Support and Donate
Why Support RISING
With your support, RISING aims to break barriers, amplify voices, and bring bold, transformative art to life in Melbourne/Naarm.
From the beginning, it has been RISING’s mission to showcase Melbourne/Naarm’s creative identity. We want to make a groundbreaking festival that lifts up artists, fosters community, and brings together the audiences that make the city the creative haven it is.
Since 2020, we’ve worked with 2,541 artists and commissioned 83 new works. We have staged over 1,100 performances, including 47 world premieres.
RISING is a not-for-profit. Our funding goes towards making bold, new works, but also making these experiences free or accessible to audiences via subsidised low-cost tickets. Since 2022, we have welcomed 1.6 million to our free events, and 558,000 people have engaged with RISING’s First Peoples-led programming.
We cannot continue to do this without your support. By donating to RISING, you’re ensuring we give everyone an amazing cultural experience.
All donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. And can be made to any of the below annual giving areas.
RISING Constellations donors, who gift $250 or more, receive exclusive access, invitations and priority ticketing.
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Our Annual Giving Areas
Access and Inclusion
Since 2022, over 1.6 million people have engaged with RISING’s free programming. From mass-participation music making and kids’ crafting to artists talks, exhibitions, gigs, and large-scale installations—these events bring new, diverse audiences to the city.
A big part of RISING’s purpose is serving marginalised people who have historically faced barriers to participating in the arts.
With this in mind, we prioritise building in accessibility to all our events, and focus on developing long-term, meaningful relationships with community groups.
Being a RISING supporter means you’re directly contributing to making the festival accessible to everyone through free experiences and low ticket prices.
Donate to Access and Inclusion
FIRST PEOPLES
RISING is committed to showcasing and celebrating First Nations programming, and amplifying the many voices, stories and cultures of communities.
So far, we’ve showcased 66 First Peoples works and 32 First Peoples commissions to over half a million people. Highlights include Flinders Street Station exhibition Shadow Spirit (2023), The Blak Infinite in Fed Square (2024), and audio artwork The Rivers Sing (2021, 2024).
As a RISING supporter, you’re driving social change while promoting inclusivity and understanding within our communities.
Donations enable more opportunities for cultural exchange and artistic collaboration and fostering new relationships.
Donate to First Peoples Programming
NEW WORK
RISING sets itself apart with its emphasis on new commissions by leading Australian and international artists, as well as large-scale, participatory public art events.
Over the past four years, we’ve commissioned 83 new works including Stephanie Lake Company’s Manifesto (2022), Julian Rosefeldt’s Euphoria (2023), Ciaran Frame’s 10,000 Kazoos (2023) and the largest commission of First Peoples contemporary art in Victoria’s history, Shadow Spirit (2023).
Looking to the future, with your support, RISING will continue to commission new work of artistic and cultural significance. And we’ll keep inviting Melbourne/Naarm to come to together and create.
Donate to New Work
LEGACY SUPPORT
Leaving a gift in your Will, no matter the shape or amount, is an enduring way to help RISING thrive into the future and to be enjoyed by future generations.
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IMAGE CREDITS
- The Wilds, RISING 2022. PHOTO: Eugene Hyland
- Manifesto by Stephanie Lake Company, 2022. PHOTO: Sam Roberts and Roy Vandervegt
- Tiirtjingalpai, Rene Wanuny Kulitja, Shadow Spirit 2023. PHOTO: Eugene Hyland
- 10,000 Kazoos by Ciaran Frame, 2023. PHOTO: Shannyn Higgins
- Golden Square, RISING 2022. PHOTO: Remi Chauvin
- Kaleidoscope by Keith Courtney, 2022. PHOTO: Ian Laidlaw
- Pendulum by Lucy Guerin & Matthias Schack-Arnott, 2021. PHOTO: Gregory Lorenzutti
- Wandering Stars by The Lantern Company, RISING 2021.
- Still Lives by Luke George and Daniel Kok, 2022. PHOTO: Michelle Li
- Wurukur Djuanduk Balag — Ancestors are Calling by Dr Lou Bennett AM, 2022. PHOTO: Miles Bennett
- OH DEER by Aphids, 2023. PHOTO: Michael Pham