Grant applications are now open for community organisations to participate in the 2024 celebrations for the National Multicultural Festival.
The grants program provides funding to community organisations to participate, celebrate, and showcase their respective cultural traditions and heritage, through language, music, dance, cultural displays, workshops, and food.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Tara Cheyne said, “This grants program is a wonderful opportunity to showcase and celebrate the diversity of our community. Whether it’s performances, workshops, cultural showcases, or stall activities – there are so many ways for people to get involved.
“I am also delighted to announce that this year’s grants program has received a boost in funding, with $200,000 on offer for the 2024 National Multicultural Festival. To further support the participation of multicultural groups and organisations, stallholder fees – which have been frozen since 2018 – will remain the same.”
“I look forward to receiving applications from familiar, new, and emerging communities, as we continue to recognise, represent and celebrate what our multicultural community has to offer our wonderful city.”
The connection to community continues to be strengthened with the appointment of four new members to the Community Panel Reference Group – Ms Ambreen Ashif, Mr Luka Musicki, Ms Ruchika Goel and Mr Kofi Bonsu. These new members join the existing four members, Chin Wong, Toa Takiara, Gio Cano and Malcolm Buchanan, who have all agreed to continue for an additional year. The new 8 panel Reference Group reflects the diversity of cultures represented at the Festival and will help to continue to promote participation from new and emerging communities.
The 2024 National Multicultural Festival is scheduled to take place from Friday 16th February to Sunday 18th February. In addition to the grants program, applications for stallholders, performers, and hosts of cultural workshops are now open for applications.
For community and commercial businesses, this is a wonderful opportunity to get involved as stallholders to add to the extraordinary array of cuisines and cultural crafts that the festival celebrates.
Community and professional performers are invited to apply to showcase their talents within the entertainment program. The festival footprint will replicate the 25th Anniversary Festival held in 2023, with stages spanning from Glebe Park to Garema Place and all areas in between.
Crowd favourite – the Festival Parade – will return in 2024 and interested groups and individuals are encouraged to submit applications to join this dynamic and mobile celebration connecting the multicultural community throughout the city.
The Festival is also delighted to announce the return of cultural workshops, welcoming craftspeople, artists, and creatives to submit their concepts for engaging the broader community through immersive, hands-on experiences, that facilitate the sharing of culture and passion.
