Tourism Victoria has joined forces with 26 leading Victorian tourism operators as part of its second Victorian Government Super Trade Mission to South East Asia.The mission involves a series of media and travel industry business events designed to engage the local travel community and unveil the latest travel and lifestyle trends in Melbourne and Victoria.
The theme of the mission highlights the diversity of the State’s arts and culture in all its genres from art and design through to performance, theatre and even food and local produce.
The Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Louise Asher said as Australia’s leading arts and cultural city the visitor experience in Melbourne includes major international exhibitions and performances seen at prestigious institutions, through to hundreds of independent shows at artist run galleries and venues.
At a special event at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur recently, Gallery owner and curator, Melissa Loughman, represented the city’s independent and innovative artistic communities by curating a pop up version of her Melbourne laneway gallery, Utopian Slumps.On show were works from local artists, Lauren Berkowitz, Thomas Jeppe and Misha Hollenbach, expressing three very different styles of art.
“Melbourne is such an inspiring city; there are interesting collaborations and concepts that are continually pushing boundaries. We have a reputation as a city that nurtures young talent and supports creative communities and audiences appreciate that,” Ms Loughman said.
Melbourne street artist and founder of Melbourne Street Art Tours, Adrian Doyle, was also present, working on a bespoke Melbourne inspired canvas for the event.“Melbourne is clearly one of the largest public art galleries in the world. Its lane-ways have become the cultural veins that have created one of the creative capitals of the world,” said Mr Doyle.
And creating a masterpiece of another kind, specialist chocolatier, Remco Brigou, from Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery fulfilled almost every person’s sinful indulgence on the day with an exquisite chocolate sculpture. Remco’s sculpture was inspired by the innovation and quality of experiences found in Victoria’s specialist gourmet dining regions.
“Whether you’re into food and wine events, opera, contemporary dance, live music, stand-up comedy or performance art, Melbourne’s cultural calendar is packed with events for visitors at any time of year”, Ms Asher said.
A forty-page Melbourne and regional Victoria supplement titled ‘The Art of Good Living’ was unveiled at the event. The supplement will be distributed with Travel and Food Magazine in the September issue in Malaysia.It is hoped the supplement will inspire South East Asian travellers to plan a visit to Victoria in the next twelve months to experience the creative energy of the destination first-hand.
