Latin beats, Bollywood moves and African rhythms come together at Byron’s first multicultural art exhibition

A CELEBRATION of the Byron Shire’s multicultural community will take place this weekend at the inaugural Multikulcha art exhibition at Coorabell Hall.

MP for Ballina Tamara Smith will open the event at 5.30 pm on Friday 23 January, followed by performances by Latin dance band Las Comadres and Bundjalung musician Nigel Stewart.

Stewart will also showcase his art at the event, along with fellow Bundjalung artist Dylan Bolt and other artists from a diverse range of backgrounds, including Made Siki Astawa, Made Danti Coblyn, Jannisse Phillis, Rudiger Wasser, Helene Safajou and Judy Shelley, who also organised the event.

The exhibition will continue on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, featuring artist demonstrations, a drawing circle and a music jam with African musician Kobya Panguana.

Sunday afternoon will offer a range of activities, including artist talks, workshops and dance performances, with Brazilian dance, a performance of Byron Bay Hula/Mana Aloha Hula and Bollywood dances by Shiva Shimmer Squad.

Murwillumbah-based Shiva Shimmer Squad founder Astha Prasad, who is Fijian-Indian background, said events like this were important to create unity in the community.

“We are all different cultures and speak different languages and we are coming together and accepting and celebrating each other’s differences,” she said.

Shelley said she began organising multicultural festivals in the Byron Shire 20 years ago but said there had never been a multicultural art exhibition. But she also wanted to include other activities to entice people – especially families – to come along.

She also coordinates the Bay FM show Multicultural Nation, which airs on Tuesday afternoons, and the local radio station will broadcast live from the event on Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Mullumbimby-based Joanne Morrishwill provide refreshments such as tea, coffee, curry and cakes throughout the weekend, with funds raised going towards the Red Heart Project, which helps women in Africa.

Shelley said if there was enough interest and support from the artists, she may make the art exhibition an annual event.

For more information, visit coorabellhall.net/upcoming-events