There's never been a better time to make your way over for a 'fix' of your favourite films, an up-close look at literary luminaries, or a feast of conventional and avant-garde arts events.
Melbourne International Film Festival
It's been part and parcel of the city's heritage since 1952, when films such as 'A Lecture on Anatomy', 'Explosions on the Sun' and 'El Dorado' were the order of the day, informing and entertaining knowledge-hungry cinema-goers when the worldwide exchange of information and sharing of culture was often a slow and frustrating process.
Fast-forward to today, and despite the digital explosion which has led to a dizzying proliferation of genres in modern media, there's still nothing quite like a comfortable seat in a dark cinema in front of a big silver screen.
With this in mind, organisers of the annual Melbourne International Film Festival which runs from 30 July - 16 August in six CBD venues, have shaped a lively and thought-provoking programme with an impressive variety of offerings, which gets underway with a grand, red-carpet opening night, attended by celebrity guests.
This year, a special event, shown in Vertical Cinema, celebrates the career of acclaimed Australian actor David Guptill, who will be there himself, discussing his life and times. There are also numerous panel discussions and master classes scheduled for this stimulating 17 day season.
No fewer than 32 movies in this season's line-up are fresh from the legendary Cannes Film Festival, including some of 2015's high-profile winners. Amongst them is 'The Lobster', starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, which took the prestigious Jury Prize and 'The Assassin', a Taiwanese martial arts film which has been described as 'ravishingly beautiful', and earned the coveted Best Director award for Hou Hsiao-hsien.
Add to that dozens more titles, with films about love, films about evil, dramas and documentaries, short films, films for young people, plus side-splitting or sometimes black comedies; a total of 350 movies, and it's time to settle back with your popcorn! www.miff.com.au
Melbourne Writers Festival
Good writing is always in fashion and no more so than during this popular annual event when literary stars from home and abroad descend upon the city to share back stories and exclusive illuminations, lead question times and address workshops, all the while getting to know thousands of fans who read and enjoy their works; both fiction and non-fiction.
Storytelling sessions, music and art, and much more, take place all around Melbourne at a variety of venues. Writers confirmed so far include Canadian activist and social commentator Naomi Klein, Jon Ronson, whose current hit book, 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed,' explores the downside of modern electronic communication, Eric Schlosser, investigative journalist and author of the best-selling 'Fast Food Nation,' Dr Marc Lewis, a recovered drug addict who specialises in writing about addiction and Tariq Ali, a Pakistani writer whose works explore issues of conflict and terrorism and the role of the USA in international politics.
With an introductory address from Louis de Bernières, author of international best-seller Captain Corelli's Mandolin 2015 promises a wealth of entertainment and a full programme can be found on http://mwf.com.au/mwf-2015/ from Friday 24 July.
Melbourne Festival 2015
This hot ticket isn't just a Victorian experience. Every year thousands of visitors flock from interstate and all over the world for Melbourne Festival (8 October - 25 October), a spectacular programme of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and much, much more.
Melbourne Festival is where new productions are premiered, international experiences arrive down under and local artists are given the chance to demonstrate their skills and talents to an always-appreciative audience.
Now thirty years old, Melbourne Festival has reinvented itself every year, like a fresh new butterfly from an ever-more complex cultural chrysalis.
2015 sees the arrival of the London Stage production of '1984', based on Orwell's spookily portentous 1949 novel. For those of a certain age, it's often acknowledged that Orwell's fiction is now our reality while younger audiences regard this work in a different light, admiring the sheer skill of the stage production while still appreciating its context.
Another highlight this year is the return of the Melbourne Art trams project in which artists in a number of fields, including architecture, choreography, typography and photography customise a tram to reflect the architecture, urban planning, and the living interior of Melbourne as a city.
The full programme is soon to be released. Keep an eye on https://www.festival.melbourne for updates.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
This smorgasbord of avant-garde delights has been a perennial favourite amongst Melburnians and visitors to the state, since its inception - on a much smaller scale than today's comprehensive offering, all the way back in 1982.
Popular with artists from all across Australia and around the world, Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from 16 September - 4 October and offers a platform for artists in genres as diverse as circus, dance, theatre, dance, visual arts and more.
Across the city 'Uncommon Places' is the result of inviting 24 artists to transform ordinary places into artworks, seeing everyday surroundings in a new light. Fringe Film is an open access platform for films of all types, including documentaries, short films, animation and music videos. The works that are voted the best films will feature in public screenings.
Fringe Furniture is a remarkable showcase of lighting, home wares, furniture and decorative arts, brought to festival visitors by a group of innovative experimental designers. A festival feature now for 29 years, previous exhibitors have gone on to achieve great things in their chosen areas of expertise.