THE BELLY OF THE BEAST

By Benjamen Judd

More than a hundred artists are about to converge on Cockatoo Island to take part in what has become one of Sydney’s most engaging, thought-provoking and groundbreaking events – the Underbelly Arts Festival. Since launching in 2007 as a response to the huge number of artists working out of bedrooms and living rooms, the festival was a form of social experiment that sought to bring all of those artists under the one roof and see what would happen.

Now in its fifth season, the event has become bigger than ever with more than triple the applications to take part than previous ones. As such, the festival will run as two components – this first part being an interactive Lab from the 24-31 July where artists will work as part of a mini residency to develop their work; and the Festival proper from 3-4 August, which will be a ticketed event.

Previous Underbelly Arts Festival have situated the event as a breeding ground of ideas, and a place where not only the artists contribute but the site that it functions at. This year’s selection of Cockatoo Island has seen many of the artists reference the layered history of the site in their work, such as the Ghosts of Biloela – an interactive smartphone App storytelling piece that explores the history of the Biloela Reform School for Girls that operated from the island during the late 19^th century.

For more information on artists involved, and to get your tickets, head over to the Underbelly Arts Festival website here.