The Victorian Government has increased funding to diverse communities to stage events showcasing and sharing their cultures, traditions and food.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Richard Wynne today announced more than $885,000 to support 476 festivals and events around the state celebrating Victoria’s rich multiculturalism.

The Multicultural Festivals and Events program provides funding annually to hold sporting carnivals, cultural and national day celebrations, conferences and exhibitions.

This year’s funding will support events being held between July and December, including: the first year of the Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace Festival; a festival celebrating the establishment of Melbourne’s first mosque’ the Pasifika Festival in Shepparton; and a multi-faith food festival at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.

It will also support the Taiwan Festival, the Mexican Festival and the Somali National Day Celebration.

This support is in addition to $350,000 earmarked to fund 11 ongoing major multicultural events.

Minister Wynne said supporting multicultural events is just one way we embrace our diversity, giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to experience something new and engage with Victorians of different cultural heritage.

“Victoria is one of the most diverse places in the world, with almost every second person either being born overseas or having at least one parent who was born overseas,” he said.

Victorians come from more than 200 different countries, speaking more than 260 languages and dialects and following 135 religious faiths.

“Victoria is a proudly diverse state and our acceptance and understanding of each other’s differences has made this state what it is today,” Minister Wynne said.

“Supporting these multicultural events are just one way we celebrate our heritage – I urge all Victorians to get along to a festival near them,” he said.

More than 900 applications were submitted to the 2019/20 program.

Applications are assessed against program guidelines and considered by an independent panel, including representatives from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Creative Victoria and Visit Victoria.

For a full list of successful applicants, visit multicultural.vic.gov.au.