Many cultures, one community
The Queensland Multicultural Festival is the largest community event in the state to celebrate cultural diversity.
Queensland has good reason to celebrate cultural diversity.
With more than 150 languages spoken in the state we are one of the most diverse societies in the world - from our nation's first people, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, to the newly arrived migrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Africa, East Timor and Samoa. According to the 2006 Census, 18 per cent of Queensland residents were born outside Australia.
On Sunday 12 October more than 100 Queensland migrants and refugees kicked off the Queensland Multicultural Festival by pledging their allegiance to Australia at a citizenship ceremony at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane. In true multicultural style they were welcomed by an Indigenous traditional owner and applauded to a rendition of the national anthem by a barbershop chorus.
The annual Queensland Multicultural Festival, which has attracted over 160 000 people since 2004, will showcase Queensland's uniquely diverse community across a broad range of art forms embracing music, dance, literature, theatre, film, sport, photography, visual art and traditional and contemporary cultural activities.
Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2009, renowned Queensland singer Katie Noonan, headlined the festival alongside Canadian musician Harry Manx, who blends Indian music with the delta blues.
Katie says Queensland's greatest strength lies in its rich cultural diversity. "Like a great jazz standard song - when everyone brings something unique to it, it makes it special and wonderful in a myriad of different ways," Katie says. "So too in life - our world is richer with different approaches, flavours and colours. It is this rich tapestry that makes Australia and Queensland unique and I am proud to be a small part of that."
The free community event is produced by Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ) on behalf of the Department of Communities.
MAQ partners with community groups to stage the festival in the spirit of togetherness, cooperation and social cohesion.
The festival program spanned five major stages and 12 precincts, and featured 40 international food stalls.
Kenyan master drummer Sam Okoth was on hand to introduce people to African traditions such as artefact making and drumming.
Sam says he aimed to break down cultural barriers at the Afri-can-do workshops. "Drums are a great medium as everyone can listen to or hit a drum," Sam says. "We also performed some traditional ceremonies to show people they can retain their identity and embrace their new culture."
Andy Weerasinghe, from the Queensland Buddhist Vihara Association, coordinated the Sri Lankan Twilight Ceremony that closed the festival. Andy says that through the colourful lantern performance we were able to reach out to people in friendship. "It is important for us to make our contribution and allow people to learn more about our culture," Andy says. Some festival events are being held at other times and locations.
As part of the educational program, international theatre troupe Puppeteers Without Borders - or Marionettistes Sans Frontieres - will present Diversity Rocks workshops to refugee students at Milpera State School in Brisbane's inner-south, and professional development workshops to educators from around the state. The French and Israeli performers will explore non-linguistic forms of communication and contemporary social issues.
Visiting marionettiste Erica Sapir says puppetry can bridge misunderstanding and help teachers to break down cultural and language barriers in the classroom. "Puppets have the ability to mirror society and give people a chance to look objectively at themselves," Erica says. "The workshop combines puppetry with storytelling, drama, music and humour, to cross cultural and language barriers."
The Queensland Multicultural Festival is supported by major sponsor Queensland University of Technology, along with other partners and sponsors including Network Ten, Translink, OurBrisbane.com, Roma Street Parkland and 612ABC Brisbane Radio.