creativity. FUSE allows artists and audiences alike to enjoy our streets, parks, venues, theatres, galleries and public spaces as transformative zones—infused with the power of art, culture and creativity. Tonights opening event of the FUSE Autumn 2022 festival featured, Guest Orator, Yumi Stynes, and FUSE Curator-in-Residence, Queen Acknowledgements, aka Nartarsha Bamblett for a dual celebration: Tonight celebrated the work of social justice advocate, Molly Hadfield OAM, and the opening of FUSE Autumn 2022.
Held annually, the Oration celebrates the work of grassroots campaigner, Molly Hadfield OAM. This year, FUSE welcomed accomplished broadcaster, advocate and writer, Yumi Stynes, with an opening keynote speech celebrating International Women's Day.
Yumi is known for her candour, arts campaigning and educational books, including Welcome to Your Period and Welcome to Consent (co-written with Dr Melissa Kang, aka Dolly Doctor).
Yumi's recent work includes the ABC podcast Ladies, We Need to Talk, and the award-winning SBS documentary Is Australia Sexist?, as well as keynote roles at Melbourne Writers Festival, the Wheeler Centre, She Leads conferences, Art After Hours at AGNSW, the Rural Sexual Health Conference, and the Women in Leadership Symposium.
The Oration was followed by the FUSE Autumn 2022 Opening Party. The lineup had been selected by the Curator-in-Residence Queen Acknowledgements, aka Nartarsha Bamblett, and the night featured powerful and moving performances from local multicultural and multidisciplinary artists in a safe and women-to-the-front space.
The Molly Hadfield Social Justice Oration and Opening Night is a partnership between FUSE Darebin and the Darebin Equity and Wellbeing team, in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022.
Ever since its inception, FUSE has reflected Darebin’s uniqueness while highlighting its strengths to the world: as a vibrant, inclusive, creative and forward-thinking city. FUSE believe that artistic expression can inspire new experiences and new ideas, generating creative risk-taking not only in how we make art but also in how we bond and interact as a community. But FUSE’s mission has also been to evolve and change, moving with the rhythm of the times and the ebb and flow of our local communities. No matter who you are, FUSE know you’ll find something to love in there program: something that speaks to you, connects you with others, or transforms your worldview.