Arts & Cultural Exchange (ACE) is set to mark its 40th anniversary this month with Cosmic Connections, a major showcase event presented by Gili Gatherings.
Set to take place on Saturday 22 November from 4pm to 10pm at ACE Parramatta, the evening will bring together artists, performers, and community to celebrate four decades of creativity, collaboration, and cultural leadership in Western Sydney.
"For 40 years, ACE has been a constellation of creativity, culture and the arts. A place where cultures meet, stories intertwine, and luminous transformations flourish," ACE executive director, Anne Loxley, said.
"Cosmic Connections honours this legacy with a stellar program that features 29 brilliant artists.
"All five of ACE's program pillars - First Nations, Multicultural Women's Hub, Youth Engagement, Artists with Disability and Screen Cultures - will combine for an unforgettable gala event, promising a kaleidoscope of music, dance, fashion and storytelling."
The Jannawi Dance Clan and Uncle Chris Tobin will lead a Welcome to Country, setting the stage for performers including Elina Roberts-Turner, Mason Browne, and singer-songwriter and ACE's First Nations program advisor, Akala Newman, who will be joined by Amy Flannery and the Lost All Sorts Collective for a special premiere song.
The new Yapa Mali Fashion collection, a contemporary take on Ngiyampaa traditions, will also be unveiled in a spectacular fashion runway featuring youth models from ACE's First Nations Still Growing program.
"I've had the pleasure of being an Artist in Residence this year with Arts and Cultural Exchange. They've supported me through out the year to create the Bunngan Collection, providing mentorship and funding," Yapa Mali designer Maddy Hope-Hodgetts said.
"It can be very hard as a regional designer/artist accessing support and materials. So I'm very grateful for ACE! I've been able to create a collection that story tells the Bunngan River, flowing through Wangaayuwan Country. It focuses on the importance of our rivers and revitalizing traditional language.
"I'm very excited to showcase the collection at Cosmic Collections."
The celestial theme of the night will take shape with a hands-on botanical workshop led by artists and storytellers from ACE's Multicultural Women's Hub and Youth Engagement programs.
A unique journey for all ages, participants will be guided across the night sky through collaborative art-making and sustainable upcycling by the GUL Collective, Paula do Prado and Joyce HX Tang.
In the Cosmic Cave, guests will experience family friendly shadow puppetry from Bria McCarthy, and encounter a new exhibition by Natalie Snedden. Additionally, the sounds of Samoan hip-hop word warriors Toah & Bluetongue will blaze with stellar energy.
ACE's neurodiverse music program Club Weld Attitude will showcase solo pianist Patrick Li and the bluesy tunes of Tua Hunt, in addition to all this select works by local filmmakers will delight and inspire.
Audiences can look forward to a night of captivating performances, bold visuals, and heartfelt storytelling, celebrating one of Sydney's biggest independent arts organisations.
Established in 1984, Arts & Cultural Exchange is a Western Sydney-based community arts organisation with five program pillars: First Nations, Youth Engagement, Multicultural Women, Artists with Disability, and Screen.
The Arts & Cultural Exchange event will take place on Saturday, November 22 from 4pm to 10pm. Tickets are $25, with free entry for First Nations peoples.
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