Midsumma needs a new home, Tristan Meecham's Queering the Collection, Melbourne Art Fair's New Director, Romeo & Julie plus movie turned opera, Breaking the Waves

SmartArts

Richard Watts OAM reporting for SmartArts! As always, he's here to give you an inside look into the fabulous people behind all of the brilliant goings-on of Naarm's flourishing art scene. Let's go!

Amid the housing crisis, Midsumma’s CEO Karen Bryant is on the hunt for office space. The festival is Australia's premier queer arts and cultural organisation, bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities and audiences. So, got a spare 200m sq space for a few legendary creatives? Get in touch: [e-mail]

What do you know about Romeo & Julie? You read that right. Director Kamarra Bell-Wykes and actor Damon Baudin are in the studio to tell us about the Red Stitch production of Romeo & Julie which has previews 20 - 23 July, and is showing for Season 24 July - 18 August.

Opera Australia’s staging of Breaking the Waves is coming to Hamer Hall, at the Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday July 26. To tell us all about the opera based on Lars von Trier’s 1996 film is Jennifer Black, Lead Soprano, who plays the role of Bess.

Queer artist and performer Tristan Meecham has a new gig hosting the Arts Centre Melbourne audio series ‘Queering the Collection’ available to listen to now here (spotify) and here (itunes)

Plus, art world figure Melissa Loughnan has been appointed by Melbourne Art Fair as Fair Director for 2025 and beyond. Hear her speak about her future vision for the Fair and what the opportunity means to her.

And of course, Anne-Marie Peard, is in for her Theatre Review round-up.