About Living Traditions
Statement of Purposes
Committee of Management

Living Traditions is no longer operating.

Refer to Resources page for contact details of other multicultural music and dance organisations.

Living Traditions Inc. was a nonprofit community organisation based in Melbourne, Australia. The organisation was active between 2005 and 2009.

The organisation's purpose was to promote the practice, development and appreciation of high quality, culturally diverse music and dance. Living Traditions' philosophy was that there is a wealth of artistic talent within Australian communities, and that the contributions of migrants from many parts of the world, as well as Australia's indigenous people, have greatly enriched this cultural resource. There is a large potential audience for quality culturally diverse music and dance within Australia. Living Traditions aimed to create connections between artists and audiences and to support innovative projects that brought culturally diverse art forms to a wider audience.

Living Traditions supported artists and practitioners of traditional, world and folk music and dance. As our focus was on inclusion rather than exclusion, we worked from broad definitions of these artforms. Living Traditions created opportunities for Australian communities to engage with and participate in these forms of cultural expression. We also sought to contribute to a broader social, economic and political context that was supportive of cultural diversity, inter-ethnic collaboration and respect. A society informed by these values provides the best environment for culturally diverse art to develop and flourish.

Purpose
The purpose of Living Traditions Inc. was to increase the availability and accessibility of high quality, culturally diverse music and dance to the Australian public.

Aims
Living Traditions Inc. sought to achieve this purpose by working towards the following aims:

1. to promote in an Australian context the practice, development and appreciation of traditional, world and folk music and dance (broadly defined) from a wide range of cultures;
2. to create opportunities for Australian communities to engage with and participate in these forms of cultural expression;
3. to support artists involved in these art forms by creating opportunities for promotion, professional development, and presentation of work to the public;
4. to contribute to a broader social, economic and political context that is supportive of cultural diversity, inter-ethnic collaboration and respect, and that will allow these art forms to flourish.

As an Incorporated Association, Living Traditions was managed by a Committee of Management. Living Traditions had no paid staff. Committee Members on a voluntary basis undertook administrative work necessary to keep the Association functioning.

Between 2005 and 2009, the Living Traditions Committee of Management included at different times: Brahim Benhim, Chris Sprague, Kelly White, Marina Bistrin, Mark Planigale, Olgaa Fienco, Peter Nowotnik, Pin Rada and Prue Cerin.