PACT’s HYPERLOCAL returns in 2024 with “Erko Then and Now” a celebration of Erskineville’s past, present, and future.
Join us to continue PACT's 60th-year celebrations with a festival honouring our local community. Expect a curated line-up of music, panel discussions, contemporary performance, and dance .
Hyperlocal is PACT's series of accessible public events showcasing socially engaged, community-driven arts and ideas.
Hyperlocal has been assisted by the generous support of the City of Sydney.
Program:
1pm: DJ |Darcy Allen
1:30pm: Welcome to Country | Aunty Rhonda Dixon
1:50pm: Panel 1 - In and Around 107 Railway Parade | Aunty Rhonda Dixon, Leila Ellmoos, Brian Obiri-Asare, Aroha Pehi
2:50pm: Exhibition Launch
3pm: Food served
3.15pm: Live performance| Maharshi Raval, Devasya Raval, Vishnu Arunasalam,
Phaedra Brown, Aroha Pehi
3.45pm: Panel 2 - What’s the Creative Future of Erskineville? | Andrew Chuter, Bryoni Trezise, Graham Simms , Justine Shih Pearson
4:45pm: Launch of Lucky Lartey’s sign
THE ARTISTS:
Maharshi Raval
From the Royal Albert Hall in London to the Sydney Opera House, Gujarati tabla maestro Maharshi Raval has mastered world music, and has performed with artists from more than 50 countries.
Raval started learning the tabla in Ahmedabad when he was seven. He was fortunate to become a become a disciple of the founder of Saptak Music School, Pandit Nandan Mehta. One of his memorable moments was when he got a standing ovation for his performance on the Beatles’ ‘Within You, Without You’ at the State Theatre in Sydney.
Timilehin Akindoyeni
Timilehin Akindoyeni is a Nigerian born and raised photographer based in Australia. Whilst attending UTS, he picked up photography as a passion.
He has since worked as a fashion photographer and has now developed into a photographic artist as he continues his Visual Communication degree.
Timilehin’s Yoruba roots are touched on through his use of photographs, collages and typography that connect his past to his present.
Aroha Pehi
Aroha Pehi a proud Taribelang-Bunda, Kuku-Yalanji, Ngapuhi and Ngati Porou woman from South-East Queensland. She graduated NAISDA Dance College with her Diploma in Professional Dance Performance in 2018 and has gone on to pursue her career in the Independent Arts.
She co-founded Lost All Sorts Collective to tell the stories and political issues of young First Nations people, from young First Nations people.
Aroha is also a member of Jannawi Dance Clan whose mission is to revitalise the Darug language and the continuation of tradition and culture of the Darug Nation.
She has also worked with other collectives such as Dance Makers Collective and was a part of Vicky van Hout’s work in-development ‘First Women’ and Amy Flannery’s ‘Sap’
Aroha has a strong passion for furthering her knowledge in First Nations stories and arts,where she continues to pursue opportunities that will allow her to broaden her knowledge in the arts.
Vishnu Arunasalam
Vishnu Arunasalam is a Sri Lankan born, Australian raised dancer with a developing contemporary practice. Drawing on his training in Indian classical dance, he is interested in the intersection of his two identities, both Tamil and Australian, exploring how they are expressed in his artistic practice.
Phaedra Brown
Phaedra Brown is an independent dancer and choreographer. Her current interest lies in the use of dance as a tool for story-telling and sharing universal aspects of humanity, exploring this through theatricality and gesture, as well as drawing on elements from media and literature.
She has choreographed and performed in the works ‘Waiting Game’, (March Dance and Melbourne Fringe Festivals, 2022) and ‘A Small Spectacle’, (Melbourne Fringe 2020, March Dance 2021). She is a recipient of AusDance NSW’s DAIR residency (2019, 2023), and has undertaken residencies supported by Readymade Works and March Dance Festival, and Lucy Guerin Inc (2023). Phaedra is a current member of Dance Maker’s Collective’s ‘Future Makers’ cohort.
Phaedra holds a BFA in Dance (Hons.) from the VCA (2020) and a Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership from UNSW (2023).
Darcy Allen
Hailing from Canberra/Ngunnawal, Darcy Allen (aka. VERSION. KHAN_), is a producer, DJ, and sound designer, currently based in Eora/Sydney. No matter what medium, he draws inspiration from all over the world, from his UK roots in DnB/Jungle to industrial sounds of the modern world. Inspired by artists such as Ludwig Göransson, Sonny Moore, and Kenneth Charles Blume III, VERSION. KHAN_ released his debut single “TUNDRA” during lockdown, which received support from Spotify’s “Bass Arcade”. Accruing almost hundred-thousand streams and support from artists around the world, VERSION. KHAN_ is currently in the final stages of finishing up his debut E.P, which is due for release late 2024.