SYDNEY, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 audience members gathered at Chatswood Concourse Concert Hall on 3 May for the second annual Sydney International Arts Festival (SIAF) Multicultural Gala, an event showcasing the growing visibility of multicultural and international arts, alongside emerging Australian talent, across Sydney's cultural landscape.
"It doesn't matter where you've come from — you're entitled to be proud of your heritage and you're entitled to share it."
The sentiment was shared by Australia's longest-serving Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and former Mayor of Hornsby, Philip Ruddock, who addressed the audience during the gala.
Opening the gala, Sydney's Mulan Dance Studio blended classical and contemporary Chinese dance in a vibrant performance inspired by the ancient concept of jiuzhou, symbolising unity and shared belonging across diverse regions.
Highlights included a cross-cultural interpretation of The Butterfly Lovers — often described as the Chinese Romeo and Juliet, alongside A Dream of Swords, performed with guzheng and erhu, two traditional Chinese instruments. The program also featured a Sichuan Opera face-changing performance.
A vocal segment brought together the Oscar-winning song Golden from the 2025 Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, Tarantella Napoletana, and Pachelbel's Canon, combining Korean pop, Italian folk and European classical traditions in a single performance.
Many performers were young Australians from migrant families, trained in community arts schools and presenting full-length works shaped by sustained practice.
"We see art as a way of bringing people together — not by explaining it, but by showing it," said Marina Wang of the Sydney International Arts Festival Organising Committee.
"In today's world, cultural exchange plays an important role in fostering understanding, communication and cooperation."
In partnership with the Australia Global Entrepreneurs Association (AGEA) and ECM Development, the program brought together performers and audiences from communities including China, Malaysia, Singapore, India and across Europe.
Mr Ruddock noted that Australia is a country with more of its population overseas-born than almost any other.
"Migration has been particularly important because we've brought people from all over the world, and we remain a strong and open democracy," he said.
The performance coincided with a Chatswood Concourse exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the City of Willoughby, including Faces of Willoughby, a photographic mural of more than 2,000 residents reflecting the area's diverse and evolving community.
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A Multicultural Stage Brings Modern Australia to Life
BRISBANE, Australia, May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW) 2026 will return to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) from Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 May 2026, bringing together the people, technologies and ideas shaping the future of Australian manufacturing.
Positioned as Australia's premier event for the precision manufacturing, engineering and related industries, AMW 2026 will host more than 230 exhibitors, delivering an unrivalled opportunity for manufacturers, engineers and decision-makers to explore cutting-edge solutions in one place. With the theme Manufacturing the Future Through Tech Innovation, the event will showcase how advanced technologies are driving productivity, competitiveness and resilience across the sector.
A defining feature of Australian Manufacturing Week is its emphasis on live technology demonstrations. Across the show floor, visitors will see machinery, equipment and digital solutions operating in real time—providing practical insights that go beyond brochures or sales presentations.
"AMW is where manufacturing technology moves from theory to application," said AMTIL CEO Lorraine Maxwell. "By bringing hundreds of solutions together under one roof, and showing them operating live, the event enables manufacturers to compare options, ask informed questions and make confident decisions that support their future growth."
AMW 2026 will span a comprehensive range of manufacturing technologies, including machine tools, automation and robotics, additive manufacturing, metrology, software, tooling, materials handling and supporting services. For businesses navigating skills shortages, supply chain uncertainty and rapid technological change, the ability to discover multiple solutions efficiently has become increasingly critical.
Complementing the exhibition will be the Future Solutions Speaker Program, a free, content-rich program designed to address the issues most relevant to today's manufacturing leaders. Sessions will explore themes such as automation and digital transformation, artificial intelligence in manufacturing, workforce capability and skills, sustainability, defence and advanced manufacturing, and global competitiveness.
The program brings together leading voices from across industry, research and policy, offering attendees practical perspectives and strategic insights alongside discussion of emerging trends. While the exhibition floor demonstrates what is possible today, the speaker program looks ahead—helping businesses understand how to prepare for tomorrow.
"Manufacturers are being asked to adapt faster than ever before," said Maxwell. "The Future Solutions Speaker Program is designed to help industry cut through complexity, understand what matters now, and make informed decisions about the technologies and strategies that will define the next generation of Australian manufacturing."
Australian Manufacturing Week is free to attend for industry personnel, reinforcing its role as an accessible, industry-driven event that supports capability building across the sector. Due to strong interest and high attendance in previous editions, pre-registration is highly recommended to save time on arrival and ensure seamless entry.
With its combination of technology in action, future-focused discussion and national industry scale, AMW 2026 is set to be a critical meeting point for Australia's manufacturing community.
Pre-register now and save time on the day:
https://australianmanufacturingweek.com.au/
PR Newswire is the Official Media Partner of Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW).
About AMTIL
The Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL) is the peak national body that represents the interests of manufacturing technology suppliers and users within the precision engineering and advanced manufacturing sector.
AMTIL proudly hosts Australian Manufacturing Week (AMW), bringing together the people, technology and ideas that keep the industry moving. After a record-breaking show in Melbourne in 2025, 2026 marks AMW's first time in Queensland and will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12-14 May. Learn more or register to attend at https://australianmanufacturingweek.com.au/.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 comes to Brisbane, spotlighting live technology, future-focused solutions and industry leadership
