The event was organised in partnership with, and sponsored by, Inner West Council.
Around fifty participants attended the event, which opened with an exhibition of handcrafted works created throughout the year, followed by a community lunch and a final toast.
Supported by a multicultural grant from Inner West Council, the project brought together several cultural groups from the area: a Greek group, two Italian groups (the Catholic Federation of Earlwood and the St Francis group of Haberfield), along with the craftswomen of the Ethnic Craft Group.
Over the months, participants met regularly, presenting their creations—embroidery, crochet, macramé and other techniques—and creating an authentic space for exchange and mutual understanding.
Inner West Council representative Aniela Pepe attended the celebration, offering institutional greetings and reaffirming the importance of multicultural initiatives in building an inclusive community.
Pina Romeo, coordinator of the Ethnic Craft Group which meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Leichhardt MarketPlace and occasionally at the School of Arts, thanked all participants and Inner West Council.
“It has been an opportunity for exchange and growth,” she said, “We thank the Council for this chance and for the support given to us throughout the project.”
The cultural exchange initiative once again demonstrated how traditional crafts, through their time-honoured skills and intricate patterns, can bring people and cultures together, transforming meetings into connections and traditions into invisible bridges.
