Blacktown City Council - Media Rlease - From A Tiny Seed Great Things Grow

MEDIA RELEASE

26 June 2018

Blacktown City Council shares the experience of
Afghan migrants through new artistic program

In what will be the first major artistic engagement with the

Afghan and Persian communities of Blacktown, The Leo

Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre presents Daneha, a multi-

faceted artistic program made up of a visual arts exhibition, 

artist talks, musical performances and theatre.

Daneha (“Seeds” in English) explores the displacement of

the Afghan community across the globe, and the cultivation

of roots in foreign, unfamiliar soil.

The program will transform The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts

Centre into a multi-functional space for the community.

Attendees will be able to engage with contemporary artists,

as collaborators, audiences and active participants in

reimagining identities.

“The Afghan community of Blacktown has grown by almost

40% since 2011,” Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP

said.

“I am proud that our arts centre is presenting Daneha, a

diverse program that offers unique opportunities to reflect on

the experiences of migrants and refugees, and explore the

challenges they face when settling in a new land.”

The program launches on Thursday 5 July with a visual arts

exhibition featuring new works by Avan Anwar (Melbourne),

Elyas Alavi (Adelaide), Zainab Haidariy (Germany) Gerrie

Mifsud (Sydney) and internationally acclaimed and

Blacktown-based artist Khadim Ali.

Khadim is an established artist who was awarded the NSW

Government’s 2016 Western Sydney Arts Fellowship and his 

work is held in numerous public collections around the world.

“I’m now a Hazara-Australian,” Khadim Ali said. “My work for

this exhibition focuses on how I am enjoying being an 

Australian, and how this transitional period of my life is 

changing my art, changing my perspective.”

The arts exhibition will also include works by members of the 

local group, Afghan Women on the Move.

“Afghan Women on the Move creates a radically safe 

platform for women as survivors of war and trauma, to 

gather and participate in arts and cultural programs, outside 

of religious and political influences,” the group’s coordinator, 

Maryam Zahid said.

Taking place in July, the women’s artworks will be developed

in workshops led by artist Nazanin Marashian, and will 

connect identity and culture through the use of personal 

signs and symbols.

The program also includes two Artist Talks. The first, on

Saturday 18 August, is moderated by Abdul Hekmat and will 

be an opportunity for audiences to connect with Khadim Ali, 

Elyas Alavi and Maryam Zahid (Afghan Women on the 

Move).

The second, on Saturday 1 September, is a discussion

facilitated by Paula Abood on work created with refugee

women and will include Maryam Zahid, Monirah Hashemi 

(international playwright/actor) and international theatre 

director, Lief Persson, from Teatre Dos.

The Daneha program will culminate with the Australian 

premiere of Sitaraha – The Stars, a moving one woman play 

which intertwines the stories of three generations of women 

living in Afghanistan. Navigating war and religious 

oppression, the women use songs, dance and storytelling to 

try and keep their stories alive. Taking place from Thursday 

6– Sunday 9 September, Sitaraha features Monirah 

Hashemi and is based on real conversations and research.

Daneha offers a unique opportunity for the people of 

Blacktown and beyond to come together to reflect on the 

experiences of migrants and refugees, and join with them in 

all the challenges and opportunities that present themselves 

as they regather in new lands.

The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre is open Tuesday to 

Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission to the visual arts 

exhibition is free.

Tickets for Sitaraha are available at sitaraha.eventbrite.com.au. General admission $30, concession $25 

(+ fees).

Bklacktown City Council - Media Release - 40,000 Foodies Can’t Be Wrong: “Food Truck Fridays” Are Back In Blacktown

Media release

9 February, 2018

Blacktown’s “Food Truck Friday” is back by popular demand and tens of thousands of West Sydney foodies are expected to flock to the City’s Village Green.

“Last year’s Food Truck season attracted nearly 40,000 people to the Village Green to sample the international food on offer, and we expect this year’s markets to be just as popular,” said the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali MP.

The year’s first Food Truck Friday on Friday, 23 February, will have an expanded repertoire of food and entertainment, Mayor Bali said.

“We were thrilled the trial proved to be so successful,” he said.

“So we’ve organised an even larger variety of foods and there is now a special dessert lane.

“For me, the markets were a great way to relax at the end of the week and it was wonderful to see families and friends coming together to enjoy a delicious dinner out on the Green.”

Organiser Phaly My said this year’s night markets will be even bigger than last year, with more than 30 trucks and stalls selling a variety of hot food and desserts from around the world.

“We’ve got a dedicated truck lane and hot food section in the Village Green, as well as a dedicated dessert section with eight trucks across the road near the library,” Ms My said.

“There will be everything from Mate Burger, flipping their famous American-Filipino fusion burgers, to the StroopBros creating their mouth-watering stroopwaffles. 

“It really is an international food market. The idea is it doesn’t matter where in the market you are, you can close your eyes and when you open them again you are in a different part of the world.”

There will also be a DJ playing music, seating for up to 300 people, and live streaming of the Commonwealth Games from 4-15 April.

Marayong resident Tin Shein said he and his family were thrilled the markets were relaunching.   

“We really liked being able to simply drop into the markets and graze the huge variety of food and entertainment,” Mr Shein said.

“As the word spreads that they are now permanent I reckon more and more families will be there.”

Mount Druitt also hosts the Aussie Night Markets at Westfield Mt Druitt the last Sunday of every month, starting 25 February.

The details

Where:  Blacktown Village Green, 62 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown
When:   Every Friday 5pm-10pm, from 23 February until 27 April. The only date the markets will not run is Good Friday, 30 March.
Cost:     FREE entry
Details: aussienightmarkets.com.au

Former NSW Premier and Senator Bob Carr, Food Truck Friday organiser Phaly My, and Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali MP.

Friday Night Markets draw packed crowds to Blacktown Village Square

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - “Food Truck Friday” Here To Stay

MEDIA RELEASE

Blacktown’s Village Green will be a Friday night foodies’ mecca after Blacktown City Council decided to make “Food Truck Friday” a permanent fixture.

Blacktown Night Markets will now operate each Friday night event on Blacktown’s Village Green until April, boosted by a Sunday organic produce market and live streaming of the Commonwealth Games.

“Blacktown residents obviously voted with their feet and their stomachs,” said the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali.

“We have been absolutely blown away by the popularity and last year’s trial was an absolute success, drawing tens of thousands of people last summer.

“It’s a great way to relax at the end of the week and it was wonderful to watch families take advantage of the wide variety of cuisines on offer.

Marayong resident Tin Shein said he and his family were overjoyed the night markets were now a full time event.

“We really liked being able to simply drop into the markets and graze the huge variety of food and entertainment,” Mr Shein said.

“As the word spreads that they are now permanent I reckon more and more families will be there.”

The Friday night food markets will be augmented by an organic produce market on Sundays, Mayor Bali said.

“This is something we will be trialling once a month on a Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm,” he said.

Following the success of live streaming the Olympics in 2016, the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be screened live in Blacktown for everyone to see, Mayor Bali said.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and commonly known as “Gold Coast 2018”, will be staged between 4 and 15 April 2018.

“One of my big memories of the Olympics was standing in the square outside Westpoint with hundreds of people, cheering an Aussie Gold,” Mayor Bali said.

Food Truck Friday, the Organic Produce Markets and Commonwealth Games broadcasting is part of a wider council plan to revitalise the Blacktown CBD.

“For some time we have been working on plans to bring Blacktown alive,” he said.

“The huge turnout proves that with the right mix of attractions, Blacktown City Council can be a vibrant, family friendly place.

“The best part of the night markets for me was wandering through the Village Square with my family and watching other families out for the night enjoying the city.

“If it proves that if the right attraction is there, people will come and the city can be a vibrant place for entertainment and family enjoyment,” Mayor Bali said