Mission Statement

Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival is an innovative international cultural festival promoting ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It aims to increase community understanding, enjoyment and participation in ikebana. 

The Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival is a combination of free exhibitions, the following ticketed events, and an international conference.

• Ikebana Workshops: Including ikebana for men, for kids & ikebana in Japanese. 
• Ikebana Demonstration 
• Ikebana Dinner Show: a dining experience at Beleura House & Garden with Oshun Tsukagoshi from Japan.
• Ikebana Performance: an ikebana installation with live music by renowned Australian guitarist Slava Grigoryan at Melbourne Recital Centre 
• Ikebana Conference, “Can Ikebana be a mindfulness activity?”: Speakers include the Wa Ikebana Research Group.

Our festival includes an online exhibition, Hanadayori, which welcomes requests from people worldwide. International ikebana masters and practitioners, including artists from Ukraine and the winners of Ikebana Gallery Award, will create works in response to the requests. These works will be published online and in an photobook to mark the beginning of the Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival.

The Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival is also pleased to launch the Ikebana Container Award, presenting an opportunity for ceramic artists to create artworks to inspire ikebana artists. Judged by internationally renowned ceramic artist, Hiroe Swen, the prize is worth $1,000.

Details: www.ikebanafestival.com

Contact: wa.ikebana@gmail.com

The Wa Melbourne Ikebana Festival is an international cultural event organised by Tsubo Melbourne Pty Ltd. For more about Melbourne Ikebana Festival, please visit our FAQ page.  

Mission Statement

Vision

Harmony (wa) through flowers - for society and the environment.

People around the world experiencing, enjoying, understanding and appreciating ikebana individually and together.

Mission

To increase community understanding, enjoyment and participation in ikebana by promoting the benefits of ikebana as

1. an ancient and highly-respected cultural activity originating in Japan
2. a creative and enjoyable art form for anyone to practice or view
3. a meditative and therapeutic activity 
4. a way to change attitudes - to live harmoniously with nature rather than regard it just as a resource
5. a way to have a positive influence on others and on the earth.

Goals

• The number of people viewing, learning and practicing ikebana will increase
• Ikebana teachers and students (local, interstate and overseas) will have increased, affordable and easily accessed opportunities to exhibit, demonstrate, discuss and teach their art
• the wider community will have regular and increasing opportunities to engage with ikebana in a range of ways

Values and Behaviours

Wa committee members, staff and volunteers are from a range of ikebana schools, experience and backgrounds. We value the following behaviours and strive to act in accordance with them.

• Kindness and consideration for each other, respecting our personal qualities, similarities and differences
• Respect for each other’s practice of ikebana, with due regard for each school of ikebana
• Communicate in an open, accurate and straightforward way using appropriate language
• Think innovatively about how to best use limited resources to come up with new ways to support Wa activities and genuinely consider all ideas presented
• Work creatively, managing large or small projects autonomously, taking responsibility for active and creative decision-making wherever appropriate.
• Support each other and our activities, providing mentorship and expertise in a creative, sensitive and helpful manner.
• Contribute to the achievement of Wa’s goals to the best of our ability, having respect and consideration for other people’s priorities