Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Narrm, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to Elders of all First Nations communities that visit MCEC.

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THE LUME Melbourne at MCEC to Showcase First Peoples Art and Culture

By Maddi Devoy|

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is excited to announce the next instalment of THE LUME Melbourne experience, Connection opening in June 2023.

Connection is the largest representation of First Peoples art and culture ever assembled, featuring more than 500 works from over 110 visual and music artists. Visitors are invited to step inside the works of Australia’s most celebrated First Nations artists, in an experience spanning 3,000 square metres with projections four storeys high.

Art, music and performance have long served as a storytelling means in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Connection will weave these elements together with evocative aromas and an inspired food and beverage offering for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.

MCEC’s culinary experts have created bespoke breakfast, cocktail and gala dinner menus, drawing inspiration from the experience and showcasing Australian native and locally grown ingredients. Each dish carries a cultural legacy and is paired perfectly with Indigenous-focused cocktails. The menus extend the experience of the exhibition to incorporate taste and smell, fusing native food in a contemporary menu.

Recognising its unique and tailored offering for The LUME Melbourne, MCEC was recently awarded the Meetings and Events Australia Victorian Banqueting and Catering Award.

For corporate event organisers, MCEC offers opportunities to host exclusive events, as well as events on the mezzanine level overlooking the main gallery, in the city’s most creative business events venue. Guests can enjoy the Connection experience from an intimate setting, providing a unique conference experience and an opportunity for delegates to authentically engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

MCEC Chief Executive Natalie O’Brien AM said the Connection experience will build on the success of THE LUME and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

“This partnership is such an exciting opportunity and we have already seen so many visitors enjoying THE LUME Melbourne since its opening in 2021.”

“Connection engages visitors with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, culture, music and food on a whole new level and will offer a totally different experience from what visitors have previously seen at Monet & Friends and Van Gogh. The new experience promotes inclusiveness, reconciliation and respect, it’s something that all Australians can be proud to participate in,” she added.

Continuing our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, MCEC has recently embarked on a journey to develop our first Reconciliation Action Plan. MCEC has registered with Reconciliation Australia to formalise this Plan and support meaningful action through the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities.

Owner and Founder of THE LUME Melbourne, Bruce Peterson said “THE LUME Melbourne is Australia’s most unique and immersive event venue. Our catering and events partnership with MCEC means that we can merge world-class culinary delivery with our limitless creative content to deliver unforgettable brand experiences in a truly transformative environment.”

The Connection experience will open on 23 June inside Australia’s first multi-sensory experience digital art gallery, THE LUME Melbourne which has a permanent home at MCEC, on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River).