Experience the world at Open Inner West

Monday 5 June 2017

Council’s ‘Open Inner West 2017 festival showcases the rich cultural diversity of Sydney’s inner west. 

Over 10 days in June, everyone can revel in 57 cultures and unearth diverse communities - from Klub Koori to The Greek Sweets Festival, to Mongolian, Peruvian, and Balkan festivities, hip hop competitions, films, spoken word, live music and food tours. 

Open Inner West 2017 is from Friday 16 June to Sunday 25 June 2017.

Events and activities are organised by local community groups, schools and community organisations, with support from Council through a grants program.

Administrator of Inner West Council Richard Pearson said the new Inner West Council area takes in suburbs known for being traditionally Italian, Greek, Portuguese, Vietnamese and Chinese as well as a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

"And this is just a few of the cultures that call the inner west home," he said.

"Emerging populations in the Council area include Bengali, Indian, Thai, and the Philippines.

"This is something we recognise and embrace. We're welcoming and proud of not only our diversity, but also our creative community that values local identity and sense of place," Mr Pearson said.

Highlights from the 2016 festival included the Community Kouzina exhibition and food tours, with locals sampling home recipes from local residents and the Greek Island of Kos, Balkan Bonanza with over 1,000 journeying on a Balkan odyssey, and the official opening event Rhythms, Colours, Flavours of Peru featuring an extravaganza of Peruvian arts, crafts, food and dancing.

For more information about the following events, visit www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/Open-Inner-West

For a print quality image contact the Communication team. For an interview with an event organiser, contact directly. 

Open Marrickville 2017 – what’s on

Community Kouzina Open Kitchens Bus Tour, intimate insight into the kitchens and culinary diversity of Sydney. Various locations, Friday 16 – Sunday 18 June, 10.30am-2.30pm. Free, bookings essential: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/community-kouzina-open-kitchens-bus-tour-tickets-32872386192. Contact: Eleni Christou communitykouzina@gmail.com

Assembling Life exhibition and weaving workshops, large-scale, collaborative art installation made of wild grasses and flowers. Chrissie Cotter Gallery and Camperdown Commons, Pidcock Street Camperdown. Opening night Wednesday 14 June, 6-8pm. Exhibition Wednesday 14 - Sunday 25 June, 11am – 5pm. Weaving workshops: Saturday 17 June, 1-4pm, Sunday 18 June, 2-4pm (kids 10 to 16 years old), and Wednesday 21 June, 6pm – 8pm. Free bookings essential for workshops www.eventbrite.com.au/e/assembling-life-exhibition-weaving-workshop-tickets-33273362523 Contact: Nastia Gladushchenko nastia.gladushchenko@gmail.com

Stories from Around the World:

• When Camels Could Fly, dramatised storytelling and beautifully designed props and costumes reveal fantastic traditional children’s stories from Macedonia, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Russia. St Peters / Sydenham Library, St Peters Town Hall 39 Unwins Bridge Road Sydenham, Saturday 17 June, 10.30am. Free, suitable for children of all ages. Book www.marrickvillelibrary.eventbrite.com.au Contact: 9335 2173 
• Floating on a Sea of Stories, traditional children’s stories from Japan, Leichhardt Library, 23 Norton Street Leichhardt, Tuesday 20 June, 6pm. Free, suitable for children of all ages. Book 9367 9266

My Fine Feathered Friends, delightful and whimsical performance is based on stories about birds from a variety of cultural sources – Chinese, African and Australian. Ashfield Library, 260 Liverpool Road Ashfield, Saturday 24 June, 10.30am. Free, no bookings required.

Capturing Diversity, photographic showcase which provides a space for young people to share their own stories and unique perspectives around the theme of social inclusion and culture. Create or Die Gallery, 10 Mitchell Street
Marrickville. Opening night Friday 16 June, 6pm-8pm. Exhibition: Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 June, 10am-5pm. Free. Contact: Hannah Morgan 0433 690 612 hannahecsc@gmail.com

ASYIK Goes to Schools, performance-workshops by Suara Indonesia Dance. Annandale Public School, Ashfield Public School, Camdenville Public School. Friday 16 - Friday 23 June (contact schools for various times and locations). Free. Book and contact Alfira O’Sullivan 0415 431 453 info@suaraindonesiadance.com.au

Musica Lirica, An evening of Italian operatic music. Leichhardt Town Hall, 107 Norton Street Leichhardt. Saturday 17 June, 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Free, bookings essential www.eventbrite.com.au Contact Amelia, David or Meltem 9231 4293 info@mostlyopera.org

Addison Road Street Food Markets, serving up authentic street food from around the world and supporting refugee stallholders. Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road Marrickville, Saturday 17 June, 3-9pm. Free. Contact 9569 7633

Balkan Bonanza III, celebrate everything Balkan – food, music, dancing, performances and hospitality. Marrickville Town Hall, 303 Marrickville Road Marrickville, Saturday 17 June, 3-11pm. Free. Contact Yorgo Kaporis 0412 861 187 ykapoirs@bigpond.net.au

6th Multi-Cultural 7-a-side knock-out football tournament, spreading the message of fair play and promote harmony among asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Tempe Recreation Reserve, Holbeach Avenue Tempe, Sunday 11 June and Sunday 18 June, 7am – 7pm. Free, no bookings required. Contact Jebin Dhoj SHAHI 0423 678 074 info@multiculturalfootball.com

Klub Koori Open Inner West, a deadly line up of contemporary Aboriginal artists. The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road Marrickville, Sunday 18 June, 4pm - 11pm. Book (18+) www.factorytheatre.com.au. Contact 9384 4000 arts@gadigal.org.au

Mongolia Meets Marrickville, opening night features a special performance by traditional Mongolian throat singer Bukhculuun Ganburged. Enjoy dumplings and refreshments. StirrUp Gallery, 142 Addison Road Marrickville, Tuesday 20 – Sunday 25 June, 11am to 4pm. Opening Tuesday 20 June, 6pm. Free. Contact Ganbold Lundaa 0466 113 909 gawaas@gmail.com

Ashfield Ballroom Dancing and Chinese Opera, showcasing different regional Chinese cultures through singing. Ashfield Town Hall, 260 Liverpool Road Ashfield, Ballroom Dancing: Tuesday 20 June, 9am-12pm. Chinese Opera Concert: Saturday 24 June, 1.30pm-4pm. Free. Contact Lin Lin 0424 551 740 merry0505@gmail.com

Kerasma - The Greek Sweets Festival, sweets, cakes and pastries from all over Greece, displayed by region. Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas, 203-207 Livingstone Road Marrickville, Thursday 22 June, 9.30am – 12.30pm. Free. Contact Jim 9516 2188 admin@gwccs.org.au 

Pachamama Festival, Latin American and Indigenous artists and storytellers celebrate cultural connections to nature. Gumbramorra Hall, Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Road

Marrickville, Friday 23 – Saturday 24 June. Opening night - free films and $10 workshops. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Contact: info@sydneylatinofilmfestival.org 

Rhythms, Colours, Flavours of Peru, celebrating all things Peruvian. Marrickville Town Hall, 303 Marrickville Road Marrickville, Sunday 25 June, 12 midday – 5pm. $5 at the door, under 16 years old free. Contact Lidia Luna 0413 437 767 lidsluna@gmail.com 

Innov8tion, hiphop/street dance competition that brings together different people of different styles in the Sydney dance community. Ashfield Town Hall, 260 Liverpool Road Ashfield, Sunday 25 June, 1pm-6pm. Free. Contact Alice Tauv 0434 091 357 destructivesteps@gmail.com Special thanks: Popping Nation Association, 3Styler Original and JNY Photography. 

Arraial do BRACCA, traditional Brazilian rural festival. Petersham Town Hall, 107 Crystal Street Petersham, Sunday 25 June, 11am-8pm. $7 entry fee, (early bird for non members) free for BRACCA members and kids under 2, $5 kids day pass. Contact Cinthia Nascimento 0430 486 353 events@bracca.org 

Chinese Multicultural Festival, featuring Peking Opera traditional clothes and culture. Alex Trevallion Plaza, Marrickville Road Marrickville, Sunday 25 June, 12pm midday – 4pm. Free. Contact Gordon Li 0433 754 098 unswgoldenleo@hotmail.com