It’s been an exciting start to the year with AIAA cultural events and networks growing across Australia and overseas. On 1 January, myself and some AIAA friends attended an event of stunning traditional Indian cultural performances presented by Culture Cafe, Craigieburn Melbourne. The leaders of the Culture Cafe Mrinal and Makarand are doing wonderful work presenting multicultural events in Kalkalla, Melbourne. We were very happy to attend and meet with Culture Cafe leaders at the event, pledging to support each other in the future, as well as enjoying an inspiring start to 2024.
During February, I was fortunate to visit the Solomon Islands and held high level meetings with Barnie Sivoro Permanent Secretary of Culture and Tourism of the Solomon Islands and also Samuel Cox, Second Secretary of Public Diplomacy at the Australian High Commission to share ideas and discuss AIAA Solomon Islands projects for the coming year. Projects currently in the pipe-line include cultural visits by artists from both countries throughout the year.
This was followed by my first trip to India to support our members-visual artist Deepa Chandran and musician Poly Varghese in launching their first group exhibition – Sound and Silence. They are planning a series of international art exhibitions to take place in India and Australia in coming years. Their first group exhibition was held at David Hall in Fort Cochi, Kerala and presented the works of 11 Indian artists and two Australian artists including myself.
In March we launched the “Spirit of the Solomon Islands Tour” with Natty Dolaiasi currently touring Victoria along with Jimi Nare, Ali Rock and Charles Maimarosia. Natty’s project will tour three states- South Australia, Victoria and NSW a major highlight being performances at WOMADelaide as part of Wantok Sing Sing at WOMADelaide. Other highlights include collab with world class percussionist Greg Sheehan touring Northern NSW plus workshopping with the Solomon Islands PALM workers in Melbourne with support from the PALM Authority. Natty will also be one of the international headliners at AIAA upcoming Multikulcha Festival in Byron Bay May 2024, along with over 100 performers onstage. Poly Varghese Classical Indian Maestro of the Mohan Veena will also head-line the Multikulcha Festival.
We will also be attending the Asia Pacific Awards in Sydney on 23 April so see you there!
Many thanks to our current sponsors Solomon Airlines for sponsoring Natty Dolaiasi and Multicultural NSW and Ballina Council for multicultural festivals for Ballina and Byon Bay. We are currently anticipating funding for activities in Hobsons Bay, Wyndham Area plus West and North Melbourne as well as regional NSW.