Museum exhibition celebrates Pako Festa’s legacy

GEELONG’S National Wool Museum has unveiled Cultural Bridges: Celebrating Four Decades of Pako Festa, an exhibition that marks the 40-year history of the multicultural festival.

In partnership with Cultura, the exhibition showcases the festival’s enduring legacy of promoting diversity and fostering unity within the community.

City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan attributed the festival’s longevity to its ability to evolve alongside the city.

“The longevity of Pako Festa is testament to the festival’s adaptation to changes and its ability to evolve alongside the City of Greater Geelong,” he said.

“The City of Greater Geelong has a long and rich history of supporting Pako Festa with Cultura to deliver this popular event that celebrates Geelong’s diverse cultures.”

National Wool Museum director Padraic Fisher highlighted the importance of the exhibition.

“Presenting the stories of Pako Festa and the communities involved with this much loved and successful event is a major step in fulfilling our Vision to be a Museum of and for Geelong,” Mr Fisher said.

“It is an important opportunity for many voices in our community to be heard and cultures seen, joyfully coming together peacefully in one museum.”

Featuring traditional costumes, heritage items, archival materials, and personal anecdotes, the exhibition provides insights into how Pako Festa has mirrored societal changes while remaining relevant and inclusive.

Senior curator Josephine Rout said Cultural Bridges was more than an exhibition.

“Cultural Bridges is a tribute to the people who have made Pako Festa the success it is today – one of Australia’s largest multicultural festivals that has been held here in Geelong, on Wadawurrung Country, for over four decades.”

The exhibition, which will be open until July, is part of a broader celebration that includes the launch of the “40 Years Young – Online History Project,” an interactive timeline detailing Pako Festa’s history.