Time for multiculture events to shine

Application for Multicultural Festivals and Events Program is available until 27 October. PICTURE: UNSPLASH

The State government is supporting Victoria’s multicultural communities to celebrate, share and preserve their culture with a new round of festivals and events grants.

Regional communities will also benefit through the Regional Multicultural Festivals and Events Fund with more than $1 million available to support multicultural festivals and events in regional Victoria.

This gives regional multicultural organisations the opportunity to celebrate and share culture and will drive more visitors to the regions, with no cap on funding requests.

Multicultural affairs minister Colin Brooks today announced the opening of the next round of the Multicultural Festivals and Events Program funding for communities to deliver events between 1 January and 30 June 2024.

“I’m so proud of the role the Multicultural Festival and Events program has played, and continues to play, in supporting Victorian festivals and events that showcase our state’s dynamic cultural diversity,” Mr Brooks said.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available to organisations in metropolitan areas to host events that celebrate and showcase culture and strengthen Victoria’s vibrant multiculturalism.

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 invested a further $12 million over four years in more than 25 multicultural festivals and events including the African Music and Cultural Festival, Melbourne Italian Festa, Lonsdale Greek Festival, Polish Festival, Hispanic Latin American Festival, Tamil Festival and Springvale Lunar New Year.

“I fully encourage organisations to apply for this funding that will help bring your events to life, as these events are contributors to our multicultural spirit and the richness of community life here in Victoria,” Mr Brooks said.

Applications are open from 21 September until 27 October.

For more information visit www.vic.gov.au/multicultural-festivals-and-events-program.