This year's National Multicultural Festival has again been an outstanding success with last year's record crowds being equalled despite the rain which fell on the night of the Food and Dance Spectacular, the Festival's single biggest attraction.
The Festival's Artistic Director, Dominic Mico said "Festivals are important agents of change in communities around the world. They provide new cultural experiences for people and they unite communities and transform the built environment of a city from its daily life into a different state of being."
In welcoming people Multicultural Affairs Minister John Hargreaves said "The festival highlights all the best aspects of Australian society right here in Canberra. It showcases a vast assortment of cultures working together in a spirit of inclusiveness and unity, harmony and goodwill and is a tribute to all citizens of the ACT."
During the two weeks of the Festival the centre of the city was transformed into one of the biggest stages in Australia and was a dynamic and exciting celebration which drew on the talents of the local community as well as interstate and international performers.
This year also saw the Fringe festival staged in Civic Square over five nights and saw a smorgasbord of unique and quirky acts entertain the enthusiastic audiences in an outdoor cabaret type setting.
" Canberra has over 200 distinct ethnic groups" said Mary Porter "and nowhere in Australia is there a festival to rival what we have here. Canberra really is a model to the rest of the country of how multiculturalism really can work."
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