MTalks—Uptown: Reinventing the City

Working with MPavilion’s MRelay format, the curators of UPTOWN present an actioned-packed session of speakers primed to discuss the role of artists and designers in Melbourne’s future. UPTOWN co-curators, Fiona Scanlan and Robert Buckingham, join forces with MPavilion and Turning Circle Collective to explore how artists and designers have contributed to the cultural and economic life of Melbourne in the past and how they can help Melbourne regain its mojo. 'UPTOWN: An art exhibition for out city' was devised to reactivate the city centre and unite retailers, visual artists, property owners and the City of Melbourne. The exhibition (15 December 2020 – 28 February 2021) reimagined the top of Bourke Street as a 24/7 outdoor gallery and used vacant shops, windows, architecture and laneways as the frame for a very different type of visual art exhibition. Speakers include: Robert Buckingham (creative director and co-curator UPTOWN) Fiona Scanlan (fashion designer, retailer, ceramicist and co-curator UPTOWN) Lord Mayor Sally Capp (City of Melbourne Mayor) Fleur Watson (curator, academic, director of Open House Melbourne) Millie Cattlin (architect, creative precinct creator – member Turning Circle Collective) Barrie Barton (director, Studio Right Angle, place maker) Su san Cohn (artist and City resident) Michael Trudgeon (architect, designer and educator – member Turning Circle Collective) Eugenia Lim (artist, lecturer VCA) Rory Hyde (architect, curator, formerly head of Architecture Dept at V&A) Wendy Lasica (creative producer and urban planner – member Turning Circle Collective) Athiqah Ummi Salma (M_Curator’s member and Signal Issues producer) Kent Morris (artist and curator)