The Liberal Party has pledged $1.5 million in funding for two cultural initiatives run by the Greek Community of Melbourne if it wins government at the upcoming Victorian state election.

The commitments were announced on Monday, 26 October, at the feast-day service of St Dimitrios in Prahran, attended by senior members of the Victorian Opposition and representatives of the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Evan Mulholland, the Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Multi-Faith Affairs, David Davis, the Shadow Minister for the Arts and Creative Industries, and local MP Rachel Westaway joined Greek Community of Melbourne president Bill Papastergiadis OAM and fellow board members, including Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris, Dr Jim Bossinakis, Nick Koukouvitakis and Simela Stamatopoulos.

Following the service, led by Bishop Themistocles of Nicopolis, the Liberal representatives announced their party’s funding commitments for the community’s cultural programmes.

Mulholland announced a pledge of $1 million over four years for the Antipodes Festival, one of Melbourne’s flagship celebrations of Greek culture.

“I’m delighted to announce that we will commit a million dollars over four years for the Antipodes Festival, a fantastic flagship festival run by the Greek Community of Melbourne,” he said.

Westaway subsequently announced a further $500,000 for a theatre and cultural space being developed at the St Dimitrios Hall site in Prahran.

“I’m absolutely delighted to support our Greek community. We have 7% of people in this seat of Prahran who identify as Greek and it’s really important to demonstrate our support to you,” she said.

“As such, we are announcing $500,000 towards the cultural centre being created right here in this Hall.”

The project is intended to provide a dedicated venue for cultural activities and community events, complementing the site’s religious role.

Papastergiadis welcomed the announcements, thanking the Liberal representatives for supporting both the Antipodes Festival and the long-standing project in Prahran.

“Thank you Rachel and thank you Evan and David. Thank you for your important announcements that will allow us to not only continue our cultural work with Antipodes but also complete this long-standing project here in Prahran that will provide a much needed cultural and community space for the church and its parishioners and for the Greek and broader community,” he said.

He also acknowledged the Liberal Party’s previous support for Greek community initiatives, including the Greek Centre in Melbourne’s central business district and the development of community facilities at St Dimitrios.

Papastergiadis recalled a $2 million commitment by Ted Bailey towards the 15-storey Greek Centre project, highlighting the importance of political support for initiatives that preserve and promote Greek culture.

He described the new facility at St Dimitrios as a significant development for the Greek community, saying it would provide a multipurpose hall for cultural, religious and community events.

“Importantly, this I believe will be the first time in Melbourne, Victoria and possibly in Australia that a Greek Community owned purpose-built multi-purpose theatre and function space is being built,” he said.

He thanked the Liberal representatives for their commitment to helping bring the project to fruition.

The proposed funding is conditional on the Liberal Party forming government following the upcoming Victorian state election.

Under the commitments announced on Monday, the party would provide $1 million over four years for the Antipodes Festival and $500,000 towards the cultural space at St Dimitrios Hall.