FAQs
What is MPavilion?
We’re so happy you asked. MPavilion is just as it sounds: a temporary pavilion located in the heart of Melbourne. Each year the Naomi Milgrom Foundation commissions a world-renowned architect to design MPavilion, which becomes the centre of a free spring-summer program of talks, workshops, performances, installations and more.
MPavilion is a civic space, a cultural laboratory and a way for the whole community to engage in dialogues with and about design and architecture. MPavilion 2021, designed by MAP studio (Venice), will be the seventh MPavilion in an ongoing series and is open until 24 April 2022. Read more about MPavilion here.
Where do MPavilion events happen?
MPavilion is located in the Queen Victoria Gardens, opposite the Arts Centre on St Kilda Road, Melbourne. We respectfully acknowledge the people of the Eastern Kulin nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which MPavilion sits. We pay our respects to their land, their ancestors and their elders—past, present and to the future.
During the pandemic, will it be safe to physically attend an event at MPavilion?
To make every MPavilion event as safe and comfortable as possible, we have developed a COVIDSafe Plan that involves daily procedures to maintain public safety. The Plan follows best practice of the most up-to-date, evidence-based health advice, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Victorian State Government. Throughout our 2021 season, we will continue to monitor the situation and update our procedures where necessary. As part of this approach, MPavilion advises visitors to familiarise themselves with our COVIDSafe Plan before attending an event, and then follow our instructions, which include being fully vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, maintaining physical distancing while at our events, and staying at home if you feel unwell.
How can I stay COVID safe at an MPavilion event?
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, please:
- maintain a 1.5 metre physical distance from other people
- stay at home if you feel unwell
- get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms (or consult your GP)
- wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds (or cleaning them with alcohol-based hand sanitiser)
- cough and sneeze into your elbow, not your hands
- follow our instructions when you attend our events
If you’re unsure about anything before you attend an MPavilion event, you can email us at info@mpavilion.org
Do I need to register on the MPavilion website in order to attend an event?
Only a select few events will be ticketed this season. It is best if you check the event page for information on each event. If an event is ticketed and we still have seats free by the time an event begins, we will grant admission to people who have not registered, until we reach our capacity limit.
How will physical distancing be managed at MPavilion?
All MPavilion venues will feature clear passageways and spacing to make sure you can keep physically distanced from our staff and other visitors at all times. Our entry and exit points will be clearly signposted, and our seats will be pre-set in fixed, physically distanced arrangements for your safety. When you arrive, our staff will assist you with registration.
Will there be food and drink available at MPavilion?
MPavilion’s onsite Kiosk (open 9am—4pm, or earlier/later if an event is scheduled) offers the best in Melbourne’s summer foodie offerings—from a cup of the best coffee thanks to our friends Three Thousand Thieves to pastries, baked goods and a selection of prepackaged snacks. Follow Three Thousand Thieves on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and see what they have brewing for MPavilion.
You are welcome to bring your own food—pack a picnic and come spend some time with us!
What if I feel uncomfortable attending events in person?
To accommodate the needs of our whole community, we will be recording our MTalks this season. They will then be made available as podcasts on our website and podcast apps like Spotify and Soundcloud.
How is each MPavilion venue kept clean?
All MPavilion venues will be cleaned after each session, and deep cleaned once a week. There will also be hand sanitising stations available at the entries of—and around—each venue.
What should I do if I start feeling unwell at an event?
If you start feeling unwell at an MPavilion event, please let a staff member know immediately. All of our staff have been trained to deal efficiently, calmly and discreetly with a suspected case of COVID-19, so even if you feel only the mildest symptoms, do not hesitate to ask for assistance. Once you have alerted a staff member, they will isolate you from the rest of the audience, before working out the best way to get you home safely so you can begin self-isolation. MPavilion management will stay in contact with you while you are tested, and will alert the Victorian Government and WorkSafe for guidance on next steps.
When is MPavilion open?
MPavilion 2021 will open online on Tuesday 23 November, and then on site at MPavilion—located in the Queen Victoria Gardens—from Thursday 2 December 2021 to 24 April 2022. View our program of free events here.
During the season, MPavilion is open every day—rain, hail or shine—except for public holidays. We are also respectfully closed on Tuesday 26 January.
Do I need to book a ticket?
All events at MPavilion are free to attend.
A few select events will be ticketed this season but the majority will be on a walkup basis.
If you are ever uncertain about ticketing, please check event details in the program, or contact us directly on info@mpavilion.org.
How do I find out what’s on?
Right here on our website, via the program. Our calendar of events is constantly growing, so if you bookmark this site and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, you can keep up to date with all things MPavilion (feel free to tag us or use the #MPavilion hashtag, while you’re at it!) You can also sign up here to receive our newsletter.
How do I get there?
Information on how to get to each location can be found here.
How does MPavilion meet my accessibility requirements?
We do everything we can to make our events and material as inclusive and accessible as possible. This is an ever-evolving process, so we welcome any ideas, comments, suggestions or responses you wish to share that might help us continue to deliver programming that is truly for everybody.
More information on how to access our locations and their closest accessible toilets can be found here.
Auslan interpreters may be booked for individual events—please check event details for information. If you would like to attend an event and require an Auslan interpreter, another form of audio accessibility, or reserved seating, please let us know in advance by emailing info@mpavilion.org. Headphones, tablets and other devices used to assist with communication are welcome.
MPavilion staff are onsite during events to assist with any accessibility queries. Please come and chat to us if you have any questions.
Where are the nearest toilets?
Information on the location of toilets at each location can be found here.
Is MPavilion licensed?
We sure are! You can purchase from a selection of alcoholic beverages at our Kiosk during the program. Please bring photo identification.
Is there seating?
Limited seating is available inside MPavilion, with extra seating added for scheduled events. Please inform onsite staff if you have essential seating requirements. If you have accessibility requirements—including audio and visual requirements—or would like to reserve seating for individual events, please email us in advance at info@mpavilion.org.
Can I arrange to bring a class or group to MPavilion?
Yes! We’re dedicated to making MPavilion an educational space for all ages, with many events in our season designed to appeal to primary and secondary school students. Our capacity is limited, however, so if you’re planning on bringing a large group to MPavilion, we encourage you to let us know by emailing info@mpavilion.org.
Students and teachers can also download free educational resources about our past MPavilions, including Sean Godsell’s, Amanda Levete’s, OMA’s, Carme Pinos’s, and Glenn Murcutt AO’s.
Is MPavilion suitable for children?
MPavilion is for everyone—including little ones. Whether you’re looking for something fun and entertaining or something more relaxed, MKids is our series of kid-friendly and kid-centric events. So check out the program to see what’s coming up!
Can I bring my dog?
Please do! We love dogs. But please remember to keep your pooch on a leash at all times, and be mindful of others—especially young children.
Can I take photos/video inside and around MPavilion?
We encourage it. Explore MPavilion and all the wonderful things happening inside and around the venue by taking happy snaps and artistic portraits. Please remember to be respectful to performers, speakers and other visitors when taking photos or video—and tag us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! We’d love to see what you’ve captured. (Don’t forget to use the hashtag #MPavilion)
Can I hold an event at MPavilion?
MPavilion is designed as a civic space, and we love hearing your ideas for events. For the fifth year running, we’ve invited the public to submit expressions of interest for the MPavilion program. Expressions of interest are now closed—we couldn’t be more excited about what’s in store for the 2021/22 season.
How do I find information about past events?
Missed an event? Or maybe you just want to dig into the many great talks and discussions from MPavilion’s past? Our podcast library contains a huge number of recorded events, spanning right back to the first MPavilion in 2014.
The recordings are available on the MPavilion podcast, which you can find on iTunes—perfect for educational purposes or your daily commute. You can also browse our previous event programs at each of their dedicated archival websites: MPavilion 2020, MPavilion 2019 , MPavilion 2018, MPavilion 2017, MPavilion 2016, MPavilion 2015 and MPavilion 2014.
I’d like to know more about the Naomi Milgrom Foundation.
MPavilion is initiated and commissioned by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation with support from the City of Melbourne, State Government of Victoria through Creative Victoria and Development Victoria. For more information about the Foundation and its work, please visit naomimilgromfoundation.org.
What is the Living Cities Forum?
The Living Cities Forum is MPavilion’s sister event and is an initiative of the Naomi Milgrom Foundation. The annual day-long Forum explores the role of design, planning and architecture in shaping our society. In 2021, the fourth Living Cities Forum was held online when Melbourne unexpectedly entered lockdown. Our line-up featured keynotes by internationally celebrated architects, designers and urban thinkers. To watch the 2021 Living Cities Forum or for more info and to sign up to receive news about next year’s forum, head to the Living Cities Forum website.