The Canberra Multicultural Community Forum acknowledges the contribution of the artistic director of the National Multicultural Festival, Dominic Mico, who is taking a break from the position after 10 years.
CMCF Chair Sam Wong said that under Mr Mico the Festival had grown into an event of national significance which regularly attracted top quality performers from around the world.
“It has gone from strength to strength and while it will not seem the same without Dominic I can quite understand his need to do something different after a decade as artistic director,” Mr Wong said. “CMCF wishes him good fortune in his new role as interim director of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre.”
Mr Wong said he believed the Festival will continue to grow in size and quality and the Forum was ready to cooperate with the ACT Government to ensure its success in 2009 and beyond.
“We are interested in the possibility that it may be extended to Glebe Park as the Food and Dance Spectacular is becoming too big to be comfortably accommodated in the centre of Civic,” he said.
“It has become a massive undertaking but one which enjoys the support of all the Canberra community. CMCF is confident that the ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs will continue to provide outstanding direction and management of this event based on past experience. At this year’s Festival in February CMCF took on the responsibility of coordinating the volunteers and we were overwhelmed by the willingness of so many people to give up their time to ensure it ran smoothly and successfully.
“Every year we say ‘how can it ever be better than this’ and every year it exceeds our expectations. The Festival is a signature event for the ACT, underlining and reinforcing Canberra’s claim to be Australia’s multicultural capital.”