About
A festival of new dimensions
As we gather for this year’s festival, Now or Never invites audiences to explore the profound interconnections between past, present, and future under the theme, I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE.
Challenging conventional boundaries, Now or Never asks us to imagine new realities, prompting us to consider the real illusions that define our perceptions of what lies ahead. What do we envision when we think of the future? Is it a utopia, a dystopia, or something entirely unexpected? Does 2025 resemble the visions imagined a century ago? And what, in turn, will 2050 look like?
Through interdisciplinary practices, artists, technologists and creators offer glimpses into possible futures, urging us to confront our hopes and fears, to dream boldly, and to engage with the complexities of our shared existence.
Each work is grounded in the legacies that brought us to this moment, including the enduring voices of First Nations people and the futures they continue to shape. From reflections on the climate crisis and AI in art to pioneering virtual performances, boundary-pushing music and immersive installations, Now or Never invites us to step into new dimensions – imagining a future that’s not just seen but felt, experienced, and reimagined.
Sustainability
The future we envision demands action in the present. Now or Never has achieved carbon neutral certification under the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program for two consecutive years, tracking every source of emissions, from your journey to our spaces to the luminous installations that transform them and even the drinks you enjoy on site. $1 from every ticket sale of Now or Never produced event supports our sustainability initiatives, from carbon offsets to circular services that offer environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
Our 2025 offsets will power hydro and landfill gas recovery initiatives, plus a land conservation project at Mount Sandy in South Australia. Here, iconic native species – short-beaked echidnas, purple-gaped honeyeaters, elegant parrots – find sanctuary in habitat managed by Ngarrindjeri elders, with revegetation sourced from Raukkan Aboriginal Community nursery. Through programmed works and dialogue, Now or Never explores how today’s sustainable acts become tomorrow’s possibilities.
Contact us
Questions or comments? Ask now.
General event enquiries:
nowornever@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Ticketing enquiries:
nowornever.ticketing@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Partnerships enquiries:
event.partnerships@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Media enquiries:
clare@articulatepr.com.au