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Sweets: tastes and traditions from many cultures

Past Event: 15 March 2012 to 2 June 2013

A plate of Indian sweets

Discover the delicious ways in which Victorian communities use sweet foods in their cultures.

Explore the history and cultural significance of sweet foods and find out how sweetness is important to everyone. Different cultures use sweets for many reasons and purposes – to mark important rituals, celebrations and life events. Discover special sweet foods from each of the Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mauritian and Turkish cultures, the ways in which many of them are made and the significance they hold.

Featuring fascinating objects, lively photographs and multimedia, the Sweets exhibition will reveal unique perspectives on a very common and popular food.

Comments (39)

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Flying down to Melbourne tomorrow. Will try to visit this exhibition as the topic interests me

When does this exhibition close? Will it be open this weekend?

I was so delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate how to prepare "Halwa" the Mauritian way. It was also interesting to watch the 2 beautiful ladies from India and Turkey demonstrating to us how to make Halva, It was truly a memorable day thank you to the organizers to bring back memories about the sweets from other countries. Well done Regards and blessings. Jacqueline Celestin Corentin Authorized Civil Celebrant A13727

A new and comelling way to look at other cultures

Hi Nyss, The comment above is correct - this mouth-watering exhibition will be open until April 2013.

Hallo. so many desserts, so little time. I would like to eat my way around the globe for dessert. this brings my dream one step closer. do you have any give away passes to help? xxd.

Thanks to those who organized Sweets exhibition. fantastic! Well done. We had an extremely enjoyable time and then visited the rest of the museum.

Hi Cass, please see our reply to Anita above. Opening hours can be found above under 'Event details'. We hope you enjoy it!

Brilliant :D thanks so much for the quick response

Hello, Previously I thought I read that this exhib was only until April '2012' but in the comment above to Anita it says '2013'. Just wanted to check it was 2013 as we're still very keen to see it. Thanks very much :)

This exhibion looks exciting, I cannot wait to visit.

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Hi David, the Sweets Festival and Exhibition is $10 for adults and free for children and concession card holders. There will be an opportunity for you to see how five different Victoria cultures use sweet food and drink in their cultures. And, there will be stalls on the day selling various sweet, and savoury, food stuffs for you to enjoy!

Willy Wonka eat your heart out! Sugar swoon.

We love visiting the Immigration Museum and this exhibition looks fascinating ... or should that be delectable.

hi there, this looks great, when does this finish...im in melb at easter

Hi Jordan,

We're open weekends too!

Great that this falls between business hours...come on guys!!!

Hi Anita, the exhibition will be showing at the Immigration Museum until April 2013, so you will have plenty of time to see it!

hi my name is lochie I am 7 years old.I thought the exhibition was really good

Hi Maria, I have forwarded the details of your kind offer to the Community Exhibitions Manager, and someone will contact you shortly.

nice

In Samuel .P. Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations” he concludes with a pertinent question. Question: How can one chart the ups and downs of Humanity’s development of civilisation? Answer: Cultural food and the Curation of the Global, National and regional Culinary Arts best regards Trevor White Les Toques Blanches Australia Vice President Associate Members & Sponsorships Australia

Hi Alice,

Unfortunately, free tastings are not part of the exhibition and sweets from the different cultures are not available for purchase at this point. Our shop is looking at buying some to sell in the future, but we're not sure when they will be available. If and when they do, we’ll let you know!

WOW, this surely attractive. Will come in and take a look. Hope there are plenty to sweet from!

Just want to explore possibility for our Slovak community group to do the one day demonstration of how we make and decorate our traditional Honey biscuits at your exhibition? (the biscuits were and still are our traditional christmas treat and were used in the past as chritmas tree decorations and christmas gifts). Thank you Maria

Hi! My husband and I came for a visit yesterday and love your Museum! We would like to buy the book about Italian bread you have at the 'Sweets' exhibition, but have forgotten its title! We were wondering if you could help us please? Thank you!

Hi Alex,

Glad you enjoyed the Museum! There were three Italian cookbooks on display in the Sweets exhibition so I have listed the details of each of them below - hopefully one of them is the one you're after!

Dolci - Italy's Sweets, Francine Segan

Warmbread and honey cake, Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra

The Italian Baker, Carol Field

The sweets are the best from around the world! Who knew how many different ways chocolate can be used!:D

You need to update your info Discovery centre as it says until 2nd of June at the top of this page. Unless it is until 2nd of June and the previous comments are out of date?

Hi Lisa - thanks for your comment, the Sweets exhibition initially was expected to finish at the Immigration Museum in April, but has now been extended until Jun 2013, hence the conflicting information. The current closing dates are prominent on the site above as you point out. Thanks again.

Hi, I want to know how to apply for a community Gallery Exhibiton? This is a homework given to us by our school, so I hope you could give me details on how? Thank you! :)

Had a great time at the museum a few weekends ago. As I wrote on my blog post, I feel like its real attraction is in the way the museum is able to tell stories. Thanks Vic Museums

Hi Barbara, the Sweets Exhibition will be showing at the Immigration Museum until April 2013, so if you are coming today, you will definitely get to see it! We apologise for the confusion.

Are there sweets for sale all the time, or did you have one special day where there were sweets? I don't think I would drag my two children all the way to the city if there was no opportunity to try. (I'd happily pay for a plate that allowed you to sample each culture's sweets)

This looks great! I may ask a group I work with who are newly arrived students if they would like to visit. Are there any free food tastings or does all food have to be purchased?

Hi Christine, the previous comment was referring to the Sweets Festival when the community groups participated in many different activities to show case their own love of sweets. Keep an eye on the Immigration Museum website for any future activities related to the Sweets Exhibition.

I loved the videos! It was lovely to sit and learn about the processes behind what unites us all...food.

Hi Alysha,

We would be more than happy to answer some questions. Please send them through to us at; discoverycentre@museum.vic.gov.au. Thanks!

I am a yr 12 rural student who is completing foods and was just wondering if i could ask you (immigration museum) a couple of questions as my theme for my folio is quite similar to this exhibition? :) if you could that would be great thankyou!

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