This year, we are taking a big step for Samoan cultural arts in Australia. We are producing Tuna & Fata Ailao Production, a special performance that will be the first of its kind in Melbourne.
Ailao is an important part of Samoan culture, and we are excited to create a performance that celebrates our culture, movement, storytelling and traditions.
This project is very special to us because it is not something we have done before.
We received the Wyndham Arts Grant 2026
We are very grateful to be recipients of the Wyndham Arts Grant 2026. This grant has helped us purchase the props needed to bring our performance to life.
Receiving the grant was an exciting moment for us. It gave us the opportunity to move forward with an idea that we had been dreaming about.
But as we started planning, we quickly realised that producing a performance involves many more costs than we first expected.
There is much more behind a performance than what the audience sees on the day.
We need to cover costs for rehearsal space, venue hire, music and drum recording, promotional materials and other production expenses.
And the list continues to grow.
We asked local businesses for support
We have approached several businesses to see if they would be able to sponsor the performance. Unfortunately, we have not been successful so far.
So now, we are asking our wider community to help us make this performance possible.
We have created a Measina Siva Afi T-shirt fundraiser, with proceeds going towards the Tuna & Fata Ailao performance.
Every donation makes a difference
We know that a $60 T-shirt may not be affordable for everyone. We don't want the cost of a T-shirt to stop anyone from supporting this project.
That is why we have also opened the opportunity for people to donate whatever they can afford from anywhere in the world.
It might be $5.
It might be $10.
It might be $20.
Whatever you can give, no matter how small, will help.
We believe that when many people come together and each person gives what they can, those small amounts can add up to make a big difference.
Your donation will help us cover the practical costs of putting this performance together and help us share Samoan cultural arts with the Melbourne community. Here is the link https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuna-fata-ailao-performance
Help us make history
Tuna & Fata Ailao is more than just a performance.
It is an opportunity to share Samoan culture in Australia and create something that our community can be proud of.
It is about keeping cultural knowledge and traditional arts visible, creating opportunities for our performers, and helping future generations see that our culture has a place on Australian stages.
We are excited about what we are creating, but we cannot do it alone.
If you can support us, please consider purchasing a Measina Siva Afi T-shirt or making a donation — whatever you can afford.
Every contribution brings us one step closer to the stage.
Thank you for supporting Tuna & Fata Ailao, Measina Siva Afi, and Samoan cultural arts in Australia.
Fa'afetai tele lava — thank you so much for your support. ❤️