Midsumma changes festival dates for 2021
The Roadmap to ‘COVID Normal’, released on 13 September by the Victorian Government, made clear that gatherings of scale were unlikely to be approved in time for Midsumma Festival to operate at our usual time of January to February. This information guided Midsumma to enact our “understudy-plan” to move Midsumma’s 2021 festival dates to fall between 19 April and 5 May 2021; with Midsumma Pride March to be held on Sunday 23 May.
We understand profoundly that the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 have created an extremely tough environment for festivals and events. We take pride in delivering a premier festival each year and moving our festival dates to later in the year puts our staff, artists, producers and venues in the best possible position to deliver an accessible festival that connects our communities and celebrates queer arts and cultures.
The safety of our Midsumma artists, producers, venues, audiences and LGBTQIA+ stakeholders are our first priority, and we want to make sure that our communities can experience Midsumma Festival 2021 as safely, and in the most fulfilling ways possible, while ensuring we can all meet the COVID requirements that may be in place at that time.
"In these uncertain times, we are committed to Midsumma providing the very best opportunities and support throughout 2021 for all our diverse communities to have their creative voices heard, their stories shared, and to connect and celebrate queer art and culture together in meaningful ways." - Karen Bryant, Midsumma CEO
Midsumma is aware that there are still challenges for our arts community and understand that the next few months will continue to be uncertain and unpredictable for artists, producers and collectives. To help relieve some financial challenges for artists and producers who want to be a part of Midsumma Festival 2021, Midsumma is offering bursaries to the first 100 registrations, this will provide 50% off the registration fee. Open-access event registrations will now close on 14 December 2020.
We are currently working with digital industry professionals to ensure that Midsumma can have the best opportunity to produce virtual augmentation for the festival, including quality live streaming of selected events to ensure that Midsumma Festival 2021 is as accessible as possible for any audiences that may be vulnerable, or interstate, who still want to feel the important connection that Midsumma brings. Each event will be produced with the guidance of our COVID safety plan, and in the best interest of our audiences, artists and venues who are the heart of Midsumma Festival each year.
The full program of Midsumma Festival 2021 will be launched in mid-March 2021.
To keep up to date on changes, please follow our Being COVIDSafe at Midsumma page, subscribe to our eNews, or email us at [email protected] with any questions. Specific information for artists and venues can be found on the Midsumma Event Registration pages.
Our thoughts are with those in the arts and events industries who work tirelessly to deliver the events we love and who continue to feel the strain and devastation of postponed or cancelled events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To our partners, event staff, artists, suppliers, stallholders, volunteers, local traders and, of course, our enthusiastic audiences, we can’t wait to work with you in April 2021.
We are working hard to create the best possible Midsumma Festival in 2021. We are so excited to celebrate queer art and culture together again, stronger and more resilient than ever!
Midsumma is Australia's premier LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of queer artists, performers, communities and audiences.
The Midsumma program shares with you the lived experiences of those voices at the margins, the expression of queer history and the celebration of new ideas and shared futures that come to life through world-class art and performance. Our festival program is made up of diverse art forms and genres, including visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, parties, sport, social events, and public forums.
Midsumma is a non-profit organisation staffed by a small team of committed professionals, governed by a voluntary Board of Management, and supported by hundreds of generous and passionate volunteers every year.
