Upcoming events November 2008: Social exclusion on the agenda

The year may be winding down, but the big issues are still on the agenda. A number of local events will tackle social exclusion in coming weeks.

The Human Rights Arts and Film and Festival :. from 12 November :. Australia

The HRAFF will run in major cities all over Australia, kicking off in Melbourne on 12 November 2008. For dates and more details see http://www.hraff.org.au/

Book Launch :. Opportunistic Urbanism :. Wednesday 19 November :. Melbourne

Launch Party: 19th November, 6-8pm basketball court, rear RMIT building 45, ground floor 33 Lygon Street, Carlton

The city of Guadalajara, like many others urban centers in the global south, is characterized by an exploding population and a rapidly expanding urban territory. Large, disenfranchised segments of the population in this vulnerable economy have become displaced with little access to socio-economic infrastructures. To contend with such pressures, many turn to a well established culture of informality where housing, commerce and public space – the fundamental elements of city life – are shaped by the ad hoc, the contingent and the easily obtainable.

This is a city governed by opportunity – an Opportunistic Urbanism. The book is the result of a process of urban interrogation, an attempt to make some sense of the myriad informal activities that shape the city of Guadalajara. This work is the outcome of an academic exchange between the architectureprogram at RMIT in Melbourne and Escuela Superior de Arquitectura in Guadalajara, México.

Editor: Diego Ramírez-Lovering
Students: Ilana Freadman, Sasha Hadjimouratis, Rita Henshall, George Huon, Lily Lim, Jesse Newstadt, Catherine Ranger, Michael White

More at http://www.architecture.rmit.edu.au/Projects/Mexico_2006.php

ADEC ArtAbility Exhibition :. 28 November - 2 December :. Melbourne

The ADEC (Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities) ArtAbility annual exhibition of works by disabled artists of ethnic backgrounds opens on Friday 28 November 2008 and will run until 2 December at The Atrium, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Details at http://www.adec.org.au/ArtAbility.html

Free forum :. Homelessness and Cultural Democracy :. Thursday 27 November :. Melbourne

Non-profit org The Cultural Development Network, a group aiming to link communities, artists, local councils and organisations across Victoria, will hold a free forum on 'Homelessness and Cultural Democracy' on Thursday 27th November, 2 - 5pm City Library Seminar Room, Melbourne.

Homelessness and Cultural Democracy is a half day forum to discuss and debate ways to facilitate the inclusion of homeless individuals and families in the cultural life of the community. Homelessness can be understood as an ‘inadequate experience of connectedness with family and or community’ and is not determined only by an individual’s status of housing. This half day forum will provide an opportunity for discussion about the right of homeless individuals and families to participate in the cultural life of the community and the city as part of that support.

An exhibition will accompany the forum. Visit the website http://www.culturaldevelopment.net.au/cdnevents.htm for more info.

Homeless World Cup :. December 1-7 :. Melbourne

Lastly, on December 1-7, 2008, 56 nations will unite in Melbourne for the biggest Homeless World Cup tournament ever, including the first Women’s Cup. Players who are homeless will stand proud and represent their country at an international football tournament that aims to end homelessness and change the world.

Details at http://www.homelessworldcup.org/