The Piers Festival 2014
Victoria’s greatest celebration of migrationSaturday January 25. FREE event
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On Saturday 25 January 2014, The Piers Festivalwill bring the Port Melbourne piers precinct to life with a spectacular display of music, dance, markets, exhibitions, forums and more. This colourful celebration of Melbourne’s diversity will link in with Victoria’s Australia Day activities and highlight the state’s rich history of migration. The Piers Festival will run on Princes Pier from 12 to 9:30pm. The event is free, family friendly and will culminate with fireworks.
The Piers Festival 2014 will host a wonderful spread of musical artists, including jazz and salsa legend Jimmy Bosch (USA/Puerto Rico) and the Salsa Kingz, Russian thieve music by VulgarGrad, classical Indian vocals and a Greek music spectacular. Audiences can also take part in an equally diverse array of dance including Albanian, Sri Lankan, Welsh and world-renowned African drumming and dance performers Asanti Dance Theatre. There will also be diverse food, arts & crafts, photo & historical exhibitions, storytelling, choirs and kid’s activities. There will be something for everyone with even more artists to be announced!
A special feature of the Festival is the Migration Forumswhere the audience will hear some incredible stories that draw out the universal experience of the migrant. Guest speakers from some of Melbourne's key migrant communities – both established and emerging – will share poignant memories about their experiences of leaving their homelands, their journey by land, sea or sky and how they built their new lives in Australia.
The Migration Forums will be themed as follows:
12:30 – 1:30pm: Migration Mosaic (a mix of artists and influencers of migrant heritage)2:00 – 3:00pm: Baltic Waves (marking the 65 year anniversary of Baltic migration since the late 1940s)
3:30 – 4:30pm: Australia Day Ambassadors (migrants who have become outstanding citizens)
Established in 2012, The Piers Festival celebrates Victoria’s incredible cultural diversity by reflecting on the rich histories of both Station Pier and Princes Pier. From the gold rush to wartime, from post-war migration to cruise shipping, these piers have played a pivotal role in Victoria’s growth and offered a gateway to the diversity of cultures that enrich our community.
The Piers Festival is proudly produced by Multicultural Arts Victoria and supported by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Arts Victoria, the Australia Day Committee (Vic), Major Projects Victoria, Yarra Trams and Commonwealth Bank.
Event details FREE EVENT
Date: Saturday 25 January, 2014Time: 12 to 9:30pm
Venue: Princes Pier (off Pier Street, Port Melbourne)
Transport: Tram 109 lightrail to Waterfront Place, Port Melbourne.
Website: multiculturalarts.com.au
Media queries: Claudia Escobar, Marketing and Development, Multicultural Arts Victoria
development@multiculturalarts.com.auPh: 9188 3681 Mob 0449 163 753
