CELEBRATE Cultural Diversity Week by getting involved with Ballarat\u2019s annual Harmony Fest, from this Friday, 15 to Sunday, 24 March.<\/p>\n
The 10-day festival will champion the theme of \u2018All of Us\u2019 across the city, with over 30 events and initiatives in the diverse multicultural program, reflecting the make-up of Ballarat\u2019s community.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat\u2019s intercultural advisor, Yvon Davis said the festival will also look at multiculturalism on the goldfields, and it\u2019s all about mixing and mingling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much to learn from each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Harmony Fest\u2019s size, involvement and popularity has grown since it began nine years ago. A highlight of this year\u2019s program includes the Dunnstown Irish Festival, a huge coup for Harmony Fest, joining the program for the first time.<\/p>\n
Celtic bands, Irish sports and games, potato peeling and picking, a tug of war, the Guinness Relay, Irish dancing, food trucks, popular local band, Old Melbourne Road and more, will all be on site.<\/p>\n
The Dunnstown Irish Festival is held across St Patrick\u2019s weekend at the Dunnstown Recreation Reserve.<\/p>\n
Across the 10 days, 16 local eateries and restaurants are providing \u2018Tastes of the World,\u2019 an event featuring unique cultural cuisines to excite Ballarat\u2019s taste buds.<\/p>\n
Some of the businesses involved include, Caf\u00e9 Meigas celebrating Latin America, The Pub with Two Names championing Argentina, Markama Caf\u00e9 with some Ethiopian, Curry Star serving up Indian and P. Frangos and Sons getting into Greek.<\/p>\n
Backspace Gallery and the Art Gallery of Ballarat are on board with their exhibitions, Beyond 50%, focussing on art\u2019s influence on cultural change, and Picasso: The Vollard Suite, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia.<\/p>\n
A workshop at the Art Gallery, Women Artists in China, is an opportunity to meet eight women who are contemporary Chinese artists. A presentation followed by discussions, will show work from Zhu Xiaorong, Hong Fan, Hua Manjun and Zhang Wenjing.<\/p>\n
Attendees will hear about the artists\u2019 experiences and understanding of contemporary art in Australia and in China. Chinese translation is provided.<\/p>\n
The Intercultural City Gala Dinner will return on Friday, 22 March at Mercure Ballarat, with a three-course dinner and live multicultural entertainment including Ballarat Ska Union, a dance band. Guests are invited to wear their traditional or formal dress.<\/p>\n
Harmony Fest will conclude with a bang at the Rock the Block Culture Fest at FedUni\u2019s SMB campus on Lydiard Street south, led by young people.<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Libraries at Wendouree, Lucas, Sebastopol, Learmonth, Eureka and Delacombe are presenting Harmony Storytime through the festival, shining a light on diversity, inclusion and sharing.<\/p>\n
Australian Harmony Day on Thursday, 21 March will celebrate its 20th anniversary.<\/p>\n