sydney

Visual artists, sound artists, installation artists, new media artists, web designers, photographers, engineers, architects, painters, djs, vjs, activists, hackers, writers, poets, performers, musicians, philosophers, theorists, film makers, bloggers, designers and any one else interested in art and its role in public space are invited to participate in SECRETS OF THE CITY - GUMBRAMORRA SWAMP THING! Secrets of the City - Gumbramorra Swamp Thing! is a series of free community workshops where participants will create innovative site specific public artworks and ephemeral installations that will map and interpret unique sites of social, cultural, and ecological resonance within the footprint of the former Gumbramorra Swamp that extended across the suburbs of Marrickville, Sydenham, Tempe, St. Peters, and Newtown. The project will celebrate and respond to this convergence between land and water, ecology and settlement. read more for details

Park Jam is Australia's largest all-ages music festival devoted solely to hip hop. Headlining at Park Jam will be the United States' legendary Digital Underground featuring Shock G's nasally prolific alter-ego Humpty Hump, Kool Keith and Kutmasta Kurt. Park Jam features the biggest line-up of Australian & New Zealand hip hop & rap talents ever to be assembled in one place - starting with one of Australia's hip hop forerunners Resin Dogs. Coming across from South Auckland, & fresh from the Big Day Out tour, is the four-man team Deceptikonz, appearing in full force with emcee Mareko. Then there's The Herd, ex-Herd MC turned soloist Urthboy, Good Buddha, Def Wish Cast, Hermitude, Figgkidd, Lazy Grey (Qld), Terrafirma (SA), Suburban Intellect (Vic), Morganics, Baggsmen (previously known as The Hive), Blue Juice, Fast Crew (NZ), Art of War (Vic), Hyjack n' Torcha (Vic), up-and-coming new crew Blindhoarse lead by MC Losty, & all the way from the UK, Motley with his fresh Manchestrian vibe. visit http://www.parkjam.com.au for more details

FutureScreen Mobile investigates the potential of mobile phone devices and technologies as platforms for creation, distribution and presentation of screen based and new media art. Focusing on the development of skills and knowledge, FutureScreen Mobile consists of a series of workshops and master classes and a research component. Outcomes of all FutureScreen Mobile events and research will be presented on the dLux media arts website with the aim of establishing an invaluable knowledge base for artists interested in working in the mobile domain.

This forum has been organised to discuss the Australia Councils recent announcement for a major restructure, including the abolition of both the Community Cultural Development Board and the New Media Arts Board. Why the continued existence of the CCDB is important... Whatever its faults (and most of these are due to a string of inappropriate Ministerial appointments), the CCDB remains a significant symbol of the achievements made by communities and the artsworkers who have supported them. It may be that the [Australia Council] aren't aware of these achievements or, worse still, are all too aware and wish to see them buried. It's too early to tell, but we need to find out. - John Hawkes (Community Music Victoria Newsletter, December 2004)

RESFEST 2004 Digital Film Festival travels the world showcasing short films, music videos, motion design, live music, guest speakers + more. Australian performances include, 3-7 December, Melbourne and 9-12 December, Sydney. visit http://www.resfest.com for details

The FREEDOM Festival is based on the belief that we can all use our FREEDOM to help fight for the FREEDOM of others and, at FREEDOM 04, Amnesty International is calling for fairer treatment for all refugees and asylum seekers. Freedom from arbitrary detention; Freedom from the uncertainty of Temporary Protection Visas; Freedom from the isolation of the Pacific solution. Our collective presence can be a powerful voice for the voiceless. We have the voice. We have the freedom. Let's use it. Go to www.vibewire.net/freedomfestival or http://www.amnesty.org.au/whats_happening/freedom_festival for more information and your chance to WIN over $1000 worth of CDs from Creative Vibes and other prizes. artists/bands performing include : THE PROCUSSIONS (USA), GOOD BUDDHA, MORGANICS, DEBASA feat Merlin, URTHBOY, THE BRETHREN, DJs REGAL, BLAZE AND BONEZ (feat. HYJAK), LIZ ETHER, CRUCIAL D, SAVAGE GORDON WATSON, TREVOR PARKEE, NATHAN MCLAY, HUW ELLIS, HI CLIVE, GROOVESCOOTER, SHUEY, FRENZIE, ELI BASSLINES CREW + more

Rag Doll Presents: Cherry2000, Christa Hughes, Action Figures. Freak Boutique Fashion Show - special guest DJ Lanny K from Ear Pimp @ Candy's Apartment Thursday 26th August 2004, 9pm till late, $10. Rag Doll presents Cherry2000 joining forces with special guest Christa Hughes and The Surgeons plus the bizarre semi-human gals of Action Figures with a Freak Boutique Fashion Show - a catwalk of beautiful fallout freaks. Special guest is DJ Lanny K of Earpimp. This will be a night of stupidity, madness and sonic extremity at Candy's Apartment. Expect the night to lurch from cabaret sleaze to extreme ear shredding heavy metal and back again within seconds. Only tattooed hermaphrodites, loose women and the insane need attend.