A new cultural hub celebrating Italian language, literature and heritage has officially opened in Tuart Hill.
The hub, run by the Dante Alighieri Society of Western Australia, centres around a new library of almost 2500 Italian books, ranging from children’s stories to literary classics.
The library is intended to strengthen community connections to Italian culture and help pass its language, stories and traditions on to future generations.
Community members recently gathered to mark the facility’s official opening, which included an afternoon tea and guided tours of the new library.
Hosted by the Dante Alighieri Society of WA and supported by Made of Italy, the event gave guests the chance to explore the collection and learn more about the services on offer.
WA Multicultural Interests Minister Jessica Stojkovski said she was pleased to see the library open its doors to the wider community.
“The Italian community has played an important role in shaping Western Australia’s cultural mosaic, and the opening of this library is a lasting investment in preserving language, culture and heritage for future generations,” Ms Stojkovski said.
“This new library will be an important hub for WA’s Italian community to learn, connect and showcase cultural pride.”
Founded in 1954, the Dante Alighieri Society of WA is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes Italian language and heritage through a range of educational and cultural programs.
Members of the public can access the library and borrow books by becoming a member of DAS WA, with a library membership currently available for free for a limited time.