Refuge Emergency Relief Centre & 24-Hour Exercise

Join us and take Refuge as we transform Arts House – a City of Melbourne designated Emergency Relief Centre – into a place of safety.

Refuge explores the role of artists and cultural institutions in times of climate catastrophe. Each year until 2020, we’re bringing together emergency management, artists, the community and local, regional and international partners, to prepare Arts House as a Relief Centre for 24 hours, in an imagined climate disaster. In 2016, we imagined a local flood and transformed the North Melbourne Town Hall into a Relief Centre for 24 hours. This year we envisage the increasing possibility of five consecutive days over 40°C.

The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology predict that by 2070 the number of days over 35 degrees in Melbourne will more than double from an average of eight a year, to 17. How can we build resilience, connect and respond in inclusive, ethical and humane ways?

In times like these what’s our most precious resource? The kindness of strangers? Each other? A plan? What skills do we have? Come and help us make a Refuge, collaborating alongside artists and emergency services.

At the heart of Refuge is our Emergency Relief Centre, where artists, emergency services and you – our community – come together to start conversations, dream up ideas and forge possible futures. On Saturday 11 November, spend the afternoon or evening at the Emergency Relief Centre. Take part in artistic interventions, meet with organisations including Red Cross Australia, the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) and others, and join in conversation sessions, performances and collaborations.

To fully experience Refuge’s immersive emergency scenario, you can sign up for the Refuge 24-Hour Exercise, from midday Saturday 11 November until midday the following day. The Refuge 24-Hour Exercise includes a sleepover at Arts House – but this is no slumber party! You’ll need to be ready to help run the relief centre alongside volunteers, artists and others. It’s an exercise in preparation, mutual aid and creative response!

Each of our Refuge artists explores a particular element within the Emergency Relief Centre – sleep, communications, light and warmth, food, wellbeing or community. Here’s some of what you’ll experience throughout the day and night…

Artists include:
Asha Bee Abraham; Lorna Hannan; Jen Rae; Dave Jones; Latai Taumoepeau; Emily Johnson & Vicki Couzens

Refuge Emergency Relief Centre
12 noon–10pm, Sat 11 Nov
FREE. No bookings required. All ages.

Refuge 24-Hour Exercise
12 noon, Sat 11 Nov – 12 noon, Sun 12 Nov
FREE. Bookings required
This event is for people aged 18 years and older

Accessibility:
Part of this event is accessible via Auslan and an Audio Description Tour. Please contact Arts House regarding specific access needs

Venue and address

Arts House, 521 Queensberry Street, 3051 North Melbourne, Australia

11. November 2017

• Sat

  11.11.2017

  12:00

Refuge Emergency Relief Centre & 24-Hour Exercise

This event in North Melbourne was published by Arts House.