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An exciting Museum Victoria project is giving people in Robinvale the chance to view and create multimedia content about cultural difference.

Museum Victoria’s Talking Difference Portable Studio will be available through the Mobile Library when it visits Robinvale on Thursday, 13 and Thursday 20 February from 11am until 7pm.

Talking Difference gives people the chance to share ideas about cultural identity and tolerance. It allows people to view multimedia content produced by others and respond with their own video, audio, text and drawing.

It aims to promote diversity, challenge discrimination, and help strengthen the community by widening understanding and accepting cultural differences.

Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Les McPhee encouraged residents to visit the Mobile Library to share their thoughts and experiences.

“We’re lucky to have such an incredibly diverse municipality, and this project will highlight the benefits through the stories and views of local people,” Cr McPhee said.

“I encourage Robinvale residents to get involved in this unique and creative project.”

Immigration Museum Community Engagement Manager Tatiana Mauri said the strength of Talking Difference was that the communities involved were taking charge of new technologies to discuss diversity and difference.

“Through the project, people not only become new media makers but also become champions for sharing ideas and dialogue about cultural identity and intercultural understanding,” Ms Mauri said.

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter added that VicHealth was excited to support the studio to encourage dialogue about the benefits of cultural diversity and the harm caused by race-based discrimination.

The Talking Difference Portable Studio will also be available at the Swan Hill Regional Library during opening hours from Wednesday, 12 February to Monday, 24 February.

A community launch will also be held at the Library at 7pm on 12 February.

The Talking Difference Portable Studio is part of the VicHealth Arts About Us Roadshow touring regional Victoria in 2014.

Talking Difference is a partnership between Swan Hill Rural City Council, VicHealth, Museum Victoria and Artistic Merit.

For more information please visit http://museumvictoria.com.au/talkingdifference