To wrap up the Third I Festival AND the Destination NSW Solstice Festival, what better way to celebrate than an 8-hour concert with a line-up of artists from our Indigenous and diverse communities. 

Held at the iconic Metro Theatre, this concert will be one like none other, with artists using their musical talents to celebrate their communities. With a brilliant line-up including Kobie Dee, Ziggy Ramo, L-FRESH the LION and The Merindas, be prepared for a killer night as these artists perform to raise funds for their community.

In collaboration with PlateitForward, all funds raised from the concert will go directly towards providing restaurant-quality meals to local charities supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander & Asylum Seeker communities doing it tough.

With hours of quality performances and live music, this concert is a wonderful opportunity for us all to unite and pursue impact for our communities. 

Some of the biggest events of the Third I Festival will be our intimate panel discussions, featuring leaders discussing hard-hitting issues relevant to our communities.

Held at the iconic Dendy Cinema in Newtown, you can be part of a small and intimate crowd hearing from subject matter experts from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our panellists are all using their platform, voice and skills to create significant change and impact in their communities. Their insight provides us with ways to contribute to greater social good in our daily lives, where we can use our collective voices and actions to make lasting positive change. 

These panels will shed light on key issues facing communities across the Three I’s.  Our 6 panel discussions are:

• Expression Through Music with Barkaa, Kobie Dee and Ecca Vandal;
• Diversity in Media with Elise Bucholtz (Managing Director Time Out), Paul McCrory (Group Director, Global Business Facebook) and Gordon D’Mello (Founder- The Major & 5WHY) 
• The Asylum Seeker Experience with Hani Abdile (World Famous Slam Poet),  Sajeda Bahadurmia (Co-founder of the Australian Rohingya Women’s Development Organisation) & Violet Roumeliotis (CEO- Settlement Services International)
• Women in Leadership with Sam Mostyn (CEO of Chief Executive Women) MP Jenny Leong (Member for Newtown), Charlene Davison (CEO- GO Foundation) and Jacqui Purcell (CFO- Deputy
• Sports Superstars with Michael O’Laughlin (Sydney Swans) and Craig Foster (Socceroo)
• Hospitality Heavyweights with the Founders of Young Henrys. P&V Wine Merchants, BlooodWood, Deputy and Earls Juke Joint.

Come hear stories from the sporting field to Parliament House, of how courage, strength and hope can combine with skill and expertise to create long-lasting impact. Our panels encourage us all to be part of a movement that truly addresses the pressing issues of our time. 

ARTiculate combines storytelling, live art and collaboration in an immersive pop-up art gallery. Delivered through a uniquely Inner West vibe, the Third I Festival in partnership with PlateitForward will take over a floor of The Urban Hotel, with rooms themed across the three I’s supported by the charity. 

This gallery is collaboratively curated by those from both emerging and well-known galleries, including Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative, 107 Projects, Refugee Women’s Collective and StudioARTES. The gallery will include a diverse range of artists, featuring those from Indigenous and Asylum Seeker communities, and artists living with a disability.

ARTiculate will be much more than a gallery. Not only will there be live art pieces created, but a series of conversations facilitated with these artists that reveal their stories and inspiration behind the works. 

This is not the only way the Third I Festival is bringing art to life. Over the course of the festival, there will be a range of Indigenous and Asylum Seeker artists painting a work together. When finished, this will be an artistic representation of our First Nations artists welcoming newcomers to Australia through food.

ARTiculate will be an inspiring way for us all to be part of a community that supports local artists, culture and collaboration.

How better to celebrate diversity and inclusion than a night of artists from different backgrounds all taking the mickey out of themselves? 

Empirical Spirits (the team behind the drinks at Michelin-star restaurant Noma in Copenhagen) are hosting a launch party of their new cocktail range at HiWay Bikini Bar in Enmore, with a star-studded line up of local comedians.

Cameron James, Demi Lardner and Swetha Das will all be taking to the stage and are guaranteed to leave you both shocked and laughing for days to come.

Capacity is strictly limited for individual tickets and Cultural Passport holders.

Four hospitality experts will teach you the tricks of the trade during our masterclasses, helping to develop your palate around some of the finest wines and spirits. Be warned – instead of slamming cheap tequila shots at 3am, the Herradurra Tequila masterclass will have you ordering a Mezcal on the rocks or ditching the bar to make the perfect Margarita at home.

The Future Of Drinking: The mastermind behind P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants in Newtown, Mike B, will take you through his process for selecting the best alcohol drops for his store. Mike will also run through the intricacies on 6 of his favourite pours. 

Hailing from some of Sydney’s best bars, Earl’s Juke Joint and Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, Pasan Wijesena will be joined by Sean from Poor Toms for a night of delicious drinks and culture!

Multiple sessions and times are available for Masterclasses, with bookings essential.

Be blown away by the story and finesse of the inspiring writer, spoken word poet and Colombo Social employee Hani Abdile. Hani and her fellow poets will be sharing hard hitting truths and stories of their lives through spoken word performances. 

Widely recognised as an advocate for Asylum Seekers – and frequently seen on ABC and SBS – Hani will share her emotionally charged and powerful poetry with our audience. Hani’s work exudes true courage and bravery and expresses how slam poets are fighting for change and equality through their artform. 

Set in a Barber Shop, an internationally recognised area of community activism and solidarity, this event will see important words soar off the page and fly into the hearts of all audience members.

If you are like us and can’t decide which event to attend, we have made it a little easier (and cheaper!) Purchasing a Cultural Passport allows you to fly between the masterclasses, comedy, poetry and ARTiculate sessions with one easy Boarding Pass. 

At only $45 patrons can gain access to 3 events, allowing you to experience a range of events over multiple days. 

Please note sessions are limited thanks to, (you guessed it), COVID restrictions, so get in early to avoid missing out.