A wrap on Cultural Diversity Week 2019

Victorians embraced Cultural Diversity Week through an exciting program of activities celebrating the diverse cultures, communities and people that make Victoria one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world.

Whether it was attending the prestigious Premier’s Gala Dinner, organising local community events, dancing at Victoria’s Multicultural Festival or immersing themselves in cinema at the annual VMC Film Festival, we saw the very best of our vibrant multicultural community throughout the week. 

Premier’s Gala Dinner

The week opened with a magical evening of traditional and contemporary entertainment for 1400 guests at the Premier's Gala Dinner.

Premier Daniel Andrews, alongside Minister for Multicultural Affairs Richard Wynne and Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien, highlighted the value and importance of multiculturalism in Victoria and expressed sorrow for the horrific events that took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, the day before the event.

Guests were treated to memorable performances from a diverse collection of artists, including Assembly, the JJay De Melo tribute dancers, Kira Puru, Mama Alto, Keko Skiviran and The Merindas.

Victoria’s Multicultural Festival

Thousands of Victorians headed  to Federation Square for Victoria's Multicultural Festival on Saturday 23 March. Crowds gathered at the Commonwealth Bank Main Stage to move and groove to headline acts Dallas Woods, Iaki and Russell Robertson (presented by Melbourne Football Club), and to enjoy the day’s festivities.

Attendees had the opportunity to interact with Melbourne Football Club players, take home giveaways and practise their AFL handball skills at the AFL Victoria Sports Zone, while cricket fans could pose for a photo with the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup trophies.

Families and children enjoyed free cultural experiences, such as tea ceremony demonstrations and turban tying at City of Melbourne's Global Garden, while children enjoyed creative activities  and the Department of Education and Training's Kids Zone.

The Immigration Museum Primary School Film Competition also showcased a range of inspiring short films on the big screen at Deakin Edge as prizes were presented to filmmakers across the state from Prep to Grade 6 who explored the theme 'This is what a Victorian looks like'. Watch the winning films.

With so much to see and do, festival-goers were kept nourished by the many food and beverage stalls serving up delicious cultural cuisines. 

Culture Waves

Following the festival, some of Australia’s hottest young acts brought the diversity and soul of the local music scene to the stage for Culture Waves. Audiences both young and old embraced a mix of hip hop, R&B and soul from leading artists Baker Boy, Kaiit and Adrian Eagle throughout a blissful night to close Cultural Diversity Week 2019.

VMC Film Festival

The final event on the Cultural Diversity Week 2019 calendar was the third annual VMC Film Festival. Presented in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology, attendees watched incredible everyday stories of multiculturalism hit the big screen at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), as part of a sold out evening showcasing emerging and established filmmakers on Thursday 23 May 2019. Find out all about the winning films from VMC Film Festival 2019.

If you missed out on the activities, visit the #ProudtoBelong and #VicMultiFest feeds on Facebook and Instagram to catch up on the week that was Cultural Diversity Week 2019.

You can also subscribe to the VMC E-News to make sure you get updates about Cultural Diversity Week.

The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) would like to thank everyone who was involved in Cultural Diversity Week 2019, with special acknowledgement to our volunteers and generous sponsors.