Cultural Diversity Week runs from 21 to 29 March. It’s a chance to highlight the rich multicultural fabric of our community and foster understanding, belonging and connection.

This year’s theme is ‘Culture Connects Us All - I Have a Story to Tell’. We invite you to listen, learn and deepen your understanding of the diverse voices that shape our community. To commemorate this week, we have a range of events, including live musical performances, film screenings, activities for kids, interactive exhibitions and more.

Events happening near you

This Cultural Diversity Week, Boroondara will host:

• Morning Music St Patrick’s Day performance — enjoy a lively celebration of Irish music and culture. Floyd Thursby and Dan Witton will deliver classics like 'Danny Boy' and 'Whiskey in the Jar'. Bookings essential. Hawthorn Arts Centre on Tuesday 17 March.
• Come Here, Go Away performance — through folk song, spoken word poetry and jazz, this musical performance is a personal reflection of the Italian/Australian migrant experience. Bookings essential. Kew Court House on Friday 20 March.
• Multicultural Short Stories in Film — immerse yourself in a selection of short films from the 2025 Multicultural Film Festival, showcasing diverse stories. Explore identity and multicultural life in Australia through the work of emerging Australian filmmakers. Free event, bookings essential. Lido Cinemas on Wednesday 25 March.
• Bonegilla: The Migrants’ Journey — a performance combining documentary-style film and live music to highlight the raw and inspiring stories of migrants after World War 2. Free event, bookings essential. Hawthorn Arts Centre on Sunday 29 March.

Celebrate at the Library

Library storytime and craft

Join us for stories, songs and activities that celebrate all the different families that make up our community. Children can get creative anytime with self-directed craft at all Boroondara library branches from 21 to 29 March. See times and locations on the Library storytime page. 

Exhibitions at Hawthorn Arts Centre

• Major exhibition: Familial — this exhibition combines 6 international artists exploring family through photography - capturing themes of deep love and absence. Presented by the Centre for Contemporary Photography, the exhibition reflects on the lasting effects of our closest relationships. Free exhibition from Wednesday 11 February to Saturday 25 April.
• Echo and Resonance by Chelsey Liu – Chelsey Liu uses her abstract and expressionist paintings to express her cultural identity and daily life in Boroondara. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on their own lived experiences. Free exhibition from Wednesday 4 February to Saturday 14 March.
• Wall of Magic Creatures by Kate Beynon – Kate Beynon invites visitors to interact with her evolving ‘Wall of Magic Creatures’ supernatural exhibition. Create your own Lunar animal, join self‑guided or facilitated tours or unwind in a soft-sculptural space with animations by Beynon’s family. Free exhibition from Saturday 14 February to Saturday 25 July.