Perth to host Australian premiere of Indian arts

Tuesday, 2 August 2016 
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• ​Mahatma in Me in national premiere at Elizabeth Quay
• $5,000 from Office of Multicultural Interests to support performances
• $17,000 in Perth Theatre Trust venue sponsorship

The Confluence-Festival of India in Australia, a national touring event featuring some of India's most exciting and esteemed contemporary artists, will visit Perth for the first time in October.

Speaking at the launch of the festival last night, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan said the Liberal National Government was committed to close collaboration between India and Western Australia.

"This festival will bring our communities closer together, promote tourism and open the door to more business opportunities," Dr Nahan said.  "WA's Indian communities are a thriving part of our remarkable cultural diversity and have made significant contributions to this State.

"The State Government is proud to support this festival, with $22,000 sponsorship through OMI's Community Grants Program and the State's theatre venues, to build on our strong cultural and economic ties."

OMI is sponsoring a major art installation exploring the life, work and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, which will have its Australian premiere in Perth. The Mahatma in Me exhibition opens at Elizabeth Quay on October 2 to mark Gandhi's birthday and the start of international non-violence month.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the Government was pleased to provide three of the State's most significant performance venues for the festival.

"The Perth Concert Hall will host The Raghu Dixit Project as part of the opening ceremony, while the State Theatre Centre of WA will host the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble and His Majesty's Theatre will host Transposition-Ishara's puppet and dance show," Mr Day said. 

"Festivals such as this offer a vibrant space where ideas can be exchanged, challenged and celebrated, promising us new ways of looking at the world."

The Confluence-Festival of India in Australia has been developed by the High Commission of India in Australia, India's Ministry of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in association with Australia's Ministry for the Arts.

Fact File

• Over 29,000 India-born people live in WA, with over 40,000 claiming Indian ancestry
• India is WA's fifth-largest export market and the State's largest market for international students
• For information on OMI's Community Grants Program, visit http://www.omi.wa.gov.au