folio 78:magazine2 a4.qxd 16/2/10 8:06 pm page 1 · viva victoria will showcase the creative depth...

Folio 78:Magazine2 A4.qxd 16/2/10 8:06 PM

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Black Harmony Gathering

Visible Regional Emerge Festival

> Continuation of the Visy Venue EventAssistance pilot program, to supportmulticultural activity and programs in the Cityof Hume

> Launch of Step By Step film documentary onSudanese refugees in Melbourne at ACMI withfilm maker Thomas Barecevic

> Presenting Music Deli concerts inpartnership with ABC Radio National, plus thecreation of a pilot Music Deli concert at thenew acoustically amazing Melbourne RecitalCentre

> Touring work to regional Victoria inpartnership with RAV – Kavisha Mazella Trio

> Creation of a new professional platformseries for emerging artists - Visible sessionsLive at the Black Box

> Development of the Fresh Youth programwith forums, master classes and internationalguest artists- Y Love and Akil

> Participation in an international delegationto China with the Australian MulticulturalFoundation

> Presenting a refugee week forum inpartnership with the Ethnic CommunitiesCouncil of Victoria

> Creation of Cultural Intersections ResidencySeries for the development of newintercultural work with the City of Yarra andAusdance

> Working with Youthworx on a communitydevelopment project with homeless kids whofilmed MAV events at the Arts Centre

> Assisting accomplished band Black Jesus –Experience to tour to Ethiopia and Germany

> Hosting forums for the City of Melbourne,APRA and professional developmentworkshops for artists

And 2010 promises to be just as eventful forMAV. We have commenced this new year, theYear of the Tiger, with two very importantongoing award winning initiatives; the SuzukiNight Market and the Mix It Up program.The first Mix It Up! event for this year was theToumani Diabati concert held in January inHamer Hall with special guests Jali BubaKuyateh and Afrodizziact. We also workedclosely with the Australia Day Committeeand the Arts Centre to present a new initiativeat the Myer Music Bowl with the IndianCommunity - Jai Ho! Another continuing

partnership is with Kultour, and we will betouring Mandinka Sound – One Africa andMuhamanwe to five centres in Victoria andtwenty five destinations nationally. Their tourkicked off recently at the Footscray CommunityArts Centre. These two African groups aregreat ambassadors for multicultural arts inAustralia and are an indication of the depth oftalent we have in Melbourne. We also soonwill have Zulya and the Children of theUnderground touring as well as visual artistLisa Hilli. In March we have Cultural Diversity Week,which allows us to reflect on the importanceof eliminating racism in our community. It is atimely reminder that we must all be proactivein this especially given the recent eventsinvolving the Indian community. The Arts canplay a critical role in making sure we have acohesive community. MAV will also presentour unique Black Harmony Gathering inpartnership with the Warrior Spirit ArtCollective in the beautiful natural setting ofFairfield Amphitheatre, to celebrate theInternational Day for the Elimination of Racismon Sunday March 21. At the event we willlaunch the Black Harmonies inaugural CDsupported by the Koori Justice Unit.

MAV once again will work collaboratively withour valued partner the Victorian MulticulturalCommission to celebrate our living culturalheritage in Cultural Diversity Week with VivaVictoria. The Viva Victoria Festival willhighlight the importance and contribution tothe arts made by both established andemerging artists and communities in Victoria.Viva Victoria will showcase the creative depthof the talent in Melbourne and beyond. MAVwill also be presenting some of our mosttalented artists at the Premiers’ GalaDinner for Cultural Diversity Week at theCrown Palladium Ballroom.

Finally and most importantly we are currentlyin the midst of recording our history. We areworking with Paul Clarkson to document thestories and the evolution of Multicultural ArtsVictoria from the Festival of All Nations intothe vibrant organisation it is now. We thankyou all for being part of the journey andmaking MAV what it is today.

Jill Morgan Executive Officer

Multicultural Arts Victoria presenteda significant artistic program in2009 with our artists and

communities both established andemerging in partnership with a widerange of organisations. Some of theachievements for over the past year were:

> The continuation of the award winningpartnership program Mix It Up!, developed inassociation with the Arts Centre

> Our new corporate identity rolled out in2009 which was created for the organisationby distinguished design company Cato PurnellPartners

> The recording of the VISIBLE 4, Urban Proseand New Scool Rulez CDs - musicalsnapshots of Melbourne’s many diversecultures both traditional and contemporary

> Further growth of the Emerge CulturalNetwork supporting new and emerging artiststhrough the Visible mentoring program

> The creation of Emerge Cultural RegionalHubs – in Shepparton and Ballarat

> Producing the annual Emerge Festival – aplatform for Melbourne’s freshest newtalented emerging artists

> Successful implementation of reconciliationprograms, including Black Harmony Gatheringand hosting two indigenous trainee positionsleading to pathways in the arts

> Hosting Kultour the National MulticulturalArts Touring Company at the MAV offices

> Touring of artists nationally in partnershipwith Kultour

> Auspicing Tony Yap Company (TYC) whoworked internationally in partnership withSouth Korean Nottle Theatre Company topresent A Palimpsest in Melbourne and theNecessary Stage presenting Past Caring inSingapore

> TYC and MAV assisted in the creation andproduction of the first contemporary ArtsFestival in Melaka, Malaysia

> Continuing partnership with VMC includedprogramming the Premiers Gala Dinner for1,400 people and the development of VivaVictoria for Cultural Diversity Week attendedby over 50,000

> Successfully programming the Suzuki NightMarkets which were attended by over 300,000people


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Visible Sessions Live @ the Black Box The Buddha My Body - tyc& Nottle Theatre

MAV Staff 2008

Mix It Up! Visible Concert

Visible Sessions Live @the Black Box


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haBiBis

Dya Singh

Kavisha Mazzella

Kutcha Edwards

Johnny Mac

African Royal Drummers, Narasirato PanPipers from the Solomon Islands,Shiamak Bollywood dance group andthe soul pumping vibes of African bandBlak Roots. MC’s Shiralee Hood andNeda.

The day will be opened with youthforum Skillz at 12pm, coordinated byour indigenous trainee Calca Edwards, atraditional Welcome to Country and asmoking ceremony followed by theBlack Harmonies CD launch andCultural Stage. There is a Koori BBQ ofkangaroo and emu sausages, culturalfood stalls, children’s activities,workshops and a market place ofIndigenous and African wares. Peoplefrom all cultures come together for theBlack Harmony Gathering a positivecelebration that is very special andimportant for the community. YouthworxJoel Bennetti, our other trainee, will berecording the day! All welcome - say noto racism!

Black Harmony Gathering is proudlysupported by City of Yarra, VictoriaRocks, Koori Justice Unit, APRA,Victorian Multicultural Commission,Besen Family and Triple R.

BLACK HARMONYGATHERING

Held in the heart of Aboriginalland under the gum trees onthe banks of the Yarra River

at the Fairfield Amphitheatre, theBlack Harmony Gathering is aunique event with the message “sayno to racism!”. Indigenous andmulticultural communities cometogether in a spirit of reconciliation forCultural Diversity week.

Black Harmony Gathering is a showcasefor premium professional and talentedemerging Indigenous, African andrefugee artists. The Black HarmonyGathering will feature a Cultural Stageled by Indigenous artists Koori YouthWill Shake Spears, Skye Taikato andFriends, Meriki Hood, Johnny Mac andmore. With friends from ourmulticultural music and dance scene the


Sudeep Lingamneni

BLACK HARMONIES CD

This year the Black HarmonyGathering will launch the firstBlack Harmonies CD. The ‘Black

Harmonies’ project is a powerful andexciting new Indigenous musicinitiative that will see thedevelopment of 10 contemporarynew Australian works that fuse theunique musical styles, cultures,experiences and expressions ofestablished and emerging Melbournebased Indigenous and culturallydiverse Australian musicians,singers/songwriters, and emcees.

This unique and innovative new pilotproject brings together indigenous andnon indigenous artists who havedemonstrated outstanding talent andskill in their genre, workingcollaboratively and to provide a sharedvoice for their respective communities.These new creations address, inparticular, the commonalities within thestruggle. Black Harmonies artists explorecommon threads which connect thesecommunities, their shared aspirations,visions and dreams.

The 10 new Australian works have beenworkshopped, developed and recordedas part of a new CD compilation Albumcalled ‘Black Harmonies’ which will belaunched at the Black HarmonyGathering in 2010.

The Black Harmonies CD will cross thecultural boundaries to create a culturalrevolution in the Australian music sceneand features artists Kutcha Edwards,Peter Rotumah, Casey Atkinson, TjimbaPossum-Burns, Selwyn Burns, Ajak Kwai,Aminata Doumbia, Michelle Belesy, JoeGeia and Diafrix.

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Ajak Kwai

Diafrix

Neda Rahmani


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development and advocacy and MAV’sleadership role in developing strategies toengage with diverse communities, artistsand ethnic organisations.

2009 saw the presentation of seven musicconcerts and one theatre production underthe Mix It Up! program. They were; GypsyKings, Tinariwen, Cafe Rebetika, EleftheriaArvanitaki, Visible, Sounds of Colombia andDjan Djan & Dya Singh. In addition to theseexciting main-stage acts, MAV programmeda series of local artists as a part of the‘Public Program’ attached to Mix It Up!events. As well as providing free localentertainment to audiences, the PublicProgram also included traditional foodstalls, visual art and craft exhibitions andsales, CD sales and culturaldemonstrations.

The Public Programs is to provideopportunities for our local artists todevelop professionally. The primary aim ofthe program is to build access for

communities and new pathways for artistsfrom CALD backgrounds. This is supportedby the Australia Council for the ArtsCommunity Partnerships, Arts Victoria andthe City of Melbourne.

The program focus for 2009 included a mixof emerging and established communities.An important aspect was continuing tobuild connections within and betweencommunities, including community culturalgroups, high profile artists, consulates andthe arts community. This assists in thedevelopment of community and culturalleaders who will then in turn contribute tothe cultural development of their owncommunity and other communities. Thecontent was an evolutionary build on the2008 Mix It Up program that offered adramatic and long over due departure fromthe regular or mainstay offer at the ArtsCentre. We are looking forward to bringingyou another exciting and dynamic Mix ItUp! program in 2010!

2009 MIX IT UP!OVERVIEW

Mix It Up! is a joint project of MulticulturalArts Victoria (MAV) and the Arts Centredesigned to engage with and reflect thecultural diversity of Victoria. It aims toincrease individual and community accessand participation in the vibrant artistic andcultural life of Victoria. Multicultural ArtsVictoria and the Arts Centre developed aunique partnership during 2006 to createand deliver the inaugural Mix It Up!program which has continued to 2010,becoming one of the core program streamsat the Arts Centre.

Mix It Up! highlights the Arts Centre’sleadership role in community access andengagement, program presentation,audience development, professionaldevelopment for artists, creative


Fine Blue Thread

social importance. Kihara’s project seeks todevelop platforms for inter-culturaldiscussion by bringing together musical ordance groups from diverse cultural andreligious grass roots communities acrossAustralia and New Zealand to developperformances in public spaces.

Some of her previous collaborationsinclude Scottish highland pipe band andChinese dragon dancers, Brazilian sambaand Cook island drummers, Hindu singersand Christian singers,Australian Aboriginaldidgeridoo players and Scottish highlanddrummers and the most recent, Chinesedragon dancers and Cook islanddrummers, commissioned by Gallery 4a forSydney Festival. The upcoming Talanoa VIis commissioned by Auckland Triennial,March 2010 (NZ) and Talanoa VII iscommissioned by Multicultural ArtsVictoria, June 2010 (AUS).

The communities who will be engaged in

‘Talanoa; Walkthe Talk VII‘Talanoa’ in Samoa generally is translatedas a process of discussion between twoparties finding mutual grounds throughexchange of ideas.

Between May and June 2010, multimediaand performance artist Shigeyuki Kiharawill work in partnership with severalcultural performance groups/communitiesto explore intercultural dialogue - Talanoa– by staging live collaborative publicperformances in Melbourne as part of herTalanoa: Walk the Talk II commissioned byMulticultural Arts Victoria and supportedby Festivals Australia Funding as part ofthe Emerge Festival.

Shigeyuki Kihara is a Japanese/Samoanartist who engages across multipledisciplines including visual arts andtheatre. Over the last year she hasembarked on an ambitious series of publicperformances based on a Samoan conceptof talanoa which loosely translates as ‘tochat or converse’ and it is also a practice oftalking through matters of cultural and

the Talanoa VII include new and emergingAfrican communities, IndigenousAustralians and Pacific communities inMelbourne. ‘Talanoa’ will provide a muchneeded natural platform for thesecommunities to share through oralliteracies, music, movement,storytelling/oratory and true respect andlove for family, culture, identity andcommunity. Talanoa VII will createinteraction between internationalrenowned artist Shigeyuki Kihara, theidentified communities and the Melbournewider community.

The public performance will take place atthe 2010 Emerge Festival on 20 June2010.

‘When you see two different cultures withtheir distinct cultural contexts, beliefs andphilosophies coming together, it is notonly about them, it is also about theaudience’ Shigeyuki Kihara

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PREMIER’S GALADINNER

The Crown Palladium Ballroomwas the setting for the 2009Premiers Gala Dinner where

over 1,400 people were treated toan entertainment extravaganzashowing local artists from Victoria.For Cultural Diversity Week 2010,Multicultural Arts Victoria is againworking closely in partnership with theVictorian Multicultural Commission toprogram the cultural entertainment forthe dinner. It will be a feast of talent foran evening that celebrates our uniquediversity and community harmony. Theline up this year includes some of ourbest culturally diverse artists inMelbourne.

The Premiers Gala Dinner has provenover and over to be a great platform toshowcase the hard work and creativityof our many diverse and talented artiststhroughout Victoria. It’s theirperformances which brings life andexcitement to this sell out annual event.

There are still many wonderfulcommunity groups who have not hadthe opportunity to be part of this eventso let’s hope it continues for many yearsto come!

VIVA VICTORIA

Viva Victoria, presented by theVictorian MulticulturalCommission returns to

Federation Square to celebrateCultural Diversity Week in 2010.Viva Victoria is an inclusive festivalfeaturing music, dance, food, artcraft and design from the manydiverse cultures in our State.

There will be two stages filled with non-stop music throughout the day,programmed by Multicultural ArtsVictoria. Artist on the main stageinclude the stunning Ottoman TurkishMehter Band, Slijvovitz SerbianOrchestra, Sol Nation with Laloran EastTimorese Choir and Public Opinion AfroOrchestra. The Beer Deluxe Stage, downby the banks of the Yarra, will also host

a range of exciting performers includingIsraeli music from Camoon, Sudanesegroup Eshak Awi with Fula Band andEastern European music fromBabaganoush guaranteed to geteveryone up and dancing.

Food stalls with tasty treats from allcorners of the world will be openthroughout the day, featuring ourmulticultural origins. There will also bestalls selling a wide range of handmadeproducts and unique traditional crafts.Inspired by cultures from around theworld, these artists and traders draw onVictoria’s global connections.

Around the world, the word ‘viva’ isused as an expression of goodwill, longlife and best wishes. At Viva Victoria,people from all walks of life can cometogether to support communityharmony, promote mutual understandingand respect and to celebrate ourwonderful cultural diversity. VivaVictoria! Thanks to the VMC.


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tyctyc (Tony Yap Company) has just successfully receivedemerging key producers funding from the Dance Boardof the Australia Council for the Arts and is partnered withMulticultural Arts Victoria. tyc foster and continue artisticand creative collaborations in the Asian region and toprofile Asian Arts in an international context.

TYC/MAV INMELAKA FESTIVAL

The site-specific Melaka first Artand Performance Festival tookMelaka (MAP), it seems, by

surprise. MAP 09 received a huge readyaudience because of the Hari Rayaweekend and school holidays. The eventswere free and everyone was welcomedto all events.

The key events, ‘Budak Melaka’ and‘Eulogy for the Living’ transformed theruins St Paul Church into a magicalexperience with intergrated dance,music, performance art and videoimages like a living fresco on the wallsand ceiling. Even nature provided a fullmoon as a lantern from the celestial sky.

15/15 Film festival was screened in theopen with deep inspirations for buddingfilmmakers or anyone with a videocamera and a story to tell. In 2010 theteam will teach anyone how to make ashort film of their own for theinternational circuit of 15/15. AMalaysian sector has taken roots.

When the weekend ended memories ofthe magic lingered and taken home byartists and audiences alike – some withprofound meanings and others inspiredto express themselves with new creativemodels of possibilities.

MAPFest 09 was made possible from thesupport of E-plus Entretainmentproductions Malaysia, tyc and MAV. www.melakafestival.com

Buddha Body Series

RASA SAYANGIn April tyc will present the final of Tony’ssolo dance series. Rasa Sayang dancesthe trace of something no longer present:the suspension of a sublime essencewithin the paradox of positive andnegative form.

This compelling performance continueswithin the form of an extendedinstallation established through Tony'slong-term partnership with visual artistNaomi Ota and musicians MadeleineFlynn and Tim Humphrey.

4 Shows only!Bookings: 9662 9966

Dates: Thursday-Sunday 21-23 August 8pm

Where:Fortyfivedownstairs 45

Flinders Lane, Melb


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Zulya and the Childrenof the Underground

Lisa Hilli

One Africa

KULTOUR PROGRAM2010

MAV in partnership with Kultourwill be taking the best ofVictorian CALD arts nationally.

Zulya and the Children ofthe UndergroundMulti award-winning Zulya Karmalovais the leading proponent of Tatar andRussian music in Australia as well asone of the most versatile andaccomplished vocalists on the worldmusic scene today. The Children of theUnderground have a profound influenceon Zulya’s own compositions as well asproviding unique arrangements oftraditional songs.

Just Like HomeJust Like Home is an exhibition, a meal,a film and a biography, which exploresartist Lisa Hilli’s New Guinean andAustralian heritage. With one simplemeal Hilli highlights issues ofassimilation and cultural adaption. Thevideo documentary is a portrayal of hermother, Cathy, preparing I gir (e gee-rrra), literally meaning ‘to steam withhot stones’. Drawing inspiration fromher mother, Hilli’s banana treesculptures are shining monuments tothe continuation and adaptation of theTolais cooking tradition withinAustralia, and a celebration of aculture’s capacities to respond toshifting circumstances.

En TranceFrom her many performances of TheBurlesque Hour around the globe to herinfamous Butoh Cabaret DasShokuHora!!, Yumi Umiumare’s electrifyingperformance style is in demand theworld over. In this bold new work,Umiumare is set to detonate herextraordinary vision from theinternational to the other-worldy as shethrusts us into the twisted corridors ofthe un-living. At times brutally visceral,the performance is counterbalancedwith the purity of digital paintingproduced live with her collaboratingartists, Bambang Nurcahyadi andNaomi Ota.

MANDINKA SOUNDKicking off in Victoria at the FootscrayCommunity Arts Centre, the MandinkaSound tour will then head off interstateto NSW, ACT, Qld, NT and WA.Mandinka Sound features twoextraordinarily talented Melbournebased West African acts, Muhanamwéand One Africa. Through music, danceand song, this unique show takesaudiences on a journey that traces WestAfrican culture in contemporaryAustralia back to its roots in the ancientMandinka empire of West Africa. Thetour also includes high-energydrumming, song and dance workshopsfor all ages at selected venues.The show begins with a warm andintimate acoustic set from One Africawhich brings together two ofMelbourne’s most loved West Africanperformers, King Marong and LamineSonko. A subtle fusion of traditionalWest African culture and contemporary


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Yumi Umiumare

Muhanamwe

Ottoman Mehter Marching Band

3rd Commonwealth BankTurkish Pazar Festival

On Sunday 28 March between 10am – 4pm, theQueen Victoria Market will be transformed into atraditional “Turkish Pazar”, Pazar being the Turkishword for both Sunday and market.

Highlights of the Festival will include the ‘AnkaraState Turkish Folk Music Choir’ from Turkey, theOttoman Military Band (Mehter), performances oftraditional Turkish folklore, music and dance, awandering minstrel, and a taste of modern musicfrom Turkey.

EARTH – Drawing on NatureNew Star Art School will exhibit student’s“EARTH —- Drawing on Nature” exhibition atManningham gallery to celebrate the CulturalDiversity Week of Victoria 2010.

17 March to 10 April 2010Manningham Gallery, 699 Doncaster Road,Doncaster

MOTIFSA Celebration of Life through the UkrainianArt of Pysanka and Embroidery.

15 March to 10 April 2010Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, 141 Queen St,Melbourne

All events are proudly supported by MAV.

traditional Guinean music and dance.Muhanamwé, meaning culture, hasemerged from the dense and vibrantundergrowth of Melbourne’s worldmusic scene as one of the freshest andmost exciting West African percussionand dance ensembles. With compellingrhythms, raw vocal harmonies, ripplingbalafon melodies, stunning costumesand superhuman dance moves,Muhanamwé not only draws from itsdeep roots in West Africa but also updatesand brings new life to an ancientmusical and cultural tradition. Pleasevisit multiculturalarts.com.au for moreinformation and a full tour itinerary.

Australian influences, One Africacreates a hypnotically soulful repertoireof original songs. Providing the rhythmand groove, King Marong has beenperforming professionally since the ageof 12 and since arriving in Australia in1998, has built a reputation as a masterof many African drumming styles andinstruments. Providing vocals andguitar, Lamine hails from a famousSenegalese griot musical family and hasperformed internationally alongsidesuch greats as Youssou Ndour, VivianneNdour and Fatou Nguewel Diouf. After One Africa’s captivatingperformance, Muhanamwé take thestage with an electrifying set of

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Multicultural ArtsVictoria History

This year at MAV we areputting our importantand dynamic history into

book form, documenting thecommunities and projects wehave been involved inthroughout our 36 years.Written by Paul Clarkson, authorof the recently publishedMelbourne International ArtsFestival biography and formerDirector of Arts Victoria, thebook will be a written and visualhistory of MAV’s development asan organisation. We are delvinginto our archives and pulling outfascinating information aboutMAV and multicultural arts inVictoria. MAV are very excited tobe able to put the piecestogether and tell our story aboutour artists and communities.

Multicultural Arts Victoria is thesuccessor to the Festival of All

Nations (FAN), which wasestablished 10 years earlier, in1973. The FAN created acultural revolution in theconservative, mono-culturalAustralia of the early 70s. Notonly did it encourage thedevelopment of manymulticultural festivals across thenation, but it also set the scenefor the establishment of Spoleto(the predecessor to the MIAF)and the Fringe Festival.

We are currently collectinginformation on the Festival of AllNations (1973-1982), Piccolo

Spoleto Festival and MAV. If youhave any information that youthink might add to the telling ofour history, including programs,fliers and documents, we wouldlove to hear from you. Pleasecontact Jayne at the MAV officeon 03 9417 6777.

Proudly supported by the SidneyMyer Fund & the MyerFoundation and Arts Victoria.

Folio Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief Jill MorganSub-EditorsMusic Jayne LovelockDance Tony YapVisual Arts Naomi OtaWord Lella CarridiTheatre Meg Larkin

Multicultural Arts Victoria Staff

Executive Officer Jill MorganFinance Officer Hung NguyenAdmin & Publicity Coordinator Jayne LovelockProject Officer Claudia Escobar, Anita Larkin, AnneHarkin, Andrea Makris Youth Officer Catherine SweeneyEvents & Operations Coordinator Meg Larkin

Graphic Design Tony YapPhotos Bill Poon, Georgia Metaxas, JoshRobenstone, Natasha Blankfield, Claudia SangioriDalimore, Damian Vincenzi, Ferne Millen, PamKleeman, Susannah Wimberley - courtesy ShineyukiKihara and 4A Centre for Comtemporary Asian Art.

kultour CEO Magdalena Moreno

Multicultural Arts VictoriaFitzroy Town Hall201 Napier St FitzroyPO Box 1402 Collingwood VIC 3066P 9417 6777F 9416 3342E [email protected] www.multiculturalarts.com.au


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