When the Migration Museum was establishing itself in Adelaide Museum staff were keen to get to know and be known amongst South Australia’s culturally diverse communities. The Community Banners project was instrumental in building some of those early networks. The banners represent diverse cultures in South Australia. Some banners have been made by one person on behalf of a community, others by small groups in a shared community project. The images used on the banners cover a range of themes representing: common memories of historical events, local landscapes, trees, flowers and animals, myths and legends, heroes and religious themes, the unforgettable experience of making a journey to a new life, and a search for symbols of community and history in the new land. The banners provide a record of how cultural communities in South Australia chose to represent their own past and their hopes for their future.
In 1985, before the Migration Museum opened, staff invited community groups to make banners representing their memories, hopes and dreams as immigrants. These banners were were a feature of the Museum opening.
In the years following, as more communities have worked with the Migration Museum, the collection has grown.
Greek Banner (1988-01-01/1988-12-31)Migration Museum
Each banner is unique, using textile traditions and images chosen for their significance to the community it represents.
The banners have been made by volunteers and donated to the Migration Museum collection.
All images are from the Migration Museum collection.
