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Colours of the World Photo Gallery
Everybody knows the wonderful atmosphere a festival creates. It’s an occasion for feasting and celebration, of people coming together. Festivals provide, colour, excitement and a sense of gratitude in just being alive.
AIAA’s most recent major project was the creation of a Multicultural Festival –“Colours of the World”, which was held at the Byron Bay Cultural & Community Centre on 28th January 2006.
The festival was coordinated through the Work for the Dole Project, and the participants learnt valuable skills in areas of website design, photography, video editing and promotions. Dean Peachey said, “As a musician, this course is inspired me to collaborate more with other musicians. It’s also provided the resources for me to organise large scale performances and has been a great guide to learning the fundamentals of event management”.
As the project focused upon multiculturalism in the Byron Shire, the festival provided a fascinating insight into the spectrum of cultures which add to the region’s colour and diversity. Through interviews with residents who hail from other countries, one thing is totally clear - unity is what it’s all about.
The other common thread has been the desire to see Indigenous cultures protected from further destruction. Festival organisers were recently impressed by an interview with local Steiner students to hear how much emphasis is placed on culture per se, as a part of their learning environment. When asked:’Would you like to learn more about Aboriginal culture?”, students were quick to point out that they would indeed like to learn and understand more and expressed how beneficial it would be to all young Australians. This view is shared by the organisers of ‘Colours of the World”, and was one of the underpinning themes for the festival.
The festival included Aboriginal dancing and films, a Martial Arts Expo, storytelling/folk tales, musicians, dancers, guest speakers and a “Faces of Byron” photographic exhibition.
Founder of the AIAA Judy Shelley, established the organization in 1998 after living 10 years in Indonesia and appreciating it’s cultural beauty. She says, “The arts enhance understanding between cultures, and can also help build bridges of friendship between lands. The idea for this festival has been bubbling away for five years now, and it’s really exciting to see it finally get off the ground”.
For more information email: aiaa@aiaa.org.au