Karen Choir Hobart – The Karen people are a culturally and linguistically diverse ethnic group from South-East Asia, principally in Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. Most of the choir members resettled in Hobart as refugees after escaping the civil war in Burma.
On the evening of Thursday 22 June 2017 the Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) (MRC) will launch Inspire, an innovative and vibrant program that will connect Tasmanian Multicultural Performers to the broader community.
Alison O’Neill, CEO of the Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) comments,
“The MRC has long been a central point for linking business and the community to the hidden talents within multicultural groups. We are thrilled Inspire will enable both new and established community members to promote, negotiate and manage their own paid and voluntary cultural performances in the future.
Catherine Doran, MRC Settlement and Community Services Manager, says that the Inspire program supports, celebrates and showcases the best of Tasmania’s multicultural talent.
“Inspire performers are talented individuals and groups of multicultural musicians, dancers and public speakers who have been selected for their exceptional cultural skills and their ability to deliver professional performances in a range of settings”.
As part of the Inspire program, performers have participated in a range of training to refine their performance skills. MRC’s case, youth, and bicultural workers and volunteers have supported Inspire participants throughout the program.
Mithun Bacheval, who is a migrant from a small village in Southern India, will be featured on the Inspire website as a Public Speaker. Mithun says he is passionate about speaking to Tasmanian Youth about topics such as peace, kindness, humanity and leadership. “I would like to inspire young people by sharing stories from other parts of the world. I feel that Tasmanian children are very lucky to have so many resources in their reach… they have the power to create a big, positive change to this world”.
Tasmanian businesses, local and state government, schools and community members will be able to book professional multicultural performers through a dedicated website: www.inspiretasmania.org, and the MRC will continue to add performers into the future.
To celebrate the program, Inspire performers will showcase their unique services as part of a one-night-only Red Carpet Event at the Peacock Theatre Hobart on the 22nd of June 2017. This event has booked out due to high demand.
Tahlia Hart, Communications Officer
