Asia TOPA presents legendary artists as well as new and emerging voices to celebrate the diversity of culture and creativity in our region. Unlike most international arts festivals, almost half of the works have been initiated by or created specifically for the festival. This focus on supporting new repertoire with international and local artists has seen Asia TOPA become one of the most significant creative hubs in the Asia-Pacific.

The second triennial in early 2020 narrowly escaped Covid-19’s border closures and shutdowns to present artists from 20 countries and territories in more than 50 events across the city. Nearly one million people visited the festival.

Intercultural collaborations

Many of the commissioned works are creative partnerships and collaborations between Asian artists and their Australian colleagues. These intercultural projects encourage enduring relationships and cultural exchange as well as artistic innovation. Frequently, Asia TOPA secures additional investment in these projects from national partners and festivals in Asia, Europe and North America extending the touring life (and artists’ livelihoods) of these new voices as they tell their own stories on a global stage.

Asia TOPA LABs

Since 2014, Arts Centre Melbourne has invited Asia-Pacific artists to explore potential collaborations with Australian artists and producers through a curated LAB program. Early concepts are developed in Asia TOPA LABs in Melbourne where the creative teams are introduced to one another and Australian presenters and producers.

The LABs are mostly multi-artform with artists from across Australia and numerous Asia-Pacific territories participating. Occasionally the LABs have been thematic. In 2015 Gideon Obarzanek was invited to lead a dance-based LAB for twenty artists from eight countries and, during the 2020 festival, the first Blak LAB was developed with Australian First Nations artists and curators.

Often beginning with a travel grant so that artists can immerse themselves in one another’s contexts and artistic process, these early concepts are then developed in Asia TOPA LABs in Melbourne where the creative teams are introduced to one another and Australian presenters and producers. Artists are paid to attend and all travel and other expenses are covered.

Mostly the LABs are multi-artform with artists from across Australia and numerous Asia-Pacific territories participating. Occasionally the LABs have been thematic – in 2015 Gideon Obarzanek was invited to lead a dance-based LAB for 20 artists from eight countries and, during the 2020 festival, the first Blak LAB was developed with Australian First Nations artists and curators.