Looking through the windows of the world

THE Geelong CBD is offering a glimpse into a range of vibrant international cultures, with the Windows of the World exhibition opening on Wednesday this week.

With the support of Cultura and Knight Frank, the eye-catching display has transformed 12 windows along Yarra Street to showcase the rich scale of traditions and artistry within the Geelong community.

Each window shows the diverse ways in which the community celebrates, featuring work from the international associations and groups from countries such as Afghanistan, China, Russia and Scotland.

Cultura chief executive officer Rebecca Smith said the exhibition was a way to acknowledge the cultures from around the world felt around Geelong.

“The main aim with all of our Cultura community-led programs including the iconic Pako Festa, is to educate, highlight and share the wonderful heritage, traditions and customs of cultures from around the world, who now proudly call Geelong home,” she said.

“The Windows of the World exhibition is a fantastic way to showcase 12 of 49 diverse communities and cultures that Cultura supports across the Geelong region.”

Ms Smith expressed her gratitude for the support Cultura received from the various community groups in preparing the exhibition.

“We are thankful to those multicultural communities who contributed to this wonderful initiative and proud that we can help bring this project to life, together with our friends at the City of Greater Geelong,” she said.

The City’s acting executive director of placemaking, James Stirton, is also enthusiastic about the exhibition.

“As Geelong grows, our cultural demographic is becoming more diverse with increasing numbers of residents born overseas,” he said.

“The Windows of the World initiative is intended to celebrate the growing cultural diversity of our community, foster community pride, cross-cultural understanding and a sense of belonging during the festive season.

“We hope that people will scan the QR code to learn more about each tradition represented in the display. By learning about each tradition, community members can enhance their sense of cross-cultural understanding and foster a sense of community pride.”

The free exhibition is open 24/7 until January 7, 2026. Head to geelongaustralia.com.au/events