The 2023 National Multicultural Festival, to be held in February, is shaping up to be a fitting celebration of the 25th anniversary, the ACT Government says. There will be an array of food, dance, music, cultural displays, and, for the first time, a program of multicultural workshops.
Returning in 2023 after two pandemic-affected years, the festival will run from 17 to 19 February, returning to the city and for the first time expanding to Glebe Park. More information about the festival location will be available in the coming weeks.
“The multicultural communities of Canberra are ready for the festival to return – and they are not alone!” said Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs. “I know the wider Canberra community is excited for the festival to be back in 2023.”
More than 260 stallholders have been offered a place at the festival, including community food vendors, multicultural and information stalls, commercial operators, and diplomatic missions.
Ninety-six local groups have received $180,000 in funding grants to participate. The grants support Canberra’s multicultural groups to participate in the famous festival parade – helping with costs of costumes and musical instruments – and host cultural performance showcases.
Many new and emerging multicultural community groups received these grants for the 2023 festival. For the first time, there will be an Afghan Showcase, as well as well-loved favourites like the Latin Carnivale and Pacific Islands Showcase.
“Canberra’s Afghan community will address the event with great pride to contribute to the blaze of this vivid festival,” said Faisal Pirzad, Vice President of the Canberra Afghan Committee.
“The Afghan poet Rumi Balki once said: ‘Everything that is made beautiful, fair, and lovely is for the eye of one who sees.’”
The 2023 National Multicultural Festival grants received the highest number of applications ever, Ms Cheyne said.
Cultural activity grants to hold workshops were new this year. They will involve dance, art, language, and activities including:
• how to wear an Indian sari or Korean hanbok
• kung fu and tai chi
• bush dancing
• Appalachian mountain clogging
• Tongan language greetings
• how to write your name using the Ancient Egyptian Coptic alphabet
Louise Frodyma, President, Silver Soles Cloggers Inc., said the group is excited to bring a clogging workshop to the festival.
“We are looking forward to giving people the chance to come and try clogging for themselves, and also learn a bit about the vast and colourful history of the dance style,” she said.
More information about how to join the workshops will be available on the festival website closer to the event date.
The festival now seeks volunteers to support the event.
“The festival is a great event on the Canberra calendar, fostering cross-cultural awareness, promoting understanding and respect, and celebrating our cultural and language diversity,” Ms Cheyne said. “Many of us have attended the festival over the years. Joining the festival as a volunteer – even for a brief time – gives a whole new perspective and experience.”
Each year, more than 500 volunteers – including information assistants, emcees, and stage managers – play a crucial role in bringing the festival to life.
To find out more about the festival, including details on the volunteer opportunities available, visit www.multiculturalfestival.com.au.
